The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-09-21

been meddling with the lock. But can
name every article there is in it."
"You can't CANNON us" here said the
bystanders.
"Give the man his carpet-bag, and
back out; that's the safest way for you"
"I've got the real key" said Archer.
"Let him name the articles in it, if he
can. I'll open it, and prove that he
speaks falsely"
But Bossy obstinately refused.
"a pretty how-d'ye-do this is !" ex-
claimed he, "ifa man is obliged to tell
every inquisitive stranger what he car
ries in his carpet-bag. My baggage is
my own, and nobody shall pry into it.
Let me see the man who will attempt
it."
And, grasping the handles with wise
like grip, he confronted Archer, who was
a sGghter man; and he was now about
making his way off through the curious
and suspicious throng.
The confidence of Bossy and the hest
tation of Archer now created division
of opinion among the spectators; some
thinking one was the owner, some
the other, and some that both were
sharpers, seeking possession of stray
property, which they know had lost its
rightful owner.
"They ought to be arrested, in my
Judgment" suggested a severe-looking
old man, who had been much annoyed
by the troubles of Bossy.
A policeman was summoned to hear
the story, and he, imagining that he re-
cognized them as rogues whom he had
seen before, took the responsibility of
arresting them on suspicion, in accord
Bossy firmly resisting the appeal of
Archer to let him open the bag and prove
it to be his own.
"No use. 1 know it's mine," said
Bossy, "and will not submit to any more
indignities."
They were consequently conveyed
straightway to court, and complaints
were made out and preferred against
them separately.
Bossy was charged with stealing the
carpet-bag from one Robert Archer OF
some person or persons unknown; and
Archer was relied on to be the chief wit
ness against him.
Archer, equally suspected, was charged
with stealing the carpet-bag from one
Nathan Bossy or some person or persons
unknown; for, though the bag had not
been actually found in his possession,
he acknowledged having left it in the car,
and was supposed to have attempted to
secrete it from the true owner, wherever
he might have gone; and Bossy was to
be the chief witness against him.
The unlucky Bossy was tried first,
and Robert Archer was called to the
stand.
Il can easily prove to your Honor, u
said Archer, that the carpet-bag is
mine, by giving you an enumeration OF
the principal articles contained in it, the
which challenge the prisoner or any
one else to do. And, besides, L have the
key that fits it"
"Stole it p exclaimed Bossy.
"Silence, Sill" commanded the Judge.
"One pair of red flannel drawers,
three shirts with my name on them, one
wide-awake hat, one bottle of Schiedam
schnapps, two pairs of thin socks, six
numbers of the Literary Journal, shay
ing apparatus and toothbrush, pocket
Bible, one volume of Dumas latest
novels, three figs of tobacco, two short
pipes, large plum cake baked for me by
my aunt Jerushy, a pound of old cheese,
a tooth-pick, and O tweezer. l believe
that's about all.
very well, sir" said the court, "you
may stand down."
After further evidence, the Judge re-
- l. L. Il l.
at the other side of the story, upon which
he considered the evidence of Bossy
might throw some useful explanatory
light, which might prevent him from
doing any injustice.
And now Robert Archer's turn came,
and Nathan Bossy was summoned to give
his evidence. So confident felt he that
he put humorous light upon the mat
ter, despite his grievances, and advanced
to the attack with smile.
81 cannot say, as this audacious per-
son has pretended, that L have any
plum cake, made by an Aunt Jerusby,
in my carpet-bag though 1 wish there
was, and should have no objection to a
though have moral antipathies to
Oculeudm anu DLlIuaS novels. buU
when the court comes to take the key,
which the fellow doubtless stole from
me while was in the car, and opens
the bag, 1t will find there the following
articles, which / little thought, when /
packed them, would ever be exposed to
the vulgar gaze of the world: Two COM
plete suits of female underclothes, which
L intend to carry to lady relative of
mine in Yuzar; one bottle of hair-dye,
one rolling-pin, one flute, one volume
of Gibbons Decline and Fall OF the
Roman Empire, four ounces of Epson
salts, one pair of brown breeches, one
corn-popper and one pair of winter
boots AS the court has already heard
something of the inconvenience to
which have been subjected-whether
by accident or design 1 know mott
feel sure of its sympathies, and will
say no more, except that 1 now invoke
the opening of the bag, that may thus
confound all accusations against me,
and prove the prisoner an impostor."
Let the test be applied said the
Judge. Prisoner, produce the key"
Archer delivered the key. An officer
unlocked the bag, and its homogeneous
contents were emptied out. The proofs
were convincing. The bag belonged to