The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1885-09-17

LUdth iiiddC up
md corduroy brooches V become
llive?" However, he followed her in
20 the house, and lifted the candle out
Of the jug; never stopping till he laid
his hand on the pack. He felt the
boards that surrounded its edges to
prevent thegoods from beingrumpled,
the cords that bound it, and the cam
vass in which it was wrapped. "The
pack is well enough" he said finally.
at is just like other packs. | see
nought that ails it, and a good large
pack it is. 1t will have cost the hon
est man three hundred pounds if the
goods are fine. But he will make it
up, Alice, by cheating fools like you
with gewgaws."
Alice felt some disappointment at
seeing Richard unconvinced, and per
sisted that all was not right
about the pack. She believed
there were stolen goods in it, at
any rate, and she had no wish to sleep
in the house with it.. Next came in
Edward, the lad of sixteen, who aided
Richard in his work about the place.
He was at this time often engaged IN
shooting crows and other birds, and
had bought a huge old military gun
with which he thundered away at
them, and this very moment he had
seer a flock Of birds feeding at his corn
rick and had come in to get his gun.
When Edward heard the talk about
the pack he pricked up his ears atten.
lively. "Faik, Alice" said he, laugh.
ing, eff it's a live pack perhaps I'd bet.
ter shootit." "Holdyour tongue, you
fool" said Richard. But Edwarn, tax.
ing the candle in his turn, declared he'd
have a look at the pack, at any rate.
Gliding down the passage he edged UP
to the parlor door and gazed within.
Presently he came back with a very
different look from which he took
away.
GAS sure as death I saw it stirring
he whispered, e'and whatever be in
there I'll shoot it." In vain the 9th.
ers attempted to dissuade him. Car.
rying his gun in one hand and the can.
die in the other he FASTENED downthe
hall. Without hesitating a moment
he fired. Great heavens! The blooo
gushed out upon the floor like u tor
rent, and a hideous roar, followed by
a groan of death, issuedfrom the pack.
Dropping the gun, Edward ran into
the kitchen like one distracted, and ont
at the open door, taking to the hiils
like a wild roe in his flight. Alice fol.
lowed as fast as she could; and old
Richard, after standing for q time in a
state of ~petrefaction, went into the
parlor. The pack had thrown itseifto
the floor, which flowed with blood
The cries and groans had ceased, an0
only a kind of gutteral noise was
heard within. The old man, getting
down upon his knees. unloosed the
cords and discovered the body Of a
stalwart man, from which life had for
ever fled.
"Alas! Alas!" said old Richard, tears
running down his cheeks. 81 wish he
hadlived to repent ofthe bad cause that
brought him here"
8. By this time Edward and Alice, who
had gone off with the wild idea ofsum
moning some one to their aid, returned
in sad distress. Having found no one
near, they could no longer leave Rich
ard to his melancholy fate. Together
they took the corpse from its confne
ment. The way in which it was packed
was curious and artful. His knees
were brought up toward his breast:
and his feet and legs were stuffed in 6
wooden box, another wooden box, 6
size larger, but without a bot
tom, made up the vacancy betwixt
his face and his knees, and, there
being only one fold of n V around
this, he breathed with perfect ease. II
was the heaving OF his breast which
had alarmed the servants. His right
arm was within the box, and to his
hand was tied g. cutlass, with which
he could rip himself out of his confine
ment at once. On his person were
tour loaded pistols and asilver whistle
In an hours time they had the house
well equipped with armed men, and
when the robbers, who had thought
to establish their confederate within
in safety, arrived about midnight
they were repulsed with unexpected
fury, several of their number being
killed or wounded and their bodies
carried away in the retreat of the 9th
ers. The body of the robber in the
pack was buried, and it was said that
his grave was opened and the corpse
taken secretly away. No clue to the
perpetrators of this base and bold at
tempt at burglary was ever found.