Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 December 1876 — An Infernal Machine. [ARTICLE]

An Infernal Machine.

Those are reckless boys at the depot baggage-room. The way they handle things this cold weather is a caution to travelers. Some of them will get hurt some day. But they got a set-back yesterday. We wandered around that way about two o’clock to see them make the brass head trunk nails fly in the frosty air. A drummer was standing against the butting post just outside the door, and he winked at us as we went ip. Smith' was on duty with Drury, and he hauled a Saratoga down froth the top of a great pile oftrnnks and let it fall with a smash that jammed in one handle and loosened

the top, and then he uncoiled a rope and tied her up and threw a small sample case across the room onto a truck. A great big sample cate was pushed off onto a little cheap russet trunk and the pieces of the little trunk with the contents were shoveled into a bag and the check was tied on with a string. The next trunk was a dirty-looklng, worn-out, black little trunk tied up with a - rope, and it was dreadful to witness Smith’s-eyes dilate as he approached the tender and defenseless trunk. But just as he touched the handle es that trunk he wilted. Dis eyes bulged out with hoFror, and the lx>ys took their feet down off the stove and gathered around him with anxious faces. He muttered “ Thomassen!” and pointed to the floor where a handful of powder lay, evidently sifted through the bottom of the trunk. Silently but persistently the loafers recalled sundry business engagements and departed. The Hawk-Eye remained, only taking the precaution to present the side of his face to the imminent explosion. Smith and Drury consulted. “It’sjust that kind of a trunk,” said Smith. “It looks suspicious anyhow,” said Drury. “What’ll we do with it?” “Let’s open it and see what’a inside I” “ How does it go?” said Drury. “ East.” “ Well, then, let’s send her on and get rid of her.” Ana they went and got overcoats and piled up on the floor, and both of them engineered that trunk, tenderly, carefully, solicitously. They wouldn't trust it on the truck with the other trunks for fear the jar would explode it, but they carried it down the platform between them. We followed them out until we were attracted by that drummer again. He winked again. “That’s mine,” says he. “ 1 always do that.” “Always do what?" we queried with a reporter’s instinct. “ Always wear that trunk and sprinkle powder on the floor. Quite a spec you see. Saves mv samples and then every tliree weeks I charge the house with a new sample case. Clear gaig. Clear gain.” And he chuckled as he turned into the waiting room for a cup of coffee. — Burlington Hawk-Eye.