The Pleasantville press., 1914-06-06
The Contents
Of a Box
By EDITH v. ROSS

was walking on a side street in st.
Petersburg one afternoon when met
q man with box on wheelbarrow.
As he passed me the wheel dropped
from the sidewalk to the street, dis
lance of about twelve inches. From In
side the box came suppressed groan,
as of some one who had been hurt or
badly joggled by an unexpected fall.
i knew some one was inside the box,
and by the tone of the cry surmised
that 1t was a woman, a girl or boy.
The man who pushed the barrow
went on his way. Whether he had
heard the sound from within l don't
know. think he had, for l saw him
bite his lip as though displeased with
himself at this carelessness. But ne
pretended that nothing was amiss ana
did not notice me proceeding with al
fected unconcern. walked on a short
distance, then turned and, curious TOT
an explanation of the mystery, follow
ed him.
! On reaching building containing
government offices he opened base
ment door and pushed his load inside,
closing the door behind him. This shut
me off SO far as that means of entrance
was concerned, but the building being
a public one could go in through the
main door on the floor above. This
did, and after giving the man time to
set down his burden went down into
the basement by an interior staircase.
i saw the wheelbarrow pusher showing
his barrow out of the door through
which he had entered. In the base
ment, standing against the wall, was
the box that had been left there.
stood some distance from it con-
sidering what should do. / was born
with full measure of curiosity and
desired to see the mystery unfold It.
self. To go to the box and tell who
ever was inside that had the secret
of his or her being there would arrest
the matter where it was, for the de-
sign, whatever it might be, would
doubtless be thus forestalled. The only
way could hope to observe its devel-
opment would be to hide in the base
ment overnight Which Of these two
plans should adopt?
Shortly after l heard some one
come down the stairs and lock up.
Then, turning out all the lights except
one in the hall, which he left burning
low, he mounted the stairs, and
heard his footsteps die away above.
Nothing but the prospect Of an ad-
venture would have induced me to be
thus locked up for all night. As it
was l did not regret my action for
moment. Twas sure that some one-I
believed a woman-was in that box
and during the night she would do
something unusual. While waiting
tried to conjure up something she
might do. But confess could think
of nothing whatever.
/ expected to have to wait till mid
night or morning before denouement,
but when a clock outside struck In
deep tones the hour of the play be-
gan. l heard the squeak of turning
6CT&WS. hIIutE bOluc Ouc DtSlQc tuC
person in the box was in the basement
or q part Of the box had been screwed
on from the inside. When the screw
turning stopped heard the removal
of wood. Whoever moved from the
box must pass near me. | heard no
step, but figure fitted before me.
and as it passed into the hall where
the light was burning I saw that 1t
was young woman.
This naturally added spice to the ad-
venture. Emerging from my hiding
place, I followed on tiptoe. As /
reached the hall saw the figure turn
from the topmost step into the upper
hall. Still following, l tracked the
woman through a corridor till she
stopped before an Office door with a
glass panel, through which shone
light. 1. being In darkness, was en-
abled to steal uD near to the figure. /