The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-09-12

4
using the boxes I had made, TO carry
of the plunder But knew tha;
Rupey was s.liom or never there
alone When be came to tea that
evening, however. locking "a in
nocent as a lamb, began TO think
my sa'picions in regard TO bin were
all wrong.
Next morning the EngIisbmsa
came for the boxes He examined
them carefully. and then bad them
done up in brown paper wrappers,
and took them away in a carriage.
waited sigh after him, for faa-
cied ! was never to see him and the
three black boxes again. O.e hates
TO have mystery unsolved. you koow.
] started to go home ~ the usual
hour. and for some reason never
could tell why, went whole block
out OF my way TO pass Watson Bros
je1elry store. IL slmetimes seem.
As il We were m ade to do things by
some power outside our own minds,
or 30 deep in our minds tnat we are
not conscious Of it. Such power
seemed to impel that wav. IL GER
tainly was not to see Rupey and to
walk with him. fr we were not oe
such good terms a. that.
VIII. just before | got to the store.
isas hack s.ns, Ia front ~ II, and
lh,' driver jump dosn and open hi
coach door Tfen vou can imsgine,
or rather Won cant imsgire. nv per
sonal bewilderment when | sew
gentleman cJme ~, oi the store
&I'h a carpet bag 10 hi left hand
aud what seemed " De- one Df ih..
boxes We bad just made under hi-
right arm. t. was th b,x with the
single white circle on il
After bin came oil Mr.. Watson
himself, hReheaded, Carrying the
other two boxes, one by the handles,
aud the other on top Of that I had
a glimpse Of the two and three white
circles as be passed them 20 the gen.
tlemen in the hack.
Then Suddenly an idea struck me
that set my head whirIing the other
way, and that was that they were not
my boxes::at all You know the effect
when you've turned one way till
you're dizzy, then you turn the other ?
You somehow unwind your tsngie
Ny head was clear again Ia a second, |
aud, stepping up 10 Rupey, who was
stsnding just inside the store door. I
said. quite carelessly-
'Is that man iD the hack member
Of your 6rm 90
"Not exactly" says he That's
Mr. Rinkton, our travelling agent"
s'Shouldn' wonder" says /, "if he's
got something nice in those boxes
"a triae," ssys be; perhaps ten or
twenty thousand dollars 10 watches |
aud iewelry. He has carried fifty |
thousand dollars worth 10 those
same boxes before now"
That confirmed nv suspicion about
them being old boxes. aud not the /
new ones we had made.
Isn't be afraid to travel with so
much property" asked /.
What should be be afraid Of
said Rupey, cool as cucumber.
"Robhers-railrosd accidents, ]
reioined"
"0h, be haa his ayes peeled - said /
be. "Soon as be gets to the station
be has those boxes locked up ia the |
safe in the express car, aud be don't 1
see EN- again till be gets to Chicago. |
The express agent receipts for 'em,
and then the company ia liable for
their full value"
While RapeY, was taking PIT this
and that together, and it came over
me like fash that must hurry to
the depot aud tell Mr. Rinkton. for be
had already gone away 10 the hack,
tha. there was q design-I felt sure Of
t,'hough orcourse couldn't e&plAia it
to rob him Of those boxes Of Jew
elry
"Goiag TO dinner2" said Rapey, I
wait minute, I'm going too"
Il can't wait" ! said Il have an /
errand to do, and I've stopped too
long now"
As soon as was out Of bis sight
began TO run. twas then IL O'Clock I
The Western express train would 4
start 10 half az hour. Is was a mile
to the depot I think | never made 4
q mile 10 less time in my life | got
TO the station all out Ct breath ]
looked through the passenger rooms,
a. the sickes Office, the crowd going to
the ears, bat no Rinkton ! tried to
get through the passenger gate, but
the guard stopped me. | had no ticket
and bad to tarn back Then | ran
aroand 90 the freight gate | vas 10 1
luck There stood Mr.. Rinkton, evi-
dently waiting for a chance to speak
to the express agent, and there. rest
ing on hand truck beside him With
other packages, were his three black
eases, lying one on top Of the other i
We're curious made up creatures,
and the man tia, can understand
aod explain ell bis aetioas "a wiser
than aa. Eager a. had been to
see Mr.. Rinkton, was pat all aback
wben I saw him. I didn't know
what I was to say to bin after all
Suppose had rushed up TO him snd
said
You'd better look out flr those
boxes there1I De "a sttemps 20 rob
yoa between here aud CniesgI"
The very least | could have es-I
pecsed would have been the polite
information that be could attend to
Eis own husieess. and the wholesome
advice tha. I'D better go about mine
So halted. got behind oHe of the
great pillars Of the depot. TO think Of
what should do.
There I was, getting my hfestb
and nv thoughts, when another hg-
ore attracted nv attention It Ess
nv EngIisbmsn. with the distracted
haitches. lie esideotly wsoted to
spesk u the express agent. wHo wss
then attending to pussing seme things
in the express ear. My mao bad
some . rs Of heavy bandle under bis
arm, covered with piece os barisp.
He cane 10 aud rested on the haad
truck, quite near Mr. Einkron add bic