Daily Republican., 1881-06-10
THE LOST PACKAGE.
AN OLD ENGINEERS STORY.
BY FREDERICK LEE,


!; ness the president could possibly have
4 with me.
y 81 was afraid you had met with an
. accident" he added. 81 never be-
. fore failed to lind you at your post"
:, "The fact is, sir" | explained, 81
. promised my wife to make few pur-
: chascs for her in the fancy goods line
here in Oakdale to-day. | forgot all
. about it until Il few moments ago, and
l then rushed over to Johnson'S store,
thinking that | should have ample
time to get the things and return before
starting time"
"That's all right" laughed the presi-
dent. I'm glad you didn't risk dis.
appointing your wife. And now I'll
state my business in as few words as
} possible. Watson, | want you to do
me Il favor
] replied that should be glad to
oblige him in any way in my power.
"iou know Mr.. Leonard Haven of
Eeedvilie, do you not?" he asked.
81 am not acquainted with him, sir"
| replied "but have seen him. He is
a tail, dark-compleXioned man, with
black side whiskers."
Exactly. Well, owe him a large
sum Of mopey-nearl y five thousand
dollars. | promised to pay him
the amount this evening. expected
to go to Reedville on this train, and to
spend several days there; but my wife
has been taken suddenly Ill and | can't
20. Now am a man of my word, and
Hs know Mr.. Haven needs the money
at once, | want him to have it. Will
you take it ?"
Certainly, sir, if you desire it. -
every well here is the money!" and
lie handed me Il small brown paper par
Gel. 81 don't know any one to whom |
would 50 willingly cntrust it as YOUR
self. | will send him II telegram at
once, directing him to meet You at the
depot at RecdNlIle upon the arrival of
the train there. In case he should not
come you will take the money to his
house, will you not ?'
"CertainIy, sir
'lm greatly obliged to you Watson,
and will not forget your kindness.
Good night. "
"Good-night, Mr. Harkius."
The president leaped from the cab,
and started the train at once, for the
conductor had given me the signal a
minute or 50 before.
Five hours later the train reached
Reedyile. 1t was then eleven o'clock.
The rain was pouring down in tor
rents, and the station was almost de-
serted.
"NIr Haven isn't here" said Brown,
my fireman. you'll have to gN to his
house, Watson.
81 don't know where he lives"
81 can tell you. He lives on Clifford
street, about Two miles from here" ad-
ded Brown. "Iou'll be soaked to the
skin before you get there, end perhaps
robbed in the bargain"
"a cheerful prospect" | muttered, as
| put on my coat. "However there
seems to be no help for it. Ahw
cried, as II tall man, wrapped in IL long
ulster, appeared upon the platform ana
advanced toward the engine, "hcre is
Mr.. Haven now. ;
The person referred to paused beside
the engine.
"Nlr Watson, | beleye?" he said, t
me.
"Ihat's my name, You, l think, are :
Mr.. Haven ."
81 am. Mr.. Hari,ins telegraphs me
that you have IL package for me.
II have here it is, and | handed +
him the brown paper parcel. :
'lhank you. Good night" and he J
walked rapidly away. /
"Im glad haven't got that walk to .
MI Haven'S house ahead Of me-" +
said, buttoning my great-coat to the +
chin. "It wasn't an agreeable prospect. '
Goodnight, Brown" +
"Good-night." q
| was about to leap from the engine :
when l saw Mr.. Haven again approach n
ng.
Il wonder what he's coming back
or" exclaimed. 81 hope the money q
vas all right" 8
"Ah, Watson, Pm just in time, it u
'eems. You We're about leaving % >
81 was, sir What can do Tor Won. u
Mr. Haven? Wasn't the package ali II
light" "
"What package ?" demanded the gen p
leman sternly. II
"Why, the package | gave you not II
i've minutes ago." | returned, SOME Ut
What nettled by his manner, and not IL
Inspecting the truth. " "
81 have received no package" said q
ir. Haven. 81 only arrived at the station
few moments ago. and | have not
cen you before this evening"
Nevertheless, sir" cried, | gave &C
he package Of money entrusted to me ST
y Mr. Harkins to you, or to Il person u
hon supposed TO be you, only n few W
linutes since" lle
81 see it all now," interrupted Mr.. az
iaven, eXcitedly. "You have been i'm te
oSed upon. The person whom you at
opposed to be me was an impoSter co
ade up to resemble me You've been th
le victim of a rascally plot, Mr.. Wat ca
N, and my five thousand dollars are an
me. qr
81 hope, sir" l stammered, "that an
III do not think that had any know th
dye" pi'
"Of course do not for an instant sus- ms
'ct you of any completely III the plot tin
terrupted Mr.. Haven. 81 know you
be an honest man, Watson. Come, ki
me, don't look so down hearted. We
ny be able to recover the money. ore
hich way did the fellow 60. We may ma
rhaps, overtake him." on
'That' so" cried Brown, "and I'll ing
ID the way" tic'
And he5umped from the engine and neg
II at the top Of his speed in the direc- uei
N in which the thief had gone, fol- tun
we'd by Mr.. Haven and myself. ran
But the rascal had had ample time to the
Ike good his escape, and we found no roa
ICE of him. No doubt he had effected ~ q
great a change in his appearance that
d We met him we should not have
him. FroI
The police were informed of the rob- M
ry and posters were ordered at the betty
nters, in which liberal reward was OF t
cred for the recovery of the money wee
4 the apprehension Of the tLief. Whl
t was nearly one o'clock when l to 81
clled home that night. My wife met to Il
at the door. | had sent boy an cont
lr before to inform her of what had OF 3
l I 7, ,,,, h., bor f,nn +b,+ ed T.,