, 1877-12-21
Heller and the Hackman.

When Heller, the magician, arrived in
this city ON Friday last, he directed the
haCkman to drive him to the Parker
house, Reaching the hotel he stepped
bri,kly up to the clerks desk, and was
soon surrounded 10y host Of old friends,
including DR. Tompkins. of the Boston
Theatre, Arthur Cheney, Henry c. Jarrett,
Frank Chanirau and dozen others.
Amid the hearty greetings came a rough
voice, which soon attracted general at
tention.
1t appears that the hickman hadn't
been paid.
"What is it, my good friend; what are
you yelling to me abOuti' demanded
Mr.. Heller.
81 wants me fare. | saw you skip
away. Two dollars for you and the
lady"
This answer created laugh among
the magician's friends.
II know paid you, you rascal" ex-
claimed Mr.. Heller.
"Divil clint"
"You put it in your hat. Hand it to
me-" and to the consternation of Jehu
there was bright, clean two.dollar note
taken from the lining of his cady and
held up to the gaze of the rapidly in
creasing crowd. Cabby stood transtixed
with wonder.
"I'm afraid of your future, my poor
fellow, and advise you to alter your
course" interposed Mr.. jarrett.
"Be virtuous and you'll be happy"
was the advice Of Mr.. Cheney.
"This after all our boasted New Eng
land civilization and moral advancement"
added Mr.. Chanfrau.
"lf this thing should get abroadw
was DR.. Tompkius' alarming exclama-
ton.
"rhink Of your wife and children.
Repent ere it be too late" was the kind
ly-toned proposition of Mr.. Heller.
"Look here, gintlemen, this is all good
enough, and yez have me tanks. But
may never see a siXpence again but l
wasn't paid, and that bill never saw be.
fore in all me born days. didn't have
cint about me-" and the indignant
hackman slapped his hands on his coat
pockets.
"You have no other money on your
persona" demanded Mr.. Heller.
"Nol" said the driver, unhcsitatingly.
"What's this, and this, and this, and
this1" inquired the magician, as he deli
cately pulled bank note first from the
poor claimants side coat pocket, then one
from his coat cuff, another from his
pantaloons' pocket, then another from
boot top. "My friend" continued Mr.
Heller, in voice softened by swelling
emotions, while the crowd moaned with
excess of sorrow over the sad exhibition
of human depravity, "you are not yet
lost, but you are on the brink of ruin.
We all feel for you, don't WE, ,gentlemen9'
And groans came in response.
"Look here, me friends" cried the
hackman, "this here things played out.
I'm not the worst man in the wurld,"
when to his utter horror the magician
stopped him to take from his coat pock-
cts, hat, trousers, and boot tops, not only
greenbacks and plenty of silver coin,
but pens, blotting paper, matches, blank
cards, and the general invoice of station
cry usually to be found on a hotel desk.
"Man, who are you, anyhowW cried
the poor fellow, as he crossed himself,
and commenced to back out.
"Hawkshaw, the detective" cried JAR
rett, as he struck an attitude.
"My name is Norval," replied Mr..
Heller.
"'Tis Clifford's voice, if ever Clifford
spoke" added Mr. Cheney.
81 am thy fathers spirit" groaned Mr..
Chanfrau. And by this time the per-
turbed driver had reached the street,
shouts Of laughter falling on his ear, and
with another surprise awaiting him. Mr..
Heller had placed five-dollar note in
the mans vest poCket.-Boston Traveller.