The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-04-18

ter, had given 1t to the railroad which,
on telegraphic orders, had forwarded
it to an adjacent city. There it was
called for and taken away by dray-
man who likely was an accomplice of
the burglar, for no one at the station
knew him and nothing further could
be learned regarding the trunk, at least
for the time being.
Now comes the strangest and almost
incredible part of my story.
Some months after our robbery /
was on weeks visit at my uncle's
house in n distant town. Like my
fathers, it was spacious, and showed
evidence of the wealth it contained
One evening after supper and while
we were all gathered in the parlor n
telegram was brought in and handed
to my Cousin Alice. OF course my
detective curiosity was aroused at the
similarity of the event and when 1t
turned out to be almost identical in
its reading with the one sent to me
the night before our burglar, | in
stantly knew what was coming. So
did the rest, for they, as you may
guess, were not ignorant of the af-
fair
For some moments we gazed at each
other in speechless astonishment.
Then Uncle John, bound to joke, no
matter what happened, asked me with
mock seriousness if ] would like the
expected trunk set in my room, which,
being the guest chamber, was the
right place for it.
My look of terror made him smile
in spite of his straight face.
''Nol mol" gasped. 81 should
die at the sight oft. Oh, Uncle John,
do send for the police at once. I'm
sure Wen all be murdered in our
sleep"
eyes, but we want to trap your bur
glar friend" he laughed, "and maybe
recover your jewels. However, if you
are so unhospitable, perhaps Alice will
take the stranger in. "
But Alice, with face more scared
than mine, declared positively that
she wouldn't.
''Well; then, will do the honors, "
said uncle, glancing mischievously at
his frightened wife.
John you shall do no such thing,
spoke up auntie, with trembling
voice, "I'll have the trunk thrown
down the well rs soon as it arrives.
No burglar, dead or alive, comes into
my room. The idea !"
Finally we settled down to business
and fixed on plan to catch the com
, ing burglar red-handed and withou
, any danger to ourselves.
! Early next morning / moved from
, the guests chamber to my room will
cousin Alice. Then my deserted apart
I ment had its windows securely barred
!. so that our expected guest could no
+ escape through them should he feel s,
a inclined, and its door was fixed to b
strongly bolted from outside, in tn
a hall. Some old watches and jewelr!
of small value were carelessly left ol
/ the dressing case to tempt the rasca
6 and keep him in innocence of ou
4 crafty scheme.
o Several well-armed men we're to b.
q stationed quietly in and about tn
q house, to do whatever fighting nigh
4 be necessary, though our plan was t.
let the burglar rest i'll fancied peace
, if possible. Then, after his departur
. in the trunk, we we're to follow an
. capture his pals in the city, and so re
l cover the previously stolen articles
'Tis needless to mention our excite
. ment, of waiting all the next day TO
. the trunk, or our scarcely cOnceale
: agitation when, toward evening,
: arrived.
/. Uncle ohm himself, loudly proclaim
# ing his gladness at the pleasure of tn
t visit it promised, helped the unsus
e pecting expressman up the broad stair
7. case and carefully left it in the gues
l. chamber, right side up and where
could be observed from the hall by
? peeping through the key-hole of tn
If we'll ll-fastened door.
$ Before dark l mustered courag
r. enough to steal in stockinged feet t
n the key-hole and peek in.
h Yes, the trunk was the very one
e had entertained and even sat on in m
e room at home, with never though
@ of its horrid occupant. Ugh Th
5. sight of it sent chills through me an
Y aroused feeling on my scalp, as if m
y hair was trying TO erect itself. Hastil
ran away from that worse than Blu
y Beard chamber, and never stoppe
e shivering till supper was over.
l. You may besure no eyes We're close
II in the house that night. The me
( guarding the hall heard the knob {
te the prison-room door softly trieC
but, of course, it didn't open, whic
e was lucky for the rascal within.
as At last daylight came and relieve
a us of some of our awful suspens'
IN After breakfast Uncle John noiselessl
le unbolted the door and, carelessly hun
ot ming tune and coneealing a hand
weapon, entered the room. The truu
4, stood Just as it was left the eveniu
a before. But the jewelry and stuff ha
disappeared from the dressing-ease.
T. When brave Uncle John returned
+, MS to report his eyes shone with
or hunters delight. His game WI
| trapped and ready to be bagged whe
le the time came.
er just before dinner the other tel
er gram, almost a duplicate of min
III arrived, and after it the expressma
for the trunk. Again uncle and ii
v. still unsuspicious man lifted IL
1k burglars receptacle and placed it c
L 4 -