The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-12-25

his brothers. He followed with noise
less tread, and on reaching the door of
the apartment, he saw, by the faint
glimmer of dark-lantern, a man on his
knees before Stephen Carr trunk (Which
still contained all the articles which had
been brought from abroad), and en-
gagged in forcing the lock. Some sound
which he made attracted the attention
of the robber, who sprang up and
rushed upon him but our grandfather,
presented his pistol full at his advanc-
ing assailant, fired, and the man fell to
the ground"
"'Was he killed outright ?"
Unfortunately, yes the bullet had
passed through his head. say unfor-
tunately, as with him died the last hope
of discovering the missing property; for
on examination the would-be robber
proved to be no other than Nicholas
Leerien, the Dutch shopkeeper."
"And his motive? What could have
been his reason for committing such q
crime ?"
"Do you not see," said Patience,
"that our granduncle must have pur-
chased from him some exceedingly valu-
able gems, and that he, being appraised
by my grandfather's inquiries that the
whereabouts of this purchase was I'M
known. and being also probably aware
of it's place Of concealment, had made q
desperate attempt to gain possession of
it p"
"I see. wonder what really did be-
come of it ?"
Father came to the conclusion that
it must have been stolen from his
brothers trunk on board ship, after his
death. Bat he always kept the trunk
and it's contents very carefully, and en-
joined on me to do the same, though
it has been ransacked again and again,
and every article it contains thoroughly
examined"
"And where is it now ?"
cup stairs in the little third-story
back room. Don't you remember ia
middle-sized sole-leather trunk, with
IS. c. marked on it?"
81 tell you what, Patience" said,
springing up, &c mean to have a look
at the contents of that trunk early to-
morrow morning."
"What nonsense, Addie Don't /
tell you that everything in 1T has been
thoroughly examined hundreds of
times?'
"Well, then, it will do no hurt to ex-
anime them the several hundred-and-
oneth time. But was not that ring at
the bell? Yes, indeed Here comes
my trunk, Patience. Iwait to show you
my Christmas gifts, and have knit you
such pretty Shawl" And in the I'M
packing and examination of my G:t.ttiie
treasures the remainder of the evening
passed swiftly away, and there was no
further question of Stephen Carr or the
lost jewels. But had not relinquished
my purpose, and as soon as the breakfast
things were put away the next morning,
l assailed Patience anew: "Where is
the key of Stephen Carr's trunk? /
know you mean to be closeted with
Norah for an hour at least superintend-
ing the stuffing of that turkey; SO, I'M
less you wish me to die of e1nUi during
your absence, you might as well let me
amuse myself after my own fashion"
Curiosity, thy name is-Adelaide
Carr !" laughed Patience, as she went
to her desk to look for the key, " Here
it is. And put on shawl, Addie; there
is no fire in the room, and / do not
want you TO catch cold.
And if I find the fortune ~
Bring 1t down stairs and show it TO
me that is, if it is not too heavy for
you to carry"
SO Patience disappeared laughing in
the direction of the kitchen, and hast
ened to put on my heavy cloth travel
Ing sacque, and made the best of my
way to the third-story back room--a
little. dingy apartment used as lum-
ber-room, and half filled with old
trunks, broken furniture, discarded
pictures i'll fact, all the rubbish which
collects IN old houses, and which,
though considered too good to throw
away, is usually mere useless lumber.
An old picture, the portrait of some for
gotten friend or distant relative of our
parents or grandparents, leaned against
the wall, and seemed to leer at me out
of its eyes with look of mockery and
discouragement. An old high clock in
the corner, Jared probably by my step
on the door, started suddenly into q
wheezy series of ticks, and then was
Stleub dShlu. Lie AK VI buc SHuJ-up
room smote coldly on my senses, and
chilled me despite my warm wrappipgs.
Gathering my dress about me, picked
nay way across the floor, avoiding sun
dry jagged nails and broken trunk
corners, and soon stood in front of the
frank marked IS. c." STOPPING, L
fitted the key TO the lock; it turned
slowly and creakingly, and with an
eager yet trembling hand L flung back
the lid. No sudden glow of gold or
jewels flashed from the interior. "A
quantity of masculine habiliments,
carefully folded, greeted my eyes, and
a strong odor of camphor assailed my
nose. That was all.
took the things out one by one, un-
folding each article as L did so, and
scrutinizing it carefully. Old-fashioned
shirts yellow as saffron; coats from
which every vestige of the lining had
been ripped in the search for the hidden |
wealth; trowsers with the pockets
turned inside out stockings not rolled |
in compact balls, but stretched out at
full length-such were the uppermost |
THINGS in the old Trunk Underneath |