The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-03-15

splendid things under that locked lid
ii would be better that they should not
know it. Besides, Eliza had no key to
the trunk.
She resolved to open it at her "first
place" The place came at last.
Eliza went to it at night bearing her
two trunks. 1t was a small, dainty es-
Establishment, and the lady OF the house
regarded the immense luggage which
accompanied her servant with amaze
ment.
How both your trunks are to be got
into your room, I'm sure | don t
know" she said For the present
YOU had better leave the larger one on
this floor. There's pantry at the end
of the hall that may hold it.
So the trunk was put into the pantry.
At night, after she had gone to bed,
she heard the sound of an opening door
and of low voices, and creeping 10 the
head of the stairs, pecped over, and
saw the lady of the house, her husband
and a man staring at her trunk.
White and trembling she crept back
to bed.
IL wonder they are so curious about
my trunk" she said, with chattering
teeth, to her companion, the cook.
ON" replied that worthy, "she is
always interfering. They think a girl
has no right to few clothes and box
to keep them in. Oh, the likes Of them.
It's the size of it, me dear
ooh, if it is only that said Eliza to
al in, tho mod
"If they only don't know the trunk, or
suspect that it is stolen"
Eliza only fell asleep when dawn was
breaking and the milkman was whoop-
ing in the area.
As she waited at the breakfast table
she fancied that her employers looked
at her curiously; and after the meal
was over her master said gravely;
ELIZA, must speak with you. Shut
the door do not wish the other SER
wants to hear. ~
Eliza obeyed.
Now make no sccne,' said the gen.
tleman quietly, "but give me the key
to your large trunk-the one in the
pantry there"
Eliza tottercd and supported herself
against the sideboard.
"KeyP" she faltered "If you please,
| have no key to it."
as it lockedp" said the gentleman.
"Ycs, sir, | believe it is" sobbed
Eliza
"Whcre is the keyP" repeated her
master. ''Give it to me or shall open
the trunk by force"
81 don't know where the key is, sir, "
said Eliza; land, indeed" she said with
an attempt at spirit, ave stolen moth
ing from you, and you've no right to
open my trunk"
The man whom Eliza had first seen
in the hall with her master as she peer
cd over the stairs the night before, here
entered, threw back his coat, and re-
vealed a policeman's uniform beneath;
then crossed the room and opened the
door, reckoning in man who carried
q locksmith's keys and tools.
"Open that trunk" he said.
ooh, please, please, Mr.. Officer"
cried Eliza, ~ was only taking care of
t for the lady. II meant to get her
address and send it to her.
That's little late, my dear" said
he officer as the trunk flew open. 81
arrest you on charge of murder"
And Eliza, as she fell forward with
shrek, saw that the dreadful contents
If the Saratoga trunk was dead body,
,nly half wrapped in what seemed like
sheet.
In prison Eliza had time to resolve
o be honest thereafter; and although it
vas proved that the woman who pur-
,osely lost the check was the true muir
Icrcss, Eliza had to confess to theft to
lear herself
Her character was ruined, and but
or the charity aud forgiveness of the
whom she had left so lima
uredly, good Mrs. Cooper, who has
.iven her place again, she might still
,e without a place