Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-06-18

trainp Did you see 1t put on!'
"Yes, sir" said John; 81 saw it put
on that train myself"
swell, well, . 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. y oai
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 youp'H
asked the conductor.
"Yes, SIR" answered John, n little
surprised.
"You've lost trunk, have you, my
boyP"
"Yes, sir Can you tell me where to
find itP" the latter questioned, eagerly.
"Did your trunk contain anything
very valuablep'
"Veryr' said John; "and / must
find it," looking anXiously around atthc
trunks. ~"
"Any objection to telling me what
your trunk containedp' 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-o
ductor, narrowly watching John, who.
started ysibly. ''Do you think a boy
could live till this time shut up like
that?" went on the conductor, in a
sterner tone.
"I-don't know" said John, with q
catch in his voice. .yHJa
Running away to sea thus far had
proved doubtful pleasure.
That's thing you should have
thought of before trying such a fool,
hardy trick as this" said Conductor
P. IF you wanted to 60 to sea.
why didn't you do it like man, and
not sneak off like thief?"
John stood abashed, terror-stricken,
too, at the thought of what might be
Fred's fate.
"You want to 60 to sea, do you?"
continued the conductor, ironically.
"I-don't know" said John. But
I want to find the trunk $500 Vi.
Naturally you dc" mercilessly said
the conductor. 81 should suppose you
would, after leaving boy in "a danger
GUS situation like thatr' Mrs. IN
"Oh, sir. If you know nything about
Fred, please tell Wer' with a sharper
catch in his voice. 9s
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-H
neralp' M es
Poor John! No one to blame but
himself! He feared the worst had
come, and certainly wished himself at
that he had an engagement OF lew
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
the trunk.
Fortunately. the trunk was put in
right side up. and, for time, ne went
quite comfortably. At one of the sta
, tions where more trunks were put in,
one came crash on top OF Fred's. The
cover cracked, and Fred shrank down.
Gracious, that came near smashing
t me!' he thought "Hope they won t
put in many like that!'
} His bones were beginning to ache,
and he felt stiff from being cramped in
J one position so long. "a
: He tried to stretch-in vain; he then
AEied to turn little, with a like result.
! ~"Oh, dearr' he groaned; "this is
anything but fun.
| All this time other trunks were piling
up about him, thus lessening his supply
t OF fresh air.
To add to his discomfort, he began to
/. feel sick; his head ached-yes, and he
ached all over. .m.,a,,
aid give ten dollars to be out Of
k this he thought. 81 wish i hadn't
n come in this sneaking way it--i
l., He grew sicker-real seasick. He
V wondered if he were going to- die; bc
was sure he felt sick enough. .slyi9
: If any of you, readers, were ever
a seasick you can sympathlze with poor
Fred and know little of the misery he
J, was suffering. ..f Lsgoe
II At last he could endure it no longer.
It He heard men in the car, and he cried
1; out: 5e8mt .g j
is Let me outI'
Hello, therep' exclaimed one of the
v men. "What' thatP" 1t
Of They stood still minute, listening.
. LET me out! Oh, let me out!
,e came in muffled tones to their ears. lt
in Robbersl" shouted the man, jump
inga back. Thieves in herer and,
,e for few minutes, there was quite a
h. lively time in the car. fst 20.
The trunks were pulled out, and
m guided by a. rather stilied howl, Fred's
trunk was broken open, and a miser-
4. able, haggard, homesiok boy was found.
to The conductor came along, aud Fred.
a in bit of shamefaced way, confessed
in all about the sea-going plan-but only
after various questions from the con
to ductor. Even John might have for
O. given him for telling, if he had seer
what wretched, homesick boy he was
ID "Well," asked the conductor, with
dry smile, do you want to keep OF
k. and 90 to seap" q, ....lt, q
ar Fred's longing for the sea had cooled
to His experience in the trunk had takeI
the romance all out of sailors life fo
he him.
"rd rather go home than do any
thing else in the world" said Fred
with more energy than he had befor
:" displayed.
Conductor P knew the boy
father, and he decided to send Ere
he home. He had looked through tn
re train for John, thinking to see if hi
mind had changed; but no boy answer
IN. ing his description was found, as We
P'' who remember his adventure at D.
,,,t Ctatsov, GnOtu