Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-02-19

a
of about two hundred acres to keep her
at1oat, year in and year out"
L don't trouble myself about that sort
of thing" said Frank, loftily. The old
man had hit him in another tender spot.
Pm glad to hear you say So" was the
response. ''I'd be sorry to see a girl like
that hitched on to a poor man. 1t would
be the worse for both Of 'em."
Frank had nothing to say to this, so he
only shrugged his shoulders.
YOU'RE on the way UP there now,
reckon" said the old man.
Frank proceeded to explain his situa-
ton at length.
''Singularest thingI ever heard in my
life" exclaimed Mr.. Maltby, as Frank
concluded his story. do you mind if I
go along and see that trunk opened.
Il wish you would" said Frank.
And so he did.
And what do you think the trunk con-
tanned? It was crsmmed full of public
documents.
"If that isn't putup job" exclaimed
Frank, triumphantly, "then I'd like to
know what it isi''
The agent was not quite so sure about
it, but he owned there was ground for
suspicion, especially as the trunk itself
was b 9th new and cheap. Upon refec-
ton he resolved to give Frank the bene-
fit Of the doubt.
"I'll telegraph Monday morning" said
he, and find the trunk you claim, if posi-
bic. What was the mark? ?"
"H. L. B."
"Do you want to take the responsibility
of having the party in possession Of it ar
rested if he can be found?"
"By all means!" exclaimed Mr.. Maltby,
seeing Frank hesitate.
eyes" said Frank, thus encouraged,
"arrest him. II know it's my trunk"
"Well," said the agent, ''lOok in to-mor-
row evening or the next morning Good
night"
"All rightr' said Frank. "Good-
nightw And he and Mr.. Maltby started
back to the hotel.
The next morning Neighbor Maltby,
who was an officer in the Government Sc
cret service, as you may have guessed,
quietly invited Frank to return to Wash
ington with him, and the young man
passed the following two or three days in
strict seclusion. 1t appeared that some
body-I think myself twas the General
had undertaken to account for the loss of
the money on the suppositiOn that Frank
had stolen it. This theory didn't hold
water very long, though, and he was soon
released. When he went to his room he
found there had been a search-warrant
there in his absence, and he had the
pleasure of lacking dswn his carpet and
putting things to rights generally. When
he went up home the next day he found
his mothers house had been favored with
a similar visitation.
| should have said that Frank had pres
ence Of mind enough, after he was ar
rested, to send line by the up-train that
morning to the gayest little girl, explain
ing his lamentable situation, and eXhort-
ing her to bear up for his sake, and so
forth. Of course she could see that the
wedding, appointed for the next morning,
was "of," as the horse-men say, till
things should clear up.
The next morning after his arrival
home Frank was summoned back to Bal
timore to identify his trunk. When he
reached there, Mr.. Keplinger read to him
a dispatch received two days before from
st. Louis. It said: "Trunk marked III
L. B. forwarded to yonr address last
night. Party claiming it in custody,
awaiting requisition from your Cover
nor"
"The trunk arrived this morning" said
the agent. Here 1t is. Do you recog-
nize it. Is it your trunk?"
"It certainly is" said Frank. "But [
never put that strap on it. And the lock
has been changed, too" he added, as he
tried to unlock it.
agent. "Let me try" But he had no
hatfoy, tbor
sure this is the right key?" he asked.
Yes"
Every well, then, this is not the right
trunks
81 tell you it is my trunk" said Frank
doggedly. "Open it and I'll convince
you" But no matter what he said, he
was by no means 50 confident as he had
been before the trunk was shown him.
There you are" said the agent,
throwing up the lid.
1t needed but glance to show what
the trunk contained-a Iady's and baby's
wardrobes nicely packed. Franks con-
dition at this discovery was deplorable to
behold.
do you know what you've done,
young man?" said the agent, looking
through and through the poor fellow with
company in a suit for damages that may
cost them thousands of dollars"
II confess that I'm down." said Frank;
You've been very obliging, and [ thank
you with all my heart. You can do What
you like with me-"
"Then I'll give you piece of advice:
The next time you start on a journey
co77z910o.e 3Jo7,7a ckecke Good dav sir ~
Frank backed out and took the next
train for home.
The agent started the trunk back to St.
Louis at the earlies moment possible,
telegraphed an orde for the release of
the party in arrest, and rendered to that
party, on behalf of the company, the
amplest apology for the blunder that had
been committed.
The very next morning Mr.. Keplinger
received a dispatch from Chicago inquir-
ing for missing trunk, checked from
Washington for Pittsburgh, September,
contents valuable. Party received wrong
check at Washington. Trunk his check
calls for is here Identify our trunk by
ID. H., Jacksonville, Ill., written with
pencil on right-hand end near top"
Having read this dispatch he drew out
the humble receptacle of our national
literature from his closet turned the right
hand end to the light, and there, in dim
and grabbed characters, beheld the le-
gend I'D. H., Jacksonville, ILL.," How
his heart warmed to I'D. H." for even
that unsatisfactory token of passenger
not wholly depravedl
He started the trunk with its valuable
| contents" on its way to Chicago without
| DELAY, telegraphed his action to the bag