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

ask him what am to do with this
thing?"
81 dusn't 90 near him, SIR" said the
girl, shrinking back. "Besides, he par
ticularly said / wasn't to take the par
eel. He says he knows nothing about
it."
Every well, then," said Tom, in des-
peration. 1T is all mistake, but if
he won't see me, shan't take any more
trouble"
With this, Tom marched out of the
house in a great state of indignation,
but with an 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 injunc-
tions, if he could only have felt that he
was doing right. 1t seemed hardly like
ly, however, that person would deny
all knowledge of such consignment, if
he were really the sender. 1t is true
that Tom was inclined to doubt Mr..
Burrows veracity 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 quite certain 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.
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-
terious reason, had deliberately at
tempted to deceive him.
Tom travelled to Slocum by the ear
liest train, revolving these things
in his mind, and at the end of his jour
ney, having recollected the impending
election, he had formulated his ideas
little. He was hardly surprised to
learn that Mr.. Strawbridge was the
Conservative agent, and though it had
been given out that the election was to
be conducted on party principles, he
began to feel a 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
tiently until the proceedings broke up.
and then took the earliest opportunity
to accost him.
Unfortunately, Mr.. Strawbridge was
fussy, self-jmportant individual, and
little suspecting the delicate nature of
| Toms communication, he declined to-
accede to his request for private inter-
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
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.
'.Poohr 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.
''The money was sent to me because ]
was believed to be your messenger"
''Hullo, Strawbridge!'' exclaimed q
voice from the crowd, significantly.
Gentlemen, assure YOU this is an
unworthy maneuvre of our opponents y
said Mr.. Strawbridge, raising his voice.
''It is an attempt to convict me of bribery
and corruption. know nothing about
the parcel. This young man has been
sent here to prejudice our candidate,
and to spread damaging rumOrs."
Shame! shamer' burst from the ex,
cited by-standers; and Tom. who was
by no means disposed to take this re-
buff calmly, suddenly became the OBJ.
iect of popular Indignation. Before he
had time or opportunity for remon-
STRANGE, his hat was crushed over his
eyes, and he was violently elected into
the street. But he clung to the pre-
cious parcel with dogged determination
and managed to carry it away with him
Tom was hOt-tempered fellow, bu
he had a pretty shrewd eye to his owl
interests. After what had passed, ht
guessed that neither Mr.. Burrows nor Mr.
trawbridge would be anxious to claim
the box of SOvereignS, which he consid
cred himself entitled to retain by way o
damages for the injuries he had sus
tanned. He took the next train to town
and paid the money into his banking &C
count, and then wrote to both of tht
above named gentlemen, expressing hi
willingness to refund the amount Il
whichever was entitled to it, upon re
} ceiving a satisfactory explanation
Strange to say, neither of these com
munications elected any reply, and from
, what he afterwards gathered from tn
: local press, Tom is inclined to .believ
that he will remain in undisputed pos
5 session of his spoil.-LO1ldO11 Truth.
One of the queerest curiosities o.
hn or1n1oa iC nan NTH a ci1I-or. Ol>,,n