The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-02-01

s.Hi! You've left your luggage" said
the official curtly.
Bill turned round involuntarily, and
beheld his facetious fellow-passengel
standing in the doorway of the carriage
he had just left, holding the fatal bag in
enc hand and gesticulating violently
| with the other. 1t was atrying moment,
Tor, while Bill shrank from laying a fin.
ger on the bag, he did not know how to
avoid doing SO. To repudiate all knowl.
edge of it would at once arouse suspi-
cions which would lead to unpleasant,
disclosures. inasmuch as several
persons had seen il in
bis possession. A wild idea of seeking
safety in flight crossed his mind for an
instant, but on looking round, he per.
ceived that several of the passengers in
the tram and nearly all the people on
the platform, including the porters and
guards, were staring at him. This pub.
modesty, and he hastened to put an end
to the scene by claiming his property,
He walked up to the railway carriage
and received the bag from his late fell
low-passeneer, who remarked:
young man, if it hadn't been for me
you would have had to dine at Morlbor
ough House in your second best suit
which would have been a pity!"
Bill thought this was the most CHASTITY
joke he had eve heard Of in his life,
but he did not say SO. In fact, he vas
too agitated to speak at all, for directly
the baggage was put into. his hands, he
again heard the ominous rattle inside it.
He thought he should have dropped it,
80 frightened was he by the sound. But
all the while he war conscious that q
good many people were looking at him,
which was Il new source of danger, for,
as we know, he had the ST. ongest rea-
son for not obtrading himself too much
upon the public gaze.
He therefore made his way as quickly
as possible through the crowd and up
the staircase. Once in the street, he
imagined he would have no difficulty in
d~isnosing of the bag. Meanwhile, how
ever, every time he moved the ~rattling
sound inside it sent a thrill through his
nerves, and he almost gave himself up
for lost. So cruel was his suspense that
an explosion would lave been almost a
relief, if it had left him In a condition to
realize his sensations.
At length he reached the street, but
Under the first lamp-post stood a police
man, who eyed him very suspiriously
as he approached. Perhaps he knew
Bill by sight, or guessed from some
subtle Indication that the bag was not in
its proper ownership. Bill would have
handed over the bag with his most fer
vent blessing, il that would have salts
fed the official; but of course it would
have been sheer folly to do SO. The
very nature of the contents of the bag
might get him into serious difficulties.
There was nothing for it but to assume
an air of bravado, and swagger past as
though he had a perfectly easy con.
science. This he succeeded in doing to
his own satisfaction, but unfortunately
the constable still seemed to have his
DOUBTS about him, When Bill glanced
over his shoulder he perceived that the
officer was strolling leisurely after him,
apparently Tor the purpose of keeping
him in view. This vigilance was espec-
tally embarrassing, for it compelled him
to avoid any appearance of haste, and
prevented him from carrying out his
design of depositing his burden on the
hrst convenient doorstep.
dalf dead with sheer fright, and in q
fever of suppressed excitement, Bill
made his way in the direction of Victo.
ria street, holding the bag with the ut
most tenderness, yet longing to drop it
and take to his heels. On turning
round shortly, however. he perceved
the policeman was still following iii his
wake. Probably the truth was that the
had forgotten Bill long ago. But unfor-
tunately, this soothing reflection did not
occur to Bill at the moment, and, in his
desperation, he avai.ed himself Of Bn
e%xpedient which suddenly presented
itself. The street door of a house hap
pened to open just as he was passing,
and a maid servant came out on the
doorstep and looked up and down the
street. Before she had perceived him,
Bill had coolly placed the bag in her
hands, and was preparing to hurry
away.
chip" exclaimed the girl. "What is
this?"
"For your MASTER" answered Bill,
over his shoulder.
81 amt got no master. Hi! stopp'
cried the girl, raising her voice as he
vanished.
~ say, mate, somebody's calling OF
youH' said an officious errand boy, as
Bill plunged across the road.
eli! Stop here! You're wanted!'
cried another passer-by, in %stentorian
tones.
There seemed to his excited imagina-
ton a general disposition on the par: Of
the ~by-standers to impede his flight, and
he hastily concluded that it would be
wiser to yield to the hue and cry. he
would stick to his story that he lad been
told to leave the bag at that particular
house, and probably would succeed in
| object he retraced his steps, gathering
| assurance as he walked. but as, ill-lucB
would have it, who should stroll up at the
| same moment but his vigilant enemy, the
constable.
"Hi1 You've made a mistake. This
| doesn't belong here. There is nc
name on it," said the girl as he ap
Iproached.
"What is the matter2" inquired the
constable, in d casual way.
"Oht nothing I've made a mistake, ]
suppose as the young lady says So" an
swered Bill, hastily
He mechanically held out his hanc
for the bag as he spoke, but failed tc
grasp the handle, and it fell through
his fingers on to the ground. Bi start
ed back in CONSERVATION, fearing hi
last moment had come, and simuitane
ously he felt himself collared by the
constable.
"Hullol young fellow. What doe
this mean?" exclaimed the officer.
agony OF apprehension, ventured t,
open them again, and perceived tina
the shock of the fall had burst open th,
bag, the contents of which were scat
tered upon the doorstep. To hi
amazement they consisted Of a miscella
neous collection OF silver plate and jew
elry, which made quite an imposin,
display. The articles had evidentl.
been bundled MISUNDERSTANDING thu
bag, and were, no doubt, the proceed
of some recent robbery.
The constable naturally concluded
that it was his duty to escort Bill to tn
nearest police station to max
the necessary explanation. During til