The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-05-28

thought best to wait and see what might
turn up; all parties acquainted with the
facts being strictly charged in the mean
time to keep the matter absolutely a Sc
cret, and that nothing whatever should
be said outside. In spite Of all this, nv
father felt that he was in a most disagree
able position, especially when the rumor
went round every gossiping tea-table in
the town that Mr. - had been in
trusted with parcel containing ten thou
sand pounds, which, not being accountable
for, he had made way with. =.
Things went on in this way tor some
weeks, when one night, after all had re-
tired, my father was startled by violent
knocking at the front door; and, on his
opening his bedroom window, which was
almost directly above the door, and hail
ing the. intruder, he was answered by the
welcome shout "Is that you, Mr.. ?
and have you lost a portmanteau? have
one here in my hand with your name on
it; and as the tide will only serve half
an hour longer, and my vessel must soon
be under weigh, l ventured to knock
you up.' sa, ~35 e. 6riH4
Have you any one with youl" inquired
my father. ].8
eyes" replied the man, who was the
master of coasting schooner; "my cabin
boy" ~ s....
''Well, tell him." said my father, ITO 90
back to the schooner, and let the hands
take her down to the river for you at
Cowes. You shall join her tomorrow.
Meantime, will pay all charges
every we'll, said the captain. ''Come
down and take in the portmanteau, and I
will see you in the morning." ;5..@ =
"No; that will not do at all, was the
reply. "You must come with me at once
and don't let that portmanteau out of
your hand for a minute, it isof more value
than you think; and will be down d.
rectly.'''agn .,s y. 81. .-..s .- ..>...,.s
He dressed and came down, and took
the captain and his load away to the
bankers house; knocked up all hands,
and sent out for the other partners, before
he would allow word Of explanation to
be said. When all were assembled:
snow said my father to the captain,
''tell these gentlemen just how you be-
came possessed of the portmanteau; and
by all means assure them that my hands
have never touched it since it came into
your possession" which the captain at
once assured them was the case. II.
The captains story was, that while ly-
ing in the Thames at London waiting for
a return coasting freight, he had visited
all the warehouses where he was likely to
find any goods for the Isle of Wight,
when one of the warehousemen said:
elsie of Wight-do youknow the place,
and also Newport?''
The captain replied that he knew both,
and almost every man in the town.
swell, then, you may know this man, .
and the black leathern portmanteau was
produced.
20, yes," said the captain, II know
him we'll, and have goods for him on
board the schooner. 1 will take charge
and pay anything there may be for ware
housing"
The warehouseman made small
charge, said he did not know how the
trunk came there. but he was glad to b.
rid Of it; and the captain carried it off
and in due time it arrived at it's prope
, destination as described
"Now," said my father to the senio
partner, "take this key and open tn
trunk. I do not know whether the par
eel is there or not; all know is that
put it there, but under protest at tn
! time" -F# MS
. The portmanteau was opened, and tn
parcel found with all its seals intact
- The captain was dismissed for the nigh
! with charge to call at the bank the mex
J day; and my father returned to his be-
;, the happiest man in the world.
i The next day, in purely self-defence
the story had to be told all around tn
= town, so as to silence the gossipers. TIL
- captain called at the bank the next day
! and received as reward a sum beyon
= his expectations, which found the schoon
:, er new suit Of sails
How the portmanteau came to be trans
e ferred from the boot of the coach to tn
Is warehouse was never explained, which
~ consider not the least curious feature {
- the story. No one seemed to know an
i. thing about it, nor indeed were many il
- quiries made. ~