The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-10-15
MISS POLLY'S CARPET.BAG.

to Barnes corner: but there she was
perplexed how to get along, having, be-
sides her carpet-bag, her arms full Of
bundles and packages. Some stranger
who left the car at the same time, learn
ing that she had still some distance to
walk, advised her to leave her carpet
bag in the drugstore. which was what
he proposed doing with his
Before starting, Dave went out to the
dining-room closet to get an apple or
two to eat. While thus engaged, he
overheard his mother saying in an un-
dertone to Mary, the upstairs girl, that
Miss Polly was commencing to feel
rather anxious about her carpet.bag.
lest the strange man might have had
some design to purposely exchange it
for his own.
"Be sure you get the right bag" said
Mrs. Burt, as Dave went out. "Miss
Polly says hers was placed under the
right-hand counter, Just opposite to
where the stranger had his placed; and
to make no mistakes, see Mr.. Barnes
himself, if possible"
At the drug store. Dave found one of
Mr.. Barnes clerks, who was standing
at the back of the store, between the
two rows of counters.
"Yes, there were two bags here,
Dave" said the clerk; "but the gen.
tleman described by Mr.. Barnes as the
owner Of one of them has been back and
taken his away"
"Well, Miss Polly is always just
dreadfully exact, and she says hers was
put under the right-hand counter"
continued Dave, going to look behind
the counter next to the side of the
street.
There's where the man took his
bag FROM" said the clerk, quickly mov-
ing to look under the soda-fountain
counter. "But here's a bag under this
COUNTER
~, "He's got Miss Polly's bag'' ex-
claimed Dave. (Which way did he
go?"
II didn't notice. However, 1 re.
member him saying that he had been
up to,Mr. Joseph Cooper s, i've blocks
above here, but it was not the gentle
man of that name he was looking for.
You had better run Up there, Dave, and
see if he has been there. But fret, are
you sure that this isn't Miss Polly's
bag?"
Eyes, I'm sure, because it wasn't
where she said she had left hers; and
hers wasn't new and bright like this
one. Last summer her nephew Joe
and took her carpet-bag, without ask
ing leave, to carry things to picnic,
and somehow we got ice cream on one
side and blackberry pie on the other"
The stranger had been at Mr.. Coop
er's, and had been directed to INQUIRE
in Porter Street, about mile away, for
the man he was looking for. Return
ing to the drug store, the clerk advised
Dave to wait until the man could have
time to discover and remedy his mis-.
take. But Dave was so positive it was
worse than a mistake, that when we'll
known grocer wagon came along, 90.
ing down town. he asked for ride to
Porter street, to see if the man had
really gone there.
Then take this bag along with you,"
said tho drug-clerk. lin case you find
the man. you can exchange bags with
him without further trouble
Dawes repeated ringing at the bell of
The house in Porter street finally caused
q woman to look out from an upper
window.
"Go away, boy,'' said she. 1--WE
never buy anything from peddlers.''
But I've got q carpet-bag here, that
isn't" Dave began to protest.
"You needn't tell me how good it i.
I don't want.a carpctbag. Therer'
And down went the window-sash.
Dave was about to ring the door-bell
again, when . sleepy-looking girl came
growing to- tho basement.door. She
answered that the stranger with q car.
pet-bag had called there; but q the
gentleman he was looking for had
moved. she had sent him to . house six
blocks away.
fyo;nn ~ thn ,lo.:ou.<n.a
.et tha o. ~ ..o h ues'sna.eu HOUSE. Dave
s 80. '!1 20. p1.,uaoo uown On tne door'
s Sa, WIZ, Win u"ng; anu pulleo 1ne aoor-
A boy Of about Dawes age answered
s .a1 summons ~ H. ana ne was questioned
ao.a.n9 " Inc strange man with the
carpet'Dag.
- n s. ~
- 70 o y, .e se1n nring 2 carpet-bag
, w;.l ni ~ ens ooy called 70 some one
Witnln the mouse.
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