The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-07-02
"There amt no trunk like that h.,.

John stood minute, dismayed
There must lie one somewher.
said, not a little anxious. "Is H.. ~
another place to find trunks?" ''''s
"Not's | know Of" said tho M.
" Did yer trunk come along with yon S'';
"rve just come,' said John. "h,,
nv trunk came this morning." 'U'
The man looked again.
"Wal, the trunk amt here, that.
sure,' he said.
Poor John. What was to be dor.,
One thing was certain--he. must ,;ai
the trunk. He was sure it was nut Nv
board. Where was it now, and whs, W.
was Fred?
"C;sn you tell me what to do to find
it?' asked John, very earnestly and
anxiou:ly.
"Lor'. boy, Ill help you all | can.n
said the man, good-naturedlv. ibid
you say Yer trunk come on the earv
train? Did YOU see it put on?"
eyes, SIR said John; Il saw it mt
on that tram myself.
"Wel, wsll,' said the man consul
ing!y. "You wait here aminute and
Iii see il l can lind ont any thing about
it. guess it 5 all right.'
Johns frame OF mind was ANYTHING
but an cnviabAs one us he stood await.
ing the mans return. A few minute,
later lie came back, and Conductor r..
with him. ..
"You are John Sheldon, are you2n
asked the conductor. .g'j
"Yes, sir,' answered John, . little
surprised. ia. a,.
"Yoa've lost a trunk, have you, my
hoy?''
Yes, sir. Can you tell me where 70
find it?' the latter questioned, eagerly.
Ibid your trunk contain anything
very valuable?:' $3.50
"Very" said John; land I must
find it," looking anNiously around atths
trunks. .o. yH.-l .l.l!.,..
"Any objection to telling me whit
your trunk contained?' asked the con.
ductor. .'". .a H.
John hesitated. Yes, he had decided
objections. He haif-wished himself out
of this scrape.
There was boy shat up in that
trunk, was there?" questioned the con-
ductor, narrowly watching John, who
started visibly. do you think a bey
could live till this time shut up like
that" went on the conductor, ina
sterner tone. a6.
"I-don't know" said John, with .
catch in his voice. " . "i
Running away to sea. thus far had
proved a doubt ul pleasure: I'D
That's thing you should have
thought of before trying such TOOL.
hardy tri k as this said Conductor
p. If you wanted TO 60 to sea-
why didn't you do it like man, and
not sneak of like a thief?'' .4
John stood abasl ed, terror-stricken
too, at the thought Of what might be
Fred's fate.
"YOu want to 60 to sea, 90 YOU:
continued the conductor. ironically.
| "I--dont know" said John. But
l want to find the trunk IL
! Naturally you do mercilessly said
1.-The conductor. II should suppose you
would. after leaving boy in danger
| Gus situation like thatH' @''F
"Oh, sir, if you knowanything about
y Fred, please tell met withs sharper
catch in his voice. ea
j. 1.-The best thing you can do is togo
home and learn the result Of your folly.
You may be in time to attend thsfa-
Heral!' ms. ..a .,f II.
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 lett
home. # Ha .a
The conductor turned away, saying
J. that he had an engagement o. > lew
:. minutes, and, that John could wait
there if he liked till he came back.
Unhappy John he waited; tor No
: didn't know what else to do.
Meantime, let us return to Fred u
; the trunk. t'.N ''e,'''
Fortunately, the trunk was put a
right side up. and, for a time. no wen
! quite comfortably. At one OF ~ the ~
5 lions. where more trunks were pun ~ u,
! one came crash on top OF Fred'a lne
cover cracked. and Fred shrsnk down.
t "Gracious. that came near snasn'nE
a met he thought. Hope they wont
Y put in many like THAR
+ His bones were beginning to scne'
and he felt stiff from being crsmpso ~
t one position SO long. a H.,
He tried to stretch-in van; ne 1ns ,.
4 tried to turn little, with like result ':
y "Oh, dear" he groaned; "shls u
e ANYTHING but fun .rf@ 9et4.. :,;,,
y All this time other trunks were psllne
up about him, thus lessen'ng h's supply
8 OF fresh air. 49,. ...,s ,.,,.u.n :,
|. To add to his discomfort, he began y
(. feel sick; his head ached-yes' anu ~
Il ached all over: ''n ,"4a p, - -. 4
; "Td give ten dollars to oe ou. ~. :
Q this he thought. IL wish ! nSun
come in this sneaking way" , n,
s He grew sicker-real seas'cn. - =
g wondered if he were ge'ng 70 o'e' ~
{. was sure he felt 81, k enou,h.
n If any of you, readers, were ' s'o
sooe;ck Won ran sy,nnathize with poo
d Fred and know little OF the misery y
was suffering. ,once,
1t At last he could endure It NO long 81
He heard men in the car. ana ~ wv
1. out: l. ii.
"Let me out!' - ~
"Hello, therer' exclaimed ono u ~
k men. "Whst's that?' ,lts,ls,.
in They stood still a minute lsVen,. .i
n, "Let me out! ON let mt o'''
" came in muffled tones to their can. ,n,
Rotoers!" shouted the man; |u nn1