Marion Marlowe in Columbus, or, Accused of a Crime — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MY “T’ve got my orders,” said the man again, “T ‘can’t afford to lose my job to accom- modate no one. ‘The car ain’t to be un- locked until we reach Columbus.” “See here,” said Mr. Temple, beginning to grow angry. “I’m paying for transporta- tion, and I own that baggage. got to be opened—that’s all there is about it!” Bert had stood back silently and was watching the trainman, as all three re-entered The car has the car. There was something in the fellow’s face that puzzled him a little. . “Of course it’s going to be opened!” said Dr. Brookes, decidedly. stand by you, and see that you don’t get into “We are willing to trouble; and, furthermore, we'll get you an- other job if you lose your present one; so get over your erumps, my friend, and pro- duce the key to the car!” “Yes, and hurry up before we all get to “We've fooled long enough! Get a move on you, sonny!” The man put his hand in his pocket and produced a key, but before he had gone four sneezing!” chimed in Bert. steps toward the door he seemed to recon- sider his actions. “l’ve got no right to do it,” he said, de- cidedly, “but what’s a man to do in such a fix?” | “Now you are talking,” laughed Bert. “What is he to do? Why, give up the key or have it taken away from him!” That seemed to settle the matter and the fellow ‘advanced_to the baggage-car door, After rattling the padlock noisily for a min- ute he succeeded in opening it. When the door was finally shoved back the two trainmen began pulling the baggage about, while the property man peered into the mass in the hope of being able to direct them. “T think the women’s trunks were all put QU HEN. vf in that corner,” he began, pointing across the car; “there’s a lot of scenery on top and smaller baggage. Be as careful as you can so as not to tear the canvas.” “T’ll be careful all right,’’ said the good- natured trainman, as he seized the corner of a trunk.” “I'll just turn it around ‘so that Bill here can get hold of it, then I'll try to squeeze in and keep the other things from falling.” “You'd better not try to squeeze in here! There’s no room to spare, I can tell you, sonny!” The words came in smothered accents from the very middle of the car and, for a minute, both trainmen and their passengers stood and stared at each other. “Well, I'll be hanged! Who ever heard of a stowaway in a baggage car!” finally burst out Bert, who was standing in the doorway. “That’s what it is, Mr. Temple, just as sure as shooting!” “Whatever it is, it couldn’t have got there without the baggage-master at Cleveland knowing it,” began one of the trainmen, but a sarcastic laugh cut short his observations. “That's where you make your mistake, ‘“T wanted a free ride to Columbus, and I was determined to get it. my boy,” said the voice again. Of course, 1 knew it would be close quarters, but I took my chances. Slipped in7just a second before the door was locked and, being second cousin to a monkey, | managed to climb over the bag- gage.” “You'll be second cousin to a dead man ti | ever get my hands on you!” muttered the property man again, as he began pulling at the baggage. There was a wild scramble among the trunks and a lot of loose boxes went tumbling together; then, with a whoop of delight, a curious figure appeared at the top of the pile and dropped down to the ground by means of the trainman’s shoulder. COMIC SOOKS COMM