South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-06
Losing a Package
By James J. Montague

BY James J
Awakening with a jerk as tho
train stopped in the station, I re-
membered my package. For three
days hand running had forgotten
10 bring IL home.
The comments Of the family. at
FIRST tolerantIy regretful had be-
gun TO grow pointed II was init
mated that the only reason / did
not forget my head was because 1T
contained nothing OF value.
didn't know what was in the
package. II had been left at the
ONCE by a friend OF the family. II
appeared. however. from what was
|. said about 81 each morning as I left
the house that Il contained some
thing OF transcendent importance.
II was large. square and bulky.
nut it in a prominent place on my
desl,. where it couldn't possibly es-
cape my eye when ! put on my
coat to go home. But somehow it
always did.
This morning T had resolved TO
take IL home II II was my last act
on earth. / had thought about il
at intervals all day. And when I
awoke after a brief nap I had that
Joyful feeling that only comes when
an important piece OF work, long
postponed. is at last accomplished
Reaching up 20 the rack ] took
down the package that was there. l
swung it TO the seat. hooked my
hand under the string, and started
triumphantly down the aisle.
4 strong hand was laid on my
shoulder. A bass voice rumbled.
Hey! Where are you going with
my parcel?"
turned around and gazed into
a pair of accusing eyes. Then
looked at the package that swung
from nay hand Obviously it was
not mine?
But where is my PACKAGE" I
faltered.
How should 7 know ?" said the
large man who had stopped me. as
he possessed himself OF his prop
erty. 'If you had any package" ne
added. you must have left it be
hind you
, The interested crowd that had
halted In the hope to witness
tight. or still better, an arrest.
moved on disappointed. went
back into the car. There we're no
packages on the racks. ] was be
ginning a systematic search under
the seats, when "a brakeman inter
rupted me.
Get out OF here," he said.
L told him what ! was hunting
for. and gave him a half a dollar.
He helped me. in half-hearted
sort OF a fashion after that, but the
quest revealed no package. re-
membered, after had crawled from
one end of the car to the other, on
my hands and knees. that the pack
age was too large TO go under any
OF the seats. But it was too late
then.
1t cost a quarter at the boot
black stand to get the dust off my
knees.
The station master, 20 whom 1
Immediately reported my loss, told
. me that the lost property office was
at the other end of the line.
I thought IL advisable not to men
ton the package till found it. I
felt that laudable as was my act in
bringing il from the office. that los
ing il would somehow neutralize all
the credit 1 might get for remem-
bering it.
The next morning, at the other
end OF the line, l went at once 10
the lost property Office
There were hundreds Of packages
there-au Of them looking much
ike mine.
Al last. however. found one that
seemed to be OF the same general
+ dimensions, and wrapped in the
same kind Of paper,
pointed il out.
How do you identify it said
the man.
Why. I just identity It, that's
sIIi"
ooh. you do. do you?"
Certainly
What is your name %
gave him my name.
Occupation ?"
gave him that. Also i'm re-
Spouse to searching questions I gave
him my residence. place of business,
the date of my birth, the nativity
81 my parents. and was about 10
telephone out 10 the Presbyterian