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

"Now, Mr. Kepiinger," said Frank to
the agent, there is a cash-box in this
trunk which belongs to Major Bramley,
and which contains-how much does it
contain, Major?"
'Forty-eight hundred and twenty-nine
dollars and seventeen cents"
"Great Heavens ~ exclaimed the agent,
land you packed that box in q trunk!
and that trunk without scratch on it to
show who owned it,"
land I want you, Mr.. Keplinger," con-
tinued Frank, unruff1ed by that gentle
mans apostrophe, to witr ess that Major
BramIev takes possession of that box here
in broad daylight, and that I refuse to
touch it."
'sGo on!' said the agent.
Frank lifted the lid and fell back. Bram-
| ley dived into the trunk up to his Shout
ders, and came up-empty-h handed He
glared at Frank, speeches..
Frank, also speeChless, also dived, and
also came up-empty-handed!
The agent took his turn, fished cOolly
and carefully, and came up-empty-hand-
ed
The major was as pale as a specter.
Frank had quietly settled himself down
on the carpet, with view to dying COM
| fortably if he must die.
Wrong trunk again, eh?" shouted
| KepIinger, jerking him up on his feet,
as they do the dead man in the panto-
mime.
at is my trunk-oh, yes" said Frank,
settling down again, exactly like the dead
man in the pantomime.
The agent, having reached the fruition
of all his labors in this case in the find
ing of the missing piece of baggage,
could we'll be pardoned for rather cool
| contemplation of the CONSERVATION of his
| companions at the loss of the money, with
which he had no concern. The Majors
| rigid face relaxed at last, and Frank came
to life suddenly-as the dead man does in
| the pantOmime.
"Major," said he; somebody has stolen
that box; | told you So"
II begin to suspect as much" said the
| Major, cuttingly.
But his arrow missed its mark, for
Frank had turned his eye upon the serene
| Mr.. Keplinger, and the next moment, adj
| dressing that gentleman, exclaimed, "The
man who has had possession of this trunk
must be arrested instantly"
''In that case" said the agent, still Sc
rene, you will find copy Of this dispatch
| serviceable, as furnishing a clue to his
| Identity" And he handed Frank the dis
| patch from Chicago.
"Do you mean to tell me-" said Frank,
| growing red in the face, "that you are not
| going to help me any further?"
Cant, possibly" said the agent. 81
| have found your trunk: there my duty
ends But stay! | don't mind aiding
you with a suggestion. 1t strikes me that
a man who describes Congressional docu-
ments as valuable wouldn't be likely to
! banker much after mere greenbacks."
"And il strikes me-" said the Major,
that the best thing you can DO is TO go
back with me and make a clean breast of
| it to the General
Frank, failing to perceive any course
more feasible, acquiesced in the Majors
suggestion.
"But mind you, Major" said he, "I'm
not going to crawl. "I'll just tell him ex-
actly how the thing stands, and then he
may do his worst. know one person
who'll stand by he, and" Here his
emotion got the upper hand of his vocal
organs. He said no more.
When they reached the Washington
depot they were obliged to wait a few
minutes for the arrival of the horse car,
and as they were standing on the plat
form a railroad-man stepped up and
touched Franks elbow.
"See here, young man." said he: didn't
you go East about ten days ago, and
wanted to do something with your trunk
after they'd got it on the truck, and they
pulled it off for you?"
eyes L did," said Frank, pricking up
his ears.
"Just come along with me-" said the
railroad-man.
"What do you want with me?" said
| Frank, grown tride weary since his ex-
| perience with Neighbor Maltby.
Just come along with me-" said the
railroad-man.
The Major expressing his willingness to
| go along with Frank, Frank went along
with the railrOad-man without further
ado The railroad man led the way to
| the desk in the baggage-rOom.
"DO you know anything about this ?"
asked the railroad-mGn, setting down
dusty cash-b0x under Franks nose.
II rather think I do" said Bramley,
| Selling it with grip of steel.
| Frank stood transfXed.
The Major whipped out his key, IN
| locked the box, ran over its contents, and
locked it again in about one minute and
a quarter. "It's all right, Frank" said
he to the lifelike statue of that young
man standing beside him.
81 reckoned you'd be after it before
this time," said the railroad-man, al
| dressing the same inanimate object.
"You recollect you opened your trunk
for something? Well, you forgot to put
that box in when you shut it up again,
and didn't notice it till the train was
off. Of I'd only a-knowed what was in
! it, nowD So just set it up here on the
shelf, thinkin' when you missed it, you'd
| be a-sendin' for it., And | never thought
of the old thing again till l saw you out
| side there jest now. ''-LGppjac0tt'S Mag