The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-04-12

drew up there. Then he whlstled a 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 pretty thick
hedge of cedar-trees and black berry BUSH
es was Squire Curtis with his gun. He
had been watching for a shot, but when
he saw Slas 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? ooh no open
trunk, eh ! and not his either, or he'd
waited till he'd got home p
SO softly through the hedge came
Squire Curtis, and the first instant Silas
opened the trunk the Squire had him by
the collar.
The yell which Silas gave when Mr..
Cohen languidly stuck up his two attenu-
ated legs, which had been tightly doubled
up in the trunk, was only equaled by the
shout from Squire Curtis. The horse
started Sila8 fell backward out of the
wagon the Squire stood like man Of
marble; and away went the wagon, with
Cohen's legs dangling careessly over the
end Of the trunk.
"Whose is that?" said the Squire,
when his voice came to him.
Mr-r-r-Brch's' chartered 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
nothing but that the trunk was to go to
Mr.. Birchs; and who the " corpse" was,
bless his soul and body, he knew nothing
about it, but it might go to-any place,
before 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 Of Mr.. Birch. Shrieks, fainting-
fits, shouts to take it away, and u gen.
cral scene of horror and confusion which
had never BEN known in that part of the
county, was succeeded by the exodus, on
foot, or in some ones arms, of all the
women, and 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 discov-
cred that she knew nothing, and that it
must have got changed on the cars and
cob! please never mention it again i
Oh dear! Oh dear"
Itwas finally concluded to put the re-
mains of murdered man" in the stable
for the night; and the Squire, who was
the coroner for the county, declared his
intention Of summoning a jury in the
morning. 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 came before the jury and
told the history of the skeleton, showed
how all its joints and separate and indi
vidual bones were neatly joined and ar.
ticulated by means Of wires, and pulled
from his pocket the bill and receipt o.
the skillful artifcer who had prepared the
specimen, the jury found a verdict" Dice
of some cause unknown"
Cyrus then repackcd Mr. Cohen, anc
sent him by one Of Mr. Birch smen to the
station, to await orders; taking care this
time to lock the trunk.
Mr.. Durham did not go over to hi
, fathers house right away, but staid tt
supper. Fanny was still very nervous
, and he walked out into the garden will
her to explain it all fully; and he ex
planned it all to such an extent that sh,
agreed, before the conversation closed
. that when she travelled in the future i
should be with him, and they both shoul(
have the same trunks.