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

np stairs to bed, the waiter came and
handed him a parcel and visiting card.
The parcel was neatly done up in brown
paper, and bore no name or inscription.
The accompanying card, to his great
surprise, was his Own-the one he had
left at Mr.. Burrows house.
"What the deuce is the meaning of
this?" exclaimed Tom, as the waiter
prepared to leave the room.
| ga young person called just now and
left the parcel for the gentleman whose
name was on the card" said the man,
lingering.
"Was there no message?" inquired
Tom.
mo. sir; only the parcel was to be
given into your hands directly" re-
turned the waiter.
Tom began to perceive that there had
been a misunderstanding. No doubt
the parcel had been sent by Mr.. Bur
rows in consequence of the letter he had
delivered, and was intended for some
one else. 1t was rather strange pro-
ceeding to return VISITORS card, but
probably the messenger had bungled
over his mission. The most likely ex-
planation seemed to be that Mr.. Bur-
rows, imagining that the bearer of the
letter had left the wrong card by mis-
take, had sent it back with the parcel.
At all events Tom was too sleepy
to speculate over the matter, and
he therefore carried the parcel up to his
room, intending to return it when he
called upon Mr.. Burrows in the morn
ing
He was rather surprised at the weight
of the package, which was out of all
proportion to its size, and when he got
upstairs he was seized with curiosity to
know what it contained. AS it bore no
address, he felt, under the circum-
stances, justified in opening it, and he
therefore cautiously undid the wrapper.
Inside the brown paper covering was
neat deal box, also without address or
inscription. 1t was nailed down, but
the fastening was by no means fOrmida-
BILE. After a few minutes hesitation
Tom whipped out his pocket-knife and
pried open the lid sufficiently to be able
to take peep inside. Another cover
ing-tissue paper this t1me-baff1ed his
curiosity, but on lifting the edge of this
he beheld CLEAN of gold. His amaze
ment now overcame his scruples, and
without more ado he wrenched off the
lid completely.
'sSovereigns, by Jove! The box IS
literally full of them!' he muttered be-
low his breath.
Tom could hardly believe his eyes,
but he soon convinced himself that he
was not mistaken. The sovereigns were
neatly arranged in closely-packed lay
ers, and, as far as he could Judge, the
box contained G50O at least. He pro-
ceeded to do up the parcel again in an
absent manner, while he speculated
upon the meaning of Mr.. Burrows con-
duct. Even assuming the box was in
tended for some one else, it seemed an
extraordinary proceeding to leave a
large sum of money at hotel in such a
reckless way. He had previously ascer-
tanned that Mr.. Burrows was a retired
tradesman of very good repute. and
from all accounts he appeared to be the
last person to commit such rash and
unbusineSs-like action.
This singular incident somewhat dis
| turbed Toms nights rest, for it seemed
as though fate had placed in his hands
the means of freeing himself from his
pecuniary embarrassment. There was
nothing to prevent his appropriating
the money and making off with it, and
as it was all in gold there would be but
little risk of detection. Of course, he
was too honorable to seriously entertain
such a project; still, the temptation was
so vivid that he quite longed to dismbar-
| bipocolf of biC
| Accordingly he set forth as early as
possible next morning to Mr.. Burrows
house with the parcel under his arm.
He sent in his card andwas ushered into
a small sitting-rOom; but, after short
interval, the servant returned, with a
message that her master was too unwell
to see him.
81 called about this parcel" said
Tom. ''It was left at my hotel last
night, and l think there must be some
mistake. Will you ask Mr.. Burrows?''
The servant disappeared again, but
presently brought back word that Mr..
Burrows did not understand what he was
alluding to, and knew nothing about any
parcel.
"Whatr' exclaimed Tom in amaze
ment. ''Why, 1t was left at my hOte
last night with the card which l deliv
cred into your hands at the door yester
day afternoon. Of course. l imagined
it must have come from Mr.. Burrows. ;
''Mr. Burrows says he don't know
anything aboutit, - said the girl, looking
mystifed.
''You gave him my card, L suppose
and the note?" said Tom, after paust
of astOniShment.
Eyes, sir! directly he came in," saiC
the servent.
'This is most extraordinary. Just q
up to your master again, my girl, anC
repeat what have told you. You Nigh
also ask him if he would kindly let M
know the contents of the note / deliv
ered," he added, as an aforethought.
Before Tom had time to collect hi
scattered ideas, the servant came bacl
again, looking rather scared, with al
envelope in her hand, which he recog
nized as the note he had brought tn
, day before.
''Master has forbidden me to com
| Al