The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-05-29
WHAT'S IN THE PACKS


men servants and boy. The time. per-
haps. hung rather cavity upoq the hands OF
these three, since the appearance of queer
figure toiling up the avenue was hailed with
unconcealed satisfaction.
.'It's oil Burke, the jaeger" said one.
at isn't old Burke; bal he's got pack
anyhow. How slow he walks. and it's get
ting dusk we shan't be able to see the
things
The jaeger. or bagman. or ped der, which
ever name you like best, came up to the
door, wiping his forehead aud grooming un-
der bis burden-and well he might. Surely
a pack Of such size had never before wearied
the enduring shoulders Of bagmsn. He
did not attempt TO ease himself of il, how
ever, or TO display his wares in the custom
sry manner. but he took off his hat to the
women politely.
Would tie mistress take pity on him,
and let him leave his pack in the hall or the
kiichen-anywhere, so that it would be
sale? And he would fetch il the next day"
Now, the master and mistress were, as we
have seen, from home; as the man who
filed the offices of coachman, groom, and
gardener, with the help Of the boy above
mentioned as sub; and neither master,
mistress, nor coachman, would return that
night. The three servants therefore looked
at each other inquiringly. little curious.
and a great deal disappointed
whats in the pack % asked one.
"Oh, it's not a regular pack. but an ord
Ell" responded the bagman. "A LOT of
coarse cloth and some gunpowder; nothing
that would do to show the ladies'. But l
am tired to death, and have got to go further.
If might leave 1t where it would be safe
for tonight. I've got few shawls and things
could bring with me to morrow. when |
return for it,"
Again the women looked at each other.
Ssh" Wis has lie go,i What else?'
"A few trifies. May be. piece or
two, that would come
"Well. he might leave the pack if he lik-
ed, but he must take it away early next
day
The peddler entered the hall. and prepar-
ed to lay Down his burden; then espied the
door OF little room, which would have
been a buffers pantry if the house had
Toasted butler. Might he put it there. be-
cause Of the gunpowder? And it was put
there accordingly. the bagnan closing the
door after him carefully, and warning the
friendly receivers not to take light into the
room, or meddle with the pack on any &C
count. because OF the gunpowder.
The women went back to their kitchen,
and the boy fingered in The hall meditative
ly. having watched the peddler down the
avenue. At last he went to the door Of the
buffers pantry, and took long look through
the keyhole- The last rays of the setting
sun streamed through the little window, and
fell upon the pack lying in huge state on the
floor. Again the boy walked up and down
he knn L.. LII IL 4
iously through the keyhole.
Did the pack move little as he stared at
it? What fool he was, he thought; it was
all fancy, Of course. Suddenly his gaze be-
came rivited one corner of the pack,
where there seemed to be loophole, and
he saw, he believed in the red light, the
cleaning of human eye.
He drew back hi, own from the keyhole;
he SHOT a bolt into its socket noiselessly. and
then he began walking up and down again
He thought about the loneliness Of the place,
and the helplessness of its inmates he
thought about those two in the kitchen, and
himself, and about the peddler, and what
might happen. He walked till it was quite
dark, and he could no longer distinguish the
outlines of that my sterous pack; then he
went into the kitchen, where the two W omtn
were still talking of tie shawls and probable
gown pieces.
Where's the old gum" asked the boy
LA, Joseph, what should you want with
that? It's up there. over the clock"
lis it loaded? All right" said Joseph,
examining. Now. then. Ill tell you wha,
l want with IL; | am going to shoot the
pack
ITO shoot it! Good gracious. what for?"
Joseph looked at the two terrified faces.
L. L.. Il
You won't squall or anything. if tell
you what for. will you?"
No; but Joseph-the gunpowder!''
"Gunpowder's all my eye. I'm going to
shoot it. because there's mortal man in it;
and man doen't get himself wrapped in a
pack for no good purpose; that what /
say. If you're afraid, give me the light,
and stop where you are
But the women crept behind him tremu-
lousy, and kept silence while he tried again
if he could see anything through the key
hole. Then he opened the door boldly.
IF the packs an honest pack" said
Joseph, .t won't mind a shot,"
Perhaps the pack really moved, or per
haps Joseph was little nervous. for the last
word was not out of his mouth when the re-
port of a gun rang through the room.
A dead silence followed it. Joseph's
eyes were fixed in a wide open stare on the
pack. Presently. a small, red spot came
ooziDg through the coarse wrapperiDg; il
grew larger. A little red stream trickled
down on the floor. and crawl, d tow ards the
boys feet. Then he retired hastily, snd
locked the door again.
His face was very pale. He had killed a
man. and it was a horrible thing to do and
TO think Of
"Now you two lock ali the doors, and
make them as fast as you cam he said
'that peddler chap WON'T stop till morning
for this pack. I'm thinking. What o'clock
isit-ten? Let ms put lights in all the rooms,
and make believe there's party regular
housefu.''
Once during the night. Joseph, standing
near window. fancied he heard a low
whistle outside; his heart gave grea, jump.
and be signaled to the two women to move
about, and slam the doors, and make as
much noise as they could The whistle was