The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-01-24

the tram and nearly all the people Of
the platform, including the porters ant
guards, were staring at him. This pub
licity was too much for Bill Smiley
modesty, and he fastened to put an ent
to the scene by claiming his property
He walked up to the railway carriag,
and. received the bag from his late fel
low-passenger, who remarked:
young man, IL it hadn't been for ms
you would have had to dine at Morlbor
ough House in your second best suit
which would have been a pityw
Bill thought this was the most CHASTITY
| joke he had ever heard of in his life
but he did not say So. In fact, he wa
too agitated to speak at all, for directly
the baggage was put intosh hands, hi
again heard the Ominous rattle inside it
He thought he should have dropped it
| all the while he war conscious that 8
good many people we're looking ut him
which was a new source of danger, for
rs we know, he had the stl ongest rea
son for not obtruding 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
disposing of the bag. Meanwhile, how
ever, every time he moved the rafting
sound inside it sent thrill through bis
nerves, and he almost gave himself up
Tor lost. So cruel was his suspense that
an explosion would have been almost q
relief, il it had left him in a condition to
realize his sensations.
At length he reached the street, but
under the first lamp-post stood police
uan, who eyed him very suspiciously
rs 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 lag with his most fer
vent blessing, ii 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 perfectly easy con-
science. This he succeeded in doing to
his own satisfaction, but unf ,rtunately
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,
Tor the purpose of keeping
MIN in view. This GLANCE was espec-
tally embarrassing. tor it compelled him
to avoid any appearance of haste, and
prevented HIM from carrying out his
design of depositng his burden on the
first convenient doorstep.
Half dead with sheer fright, and in
fever Of suppressed excitement. Bill
made his way in the direction of Victo.
riu hOt NO hor 1ryith hn =
most tenderness, yet longing to drop it
and take to his heels. On turning
round shortly, however. he perceived
the policeman was still following in his
wake. Probably the truth was that the
officer was only pursuing his beat and
had forgotten Bill long ago. But unfor-
this soothing reflection did not
occur to Bill at the moment, and, in his
desperation, he avai.ed himself of On
expedient which suddenly presented
itself The street door of 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 |
treet. Before she had perceived him,
Bill had coolly placed the bag in her |
lands, and was preparing to hurry
swav.
"Hi?" exclaimed the girl. "What is
his2"
For your MASTER" answered Bill,
,ver his shoulder.
81 amt got no master. Hi! stop"
,ried the girl, raising her voice as he
,anished.
81 say, mate, somebody's calling of |
1ou!' said an officious errand boy, as
Bill plunged across the road.
"Hil Stop here! You're wantedr'
,ried another passer-by, in stentorian
ones.
There seemed to his excited imagina-
ion general disposition on the part of
he by-standers to impede his flight, and
le hastily concluded that it would be
wiser to yield to the hue and cry. lie
would stick to his story that he had been
old to leave the bag at that particular
louse, and probably would succeed in
making the girl believe him. With this
bject he retraced his steps, gathering
ssurance as he walked, but as,ill-luck
you'd have it, who should stroll I'D at the
anne moment but his vigilant enemy, the
Unstable.
Hill You've made mistake. This
DOESN'T belong here. There is no
lame on it," said the girl as he ap-
,roached.
"What is the natter" inquired the
unstable, in casual way.
''Oh! nothing I've made mistak e, I
oppose as the young lady says So" an
wered Bill, hastily
He mechanically held out his hand
or the bag as he spoke, but failed to
,rasp the handle, and it fell through |
lis fingers on to the ground. Bill start
ID back in CONSERVATION, fearing his |
asst moment had come, and simuitane-
'usly he felt himself collared by the
unstable.
"Hullo! young fellow. What does
his mean?" exclaimed the officer.
Bill, who had closed his eyes in an
gony OF apprehension, ventured to
pen them again, and perceived that
he shock of the fall had burst open the
'ag, the contents of which were scat
cred upon the doorstep. To his
they consisted of miscella-
eous collection of silver plate and jew
Try, which made quite an imposing
splav. The articles had evidently
een bundled uncernoniously..in into the
ag, and were, no doubt, the proceeds
t some recent robbery.
The constable naturally concluded
hat it was his duty to escort Bill to the
earest police station to make
he necessary explanation. During the
Durney Bills reflections inclined to Bit
erness as he realized how foolishly he
lad abandoned rich prize. The me-
alic rattle which had startled him had
cen due to careless packing, and alto
ether, he perceived that he had fallen
victim to senseless scare. Needless
D say, his ingenious story of having re-
eived the bas from nameless stranger
as not considered satisfactory, and as
he valuables were identified by a
in the Strand, whose prem
,es had been burglariously entered
uring the evening. Bill received the
Ill credit of the transaction and was
ewarded accordingly.