Semi-weekly Bourbon news., 1883-12-07

sH dusn't d nsar bita, sns, said the
SscuiSrig saidf TssTt tS-taEe me T Bar bar
eel. He says he knows nothing about
very we'll, then; said Tom, in dess as;:'
peratiohi TftAH .fslall "a tlmistake, hut it,
he won't see me, shan't take any more
tr0GbIes s-s 'sss--a
> WITH this, Tom marched out of the
house ina great state |of Indignation,
! but With sn odd sensation. that fate. had.
decreed he should keep the money. He
would have left the parcel with the SER
want, in spite of Mr.. Burrows iniunc-
tions, if he could only have felt that he
was doing right 1t seemed hardly like
I'ly, however, that a person would deny
all knowledgeiof such q consignment; If
he'were really the sender. 1t is true
i that Tom was inclined to doubt Mr..
Burrows Yeracity on this point, but,
\ after. all, he might be. mistaken. He
hurried back to his hotel, and questioned
the waiter who had taken in the parcel,
The man, however, adhered to his story,
and was quitescertaint that Mr.. Burrows
name had never been mentioned. After
all, the circumstances which connected
that gentleman's name with the parcel
was the accompanying card which had
been left at the house and Tom had
done his best to follow up his clue. 81
AS there appeared to be no one in the
hotel who expected to receive parcel;
Tom resolved to apply to Mr.. Straw
bridge, of Slocum, to elucidate the mys-
| terry In his excitement he had forgot
| ten all about his portmanteau;, but it
now occurred to him that Mr.. Straw
bridge could explain the whole affair,
for Tom still suspected that the parcel
had been intended for. the messenger
who had carried the letter; and upon
/ reflection he felt more and more con-
vinced that Mr.. Burrows, for some mys-i
terious reason, had deliberately at
tempted to deceive him. -.,-t
i Tom travelled to Slocum by the ear
liest train, revolving these things
i'm his mind, and at the end of his jour
Iney, having recollected the impending
detection, he had formulated his ideas
! IA little He was hardly surprised to
learn that Mr.. Strawbridge was the
IConservative agent, and though it had
Ibeen given out that the election was to
be conducted on party principles, he
began to feel little suspicious. He
called upon Mr.. Strawbridge. at his
office, but discovered that he was at
tending a noisy meeting of his party at
| the assembly-rooms. Tom waited pa
tientlv until the proceedings broke up,
and then took the earliest opportunity
to accost him. ti'...--- ..'.
| Unfortunately, Mr.. Strawbridge was
| a fussv, self-important individual, and
little suspecting the delicate nature of
| Toms communication, he declined to
accede to his request for a private inter-
1 view, but roughly requested him to
state his business on the spot. His man.
ner put TOMS back up, and although
there were several persons in hearing,
! Tom did not hesitate to inform him that
i owing to an accidental circumstance he
had been entrusted with box of sover-
eigns to deliver to him. Tom then pro-
ceeded to detail the facts of the case, and
his story caused perceptible stir among
the by-standers.
pooh! pooh! It's all nonsense" in
! terposed Mr.. Strawbridge, turning very
red, and glancing apprehensively around
him.
''But,what did the note mean then?"
cried Tom, not relishiug the statement.
t'The money was sent to me because I
WAS believed to be your messenger.
| s'Hullo, Strawbridgei' exclaimed a
voice from the crowd, significantly.
|! Gentlemen, l assure you this is an
unworthy n1an@nVre of our opponents, y"
said Mr.. Strawbridge, raising his voice.
Ii''It is an attempt to convict me of bribery
and corruption. know nothing about
I the parcel. This young man has been
j sent here to prejudice our candidate,
and to spread damaging rumors."
s'Shame! shame!' burst from the ex-
cited by-standers; and Tom, who was
IIby no means disposed to take this re-
Ibuff calmly, suddenly became the OBJ
IIject of popular Indignation. Before he
9 had time or opportunity for remon-
lstrance, his hat was crushed over his
5Ileyes, and he was violently elected into
the street. But be clnng to the pre-
Ecious parcel with logged determination,
and managed to carry it away with him.
Il Tom was a hotrtempered fellow, but
he had pretty shrewd eye to his own
Interests. After what had passed, he
Eguessed that neither Mr.. Burrows nor Mr..
Strawbridge would be anxious to- claim
the box of SoYereigns, which he consid-
cred himself entitled to retain by way OF
damages for the injuries he had sus-
tanned. He took the nexttrain to town,
] and paid the money into his banking ac-
count, and then wrote to both of the
above named gentlemen, expressing his
Willingness TO refund the amount to
whichever was entitled to it, upon re.
, ceiving, a y satisfactory explanation
Strange to say, neither of these com
! mdnications elected any reply, and from
J what he afterwards gathered from the
local press, Tom is inclined to believe
that he will remain in undisputed pos
session of his spoil. London Truth.
One of the queerest curiosities Oh