Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1908-08-04
The Mysterious Package
IorIglnal.l

Inefe was great auO IN the oldn-
wood home. A package had been de-
livered at the door addressed TO Miss
Grace Stanwood, had been received by
the butler, and the bearer had gone
away without stating who sent the
package. There was nothing on the
wrapper by which the sender could
be identified The Stanwoods were
enormously rich and feared that some
socialist or anarchist had sent them
an Internal machine. Miss Stanwood
looked at the thing-it rested on a
table in the drawing reconstructed the
address, but could not recognize in the
writing the hand of any of her friends.
"I'll take off the wrapper, num-"
said the butler, who felt somewhat re-
sponsible for having taken the pack
| age in and letting the messenger es-
cape.
The butler cut the string, removed
the wrapper carefully so as not to jar
the contents and laid bare a box with
sliding cover.
There was a ring at the doorbell
1t so happened that Lord Edward
Tallywag an impecunious London
swell, who had come over the big pond
with view to replenish his exchequer
by means of an American wife, had
been invited to dinner. He had pro-
posed for Miss Stanwood's hand, to
say nothing of her fortune-no, this is
| technically incorrect-the settlement
| was to be specified in a legal docu-
ment, and the matter was as good as
settled The only thing in the way
| had been removed-namely, Bob Otis
to whom the lady had been engaged
and who had been told that in view of
this splendid opportunity he must be
| relegated to a position as Lord Tally
wag's best man at the wedding. Bob
had submitted to the sacrifice so nobly
that he had been invited to dine with
| his lordship with a view to getting his
| instructions as best man.
Where was I? Oh, 1 remember!
There was a ring at the doorbell. The
butler pulled himself together and
| opened the door, admitting the guest
of the evening, Lord Tallywag. His
| lordship took a view of the situation
through his monocle, surprised to see
the family all on the main floor
I'm so glad you've come, Lord Tai
lywag," said Mrs. Stanwood excitedly,
'to tell us what to do. Some one has
sent Grace an Internal machine"
"Some disappointed lover, suppose"
remarked his lordship.
"Dear me!' exclaimed Mrs. Stan
wood. "It couldn't have been Bob Otis,
could it?''
Mother Miss Stanwood spoke the
word reproachfully.
Another ring at the doorbell. This
time Bob Otis himself was admitted.
Speak of Satan" Grace remarked,
"he's sure to appear. Lord Tallywag,
this is our old friend Mr.. Otis"
Delighted to meet YOU" said his
lordship stiffly
"Glad to know you" replied Bob
bowling formally.
"Some one" remarked Mrs Stan
wood, 'has sent Grace an Internal ma
chine. Lord Tallywag suggests that it
may have come from a disappointed
lover"
Something in the tone of Mrs. Stan
woods voice caused Mr. Otis to draw
himself up stif1y. Then he said coldly:
''Since am well known to have long
been an admirer of the lady in ques-
ton it is incumbent upon me to prove
my innocence. Where is this internal
machine?"
SIN the drawing ROOM" Mrs. Stan
wood replied.
Mr.. Otis walked into the drawing
room while the others looked on
through open doors Taking the box
from the table, he scrutinized the adj
dress, shook it, then held it close to
his ear.
You are right" he said to those gap
ing from a distance. "It is indeed an
internal machine. can hear a ticking,
Lord Tallywag, if you will come here
and hold the box to your ear You may
hear it distinctly"
Good gracious, mani Do you sup
pose I'm an assY"
''You have seen fit to intimate that
an American gentleman would send
his sweetheart who had discarded him
bomb. 1t becomes me as an Amer
lean gentleman to relieve Miss Stan
wood from an unpleasant situation l
shall open the box"
He began to draw the cover. Those
looking on, headed by Lord Tallywag,
rushed to the rear of the house,
some stopping in the dining room,
though his lordship did not pause till
he had gone out at the kitchen door
into the yard. Some minutes passed.
Grace Stanwood went back to the
drawing room and looked through the
open door. On the table stood the box,
the cover removed, while Bob stood
with an inner box in his hand-a jew
eler's watch case-regarding a lady's
watch of gold and enamel, set with
jewels.
"Some one has sent you a wedding
present2" said Bob.
ooh ROhp' she NvhiSnprpd 81 feared