The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-07-02

L
"Can you tell me what to do to find
it?" asked John, very earnestly and
anxiously.
"Lor', boy, I'll help you all cam
said the man, good-naturedly. Ibid
you say yer trunk come on the early
tramp Did you see it put onP"
Eyes, sir" said John; 81 saw it put
on that train myself"
"Well, WE'LL" said the man consol-
ingly. "You wait here minute and
I'll see if can find out anything about
it. guess it's all right"
Johns frame of mind was anything
but an enviable one as he stood await
ing the mans return. A few minutes
later he came back, and Conductor P
with him.
"You are John Sheldon, are you?"
asked the conductor.
Z" Yes, sir" answered John, little
surprised.
you've lost trunk, have you, my
boy9"
''Yes, sir. Can you tell me where to
find it?'' the latter questioned, eagerly.
Ibid your trunk contain anything
very valuableP"
"Veryr' said John; "and l must
find il" looking anXiously around at the
trunks.
"Any objection to telling me what
your trunk contained?n asked the con-
ductor.
John hesitated. Yes, he had decided
objections. He half-wished himself out
of this scrape.
There was boy shut up in that
trunk. was there?" questioned the con-
| I11oto1. norro,Ul1r Iuotnbinnr .IOhp who
started visibly. ''Do you think a boy
that?" went on the conductor, in
sterner tone.
"I-don't know" said John, with
catch in his voice.
Running away to sea thus far had
proved a doubtful pleasure.
That's a thing you should have
thought of before trying such a fool
hardy trick as this" said Conductor
P. IF you wanted to go to sea,
why didn't you do it like a man, and
not sneak off like thief"
John stood abashed, terror-stricken,
too, at the thought of what might be
Freds fate.
You want to go to sea, do youo"
continued the conductor, ironically.
} "I--don't know" said John. "But
1 want to find the trunk" '. a..
Naturally you do" mercilessly said
the conductor 81 should suppose you
would, after leaving boy in danger
, Gus situation like thatr'
''Oh, sir if you know anything about
Fred, please tell me!' with a sharper
catch in his voice.
1.-The best thing you can do is to GO
home and learn the result of your folly.
You may be in time to attend the fu-
neraln'
/ Poor John! No one to blame but
) himself! He feared the worst had
: come, and certainly wished himself at
home-more, that he had never left
home. t..# ... 81
| The conductor turned away, saying
7 that he had an engagement of few
minutes, and that John could wait
there if he liked till he came back.
Unhappy John he waited; for he
didn't know what else to do
Meantime, let us return to Fred in
7 the trunk.
3 Fortunately, the trunk was put in
= right side up. and, for time, he went
quite comfortably. AT one of the sta
!
t one came crash ON top of Fred's. The
: cover cracked, and Fred shrank down.
3 "Gracious, that came near smashing
men' he thought. slope they won't
5 put in many like thatp' ...t....
: His bones were beginning to ache,
and he felt stiff from being cramped in
| one position so long. tf'f-
He tried to stretch-in vain; he then
tried to turn little, with like result.
"Oh, dearE' he groaned; "this is
t anything but fun"
All this time other trunks were piling
up about him, thus lessening his supply
of fresh air. .a ..Usgl' U.I II
To add to his discomfort, he began to
feel sick; his head ached-yes, and he
| ached all over. t' Ho biz. t'
"Id give ten dollars to be out of
: this" he thought. u wish | hadn't
come in this sneaking way" ..,.....
, He grew sicker-real seasick. He
wondered if he were going to die; he
was sure he felt sick enough. .
If any of you, readers, were ever
seasick you can sympathize with poor
! Fred and know a little of the misery he
was suffering
At last he could endure it no longer
He heard men in the car. and he cried
out: ...t.
"Let me out!'
"Hello, therer' exclaimed one of the
men. ''What' thatp'' e.
They stood still minute, listening.
Z" Let me out! On, let me out!'
came in muffled tones to their ears.
Robbersr shouted the man, Jump
ing back. Thieves in here!' and,
for few minutes, there was quite a
lively time in the car. ...
The trunks were pulled out, and
guided by rather stifled howl, Fred's
trunk was broken open, and miser-
able, haggard, homesick boy was found.
The conductor came along, and Fred.
in bit of shamefaced way, confessed
all about the sea-going plan-but only
after various questions from the con-
ductor. Even John might have for
given him for telling, if he had seen
what wretched, homesick boy he was.
"Wen," asked the conductor, with
dry smile, do you want to keep on
and go to seap'' '..... B..
Fred's longing for the sea had cooled.
Sc, Al L.