The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1883-12-25


lugged it into the house," and when |
get all those cards and things, that are
nailed and pasted on it, off, it'll look as
though it hadn't been used half dozen
times"
And having got it inside the kitchen
and opened it, he went on:
I'll tear out that paper in the bottom,
cause it's all stained with something and
put in new. Sandy THAT was his friend
the newspaper-man) will give me some.
And mommy, SOS not to make any muss
for you, Tll do it in the woodshed.
With my thich jacket on | shan't feel
cold"
And out to the wOodshed went the
trunk, and off went Sam to get the pa
pers. Back he came with them in a mo-
ment, and In few moments more he had
his paste made in an old tomato can and
set to work. But IN pulling the lining
from the bottom of the trunk part of \
hoard came with it. Sam leaned over to
see where this piece of board belonged.
why, this trunks extra strong," said
he as he did 80. made to stand bang
ing, l guess. It's double all through.
l'll get some nails and the hammer and
fasten this piece of wood in again before
| put the paper on"
But at the very first blow of the ham.
mer the other part of the board flew up
That's too bad" said Sam, taking the
pieces ont and looking at them with 4 rue
tul face Then he set the trunk up on
end, the better to see how to mend it,
when out fell something ON the floor with
"a jingle. Sam picked it up 1t WAS a
lady's bracelet, and, ;ts the sun flashed on
the jewels of which it was made, they
sparklcd like SO many little 'suns them.
selves
" Good gracious ;" exclaimed he,
"what beautiful thing. 1t must have
fallen through n crack and been hidden
under that broken board" And slowing
1t carefully away in his pocket, he ran out
to search for the ashman. But he could
not find him, and had to content himself
with the thought that he could see him in
the morning. Meanwhile he decided not
To say word about what he had found To
his mother, 6 for" he argued very wisely,
she'd think right away that some good
luck'd come of it SOS needn't 90 West,
and if there didn't she'd be awtully dis
appointed.
He didn't sleep much thai night think
ing of the treasure he had hidden under
his pillow, and when he did sleep his
dreams were as full of bright things as Il
Kaleidoscope. And the next morning he
was out on the sidewalk still earlier than
he had been the morning before, eagerly
watching for the man from whom he had
bought the trunk.
Where did You get that trunk you
sold me-" he shouted, as soon as he
caught sight of him.
"Whcre dye think? Ididnt stale it,
answered he in a gruff voice.
81 didn't suppose you did" said the
boy. " But stop a moment, 4" | want
to know where 1t came from, for very
particular reason"
"IIowly Moses! have yc found a purse
of goold in it % asked the man, who was
an Unlocking fellow.
* Never mind Where did you get
it? persisted the boy
"Divil a worrud will ye git out of me
till yc tell me what yer found, and prom
Use me half of that samc," was the reply.
"Then Pll ADVERTISE" said Sam, turn
ing away.
"Stop; don't be in such hurry Sure
Pm goin' to tell ye It's only ioolin' |
was. got it from Mr.. Charles Wander
decks house, round the corner on Fifth
Avenue, an l kin take ye there in min
nit. But what have yc found, honey?"
Sam drew the bracelet from his pocket
and held it up before the mans astonished
eyes.
"Och! what beauty Whist! honey,
don't yc be such fool As to take that
back. Them big-bugs s mighty name
bout such things. They is, sures me
names McGinness. They might give yc
foive dollars, An then agin they mightn't
give you foive cents. Let me take it, or
if yc don't want to quit yer holt On it,
come wild me to a frind of mine that .iales
in such articles, an maybe he'll give We
a hundcrt dollars or more for it, 'cordin'
to what it's worth"
g No, indeed - declared Sam, stoutly;
81 shall do nothing of the sort Back to
its owner it goes, if can find her"
"She's got hapes of 'em, honey, an
loike enough has never missed it," coaxed
the tempter What fool ye'd be to he
giyin' it back to her whn We might he
getting p'raps t"o h',ndcrt dollars for it,
an no one the wiser I'co hun,lert dol
htrs. Just think of it"
And Sam did think of it, He thought,
"what this man says is true The lady
who owns this bracelet has great many
more, and can buy all the beautiful things
she wants, cause her husband is million
aire, and perhaps she lost it 30 long ago
she's forgotten all about it, And what
pleasure it would be To see mommv's face
when told her | wasn't going Vest
not till spring anyhow-and to buy them
all something nice for their Christmas"
And then came the thought, but you'd
be thief, and you'd have to be liar
too, for how could you account to your
honest mother for the money you had
without telling some dreadful lie about
it?" And putting the hand that held the
bracelet into his pocket, he said, " Pm
going to Mrs. anderdeck's house" And
away he ran, closely followed by the
scowling McGinness. In few moments,
with his heart in his mouth, he was ring
ing the door-bell of handsome house on
Fifth Avenue A scrvant-man opened
the door. MAY l zee Mrs. Wander
deck ?" asked Sam politely, his hat in his
hand.
"She isn't up yet" said the man, pre-
pairing to shut the door.
"We wants to see her VERY particu-
lar" said McGinness looking over Sans