The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1869-08-05
PLYMOUTH, INDIANA, THURSDAY AUGUST 5,

However, in an hour or two, along came
Silas Hopes, peripatetic green grocer
and general vender, who for half the or
dinary fee offered to take the trunk to Mr.
Birch's. He was going that way, and
was always glad Of an excuse to stop any
where on his route, even if it was not at
the house of a customer.
On the road Silas examined the trunk.
"Well, reckon" said he, II never saw
such a common old trunk go to the Birchcs'
afore this day. Shouldn't wonder if Miss
Fanny'd been a-buying c'rosities up to
Phily. It's light, too. Yes, that's SO; l
thought it ratified when l put it in; don't
doubt it's shells, or sewin' machine.
They might as well a locked it, for here's
hasp and all: 1 don't expect it's much,
any how, or it 'ud "a been locked"
A slow drive of quarter of mile now
followed.
in in, when it amt locked nor nuthin.
Everybody else has looked, I'll bet"
Just little ahead was turn in the
road, and a large tree at the corner with
a nice bit of smooth grass under it. 1t
and cool off a little; and so the old man
drew up there. Then he whistled little
and looked about him carelessly. Then
he stood up and looked around carefully
Then he unstrapped the trunk. Then he
whistled few bars more, and raised the
lid.
On the other side of a pretty thick
hedge Of cedar-treeS and blackberry bush
es was Squire Curtis with his gun. He
had been watching for shot, but when
he saw Silas stop and stand up to view
the country he watched Silas He
had long suspected the old chap, and what
was he going to do now? "Oh no! open
a trunk, eh and not his either, or he'd
wait till he'd got homer
So softly through the hedge came Squire
Curtis, and the instant Silas opened the
trunk the Squire had him by the collar.
The yell which Silas gave when Mr..
Cohen languidly stuck up his stwo attenua-
ted legs, which had been tightly doubled
up in the trunk, was only equaled by the
shout from Squire Curtis. The horse
started Silas fell backward out of the
wagon the Squire stood like man of
marble and away went the wagon, with
COhen's legs dangling carelessly over the
end of the trunk.
"Whose is that ~ said the Squire, when
his voice came to him.
"Mr-r-r-Birch's," chattered poor old
Silas.
That's lie," said the Squire "He's
not dead, know. What have you been
doing?"
Silas then explained that he knew moth
ing but that the trunk was to go to Mr.
Birch's; and who the corpse was, bless
his soul and body, he knew nothing about
it, but it might go tO-any place, for all
he would touch it; and upon this he was
for cutting across the fields to his
home But the Squire seized him,
and forced him to hurry on after the
horse and wagon. They came up with it
just as it reached Mr.. Birch'S gate and as
Silas would not go near the wagon, the
Squire had to seize the horses head and
turn him into the yard.
1t is useless to endeavor to describe the
scene which took place in the happy
family on the porticO upon the advent of
Mr. Cohen. Shrieks, fainting fits, shouts
to take it away, and general scene
of horror and confusion which had
never been known in that part of the
county, was succeeded by the exodus, on
foot, or in some ones arms, of all the
women, and a council of the men. Silas
told his story, not emitting in his fright
his sin of curiosity Mr.. Birch went
up stairs to question Fanny, and only dis
covered that she knew nothing, and that it
must have got changed on the cars: and
" OH please never mention it again! Oh
dear! Oh dearr'
1t was finally concluded to put the re-
mains of the murdered man" in the
stable for the night; and the Squire, who
was the coroner for the county, declared
his intention of summOning jury in the
That night, however, Mr..
Birch, who thought that Mr.. Durham
might be able to explain this Though how
he knew not), sent the telegram.
When Cyrus appeared before the jury,
told the history of the skeleton, showed
how all its joints and separate and indi-
vidual bones were neatly Joined and artic
ulated by means of wires, and pulled from
his pocket the bill and receipt of the skill
full artificer who had prepared the speci
men, the jury found a verdict "Died of
some cause unknown"
Cyrus then repacked Mr. Cohen, and
sent him by one of Mr.. Birch's men to the
station, to await orders; taking care this
time to lock the trunk.
Mr. Durham did not go over to his
fathers house right away, but staid to
supper. Fanny was still very nervous,
and he walked out into the garden with
her to explain it all fully; and he ex-
planned it all to such an extent that she
agreed, before the conversation closed that
when she travelled in the future it should
be with him, and they both should have
tho Samn trunks TI1rnpr's N100ziDe