Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-11-21
Heller and the Hackmen.

rived in Boston city on Friday,
October 13, be directed the hack
man to the Parker House. Reach
ing the hotel, he stepped briskly
up to the clerks desk, and was
soon surrounded by a host of old
friends, including DIR. Tompkins,
of the Boston Theatre, Arthur
Cheney, Henry c. Jarrett, Frank
Chanfrau and a dozen others
Amid the hearty greetings came a
rough voice, which soon attracted
general attention.
1t appears that the hackman
hadn't been paid.
"What is it, my good friend;
what are you yelling to me about"
demanded Mr.. Heller.
81 wants my fare. I saw you
skip away; 50 for you and the
lady"
This answer created a laugh
among the magicican's friends.
81 know paid you, you rascal"
exclaimed Mr.. Heller.
"Divil cent"
"You put it in your hat. Hand
it to me-" and to the CONSERVATION
of Jehu there was bright, clean
two-dollar note taken from the lin
ing of his "cady" and held up to
the gaze of the rapidly increasing
crowd. Cabby stood transfixed
with wonder.
81 am afraid of your future, my
poor fellow, and advise you to alter
your coure," interposed Mr.. Jar
rett.
"Be virtuous and you will be
happy" was the advice of Mr..
Cheney.
"This after all our boasted New
England civilization" added Mr..
Chanfrau.
"If this thing should get abroad"
was DR.. Tomkins' alarming excla-
nation.
Think of your wife and chill
dren. Repent eie it be too late" "
was the kindly toned proposition
of Mr.. Heller
"Look here, gintlemen, this Is
all good enough, and yez have me
thanks. But may / never see a
sixpence again but | wasn't paid,
and that bill l never saw before in
all me born days. l didn't have a
cint about me- and the indignant
hackman slapped his hands on his
coat pochetS'
"You have no other money on
your person 2" demanded Mr.. Hell
ler.
"Now said the driver, unhesi-
tatingly.
"What's this, and this, and this,
and this" inquired the magician,
as he deliberately pulled bank
note first from the poor cabman's
side coat pocket, then one from his
coat cuff, another from his panta-
looms pocket, and another from a
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 de-
pravity, "you are not yet lost, but
you are on the brink of ruin. We
all feel for you, don't we, gentle
men ?" And the groans came in
response.
"Look here, me friends cried
the hackman, "this things played
out. I'm not the worst man in the
wurrld," when to his utter horror
the magician interrupted him to
take from his coat pockets, hat,
trowsers and boot-tops, not only
greenbacks and plenty of silver
coin, but pens, blotting-paper,
matches, blank cards, and the gen.
eral invoice of stationery usually
to be found on a hotel desk.
"Man, who are you, anyhow =
cried the poor fellow, as he crossed
; himself, and commenced to back
out.
"Hawkshaw, the detective Y
, shouted Jarrett, as he struck ar
attitude.
"My name is Norval," replied
Mr.. Heller.
, "'Tis Clifford's voice, IL ever
E Clifford spoke," added Mr.. Cheney
3 81 am thy fathers spirit" groan
3 ed Mr.. Chaufrau. And by this
: time the perturbed driver hat