Page:The wrong box (IA wrongbox00stevrich).pdf/96

 'Well, sir,' returned Bill, 'it appears it was a packing-case he was after. The packing-case came; that's sure enough, because it was about the biggest packing-case ever I clapped eyes on. And this Pitman he seemed a good deal cut up, and he had the superintendent out, and they got hold of the van man—him as took the packing-case. Well, sir,' continued Bill, with a smile, 'I never see a man in such a state; everybody about that van was mortal, bar the horses. Some gen'leman (as well as I could make out) had given the van man a sov; and so that was where the trouble come in, you see.'

'But what did he say?' gasped Morris.

'I don't know as he said much, sir,' said Bill. 'But he offered to fight this Pitman for a pot of beer. He had lost his book, too, and the receipts: and his men were all as mortal as himself. Oh, they were all like—' and Bill paused for a simile—'like lords! the superintendent sacked them on the spot.'

'Oh, come, but that's not so bad,' said Morris, with a bursting sigh. 'He couldn't tell where he took the packing-case, then?'

'Not he,' said Bill, 'nor yet nothink else.'

'And what—what did Pitman do?' asked Morris.

'Oh, he went off with the barrel in a four-wheeler,