The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1878-01-18
Heller and the Hackney Coac chman.

When Heller. the magician. arrived i'm
Boston, on Friday last he directed the
hackman TO drive him TO the Parker
House. Reaching the hotel, he stcppcd
briskly up TO the clerks desk and was
soon surrounded by II host ofold friends.
including DR.. Tompkins of the Boston
Theatre, Arthur Cheney, Henry G.
Jarrett, Frank Chanfrau and dozen
others. Amid the hearty greetings came
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 me fare. saw vou skin
away. Two dollars for Won and fhc
lady"
This answer created laugh among
the magician's friends.
al know paid you. YOU rascalr' cy-
claimed Mr.. Heller.
"Dcvil a clint"
"Iou put it in your hat. Hand it TO
me ~ and, to the CONSERVATION of John.
there was bright, clean two dollar
note taken from the lining of his cadv
and held up TO the rapidly increasing
crowd. Cabby stood transiixcd with
wonder.
81 am afraid of your future. my poor
fellow, and advise YOU to alter vour
course" interposcd MIR. Jarrett.
"Bc virtuous and you'n be happy.-
was the advice of Mr.. Cheney.
"Ths after all our boasted New Eng
land civilization and moral advance
mcnt" added Mr.. Chanfrau.
of this thing should get abroad -
was DIR. Tompkins's alarming exclama-
ton.
"Think Of your wife and childrcn.-
Repent ere it be too late" was the kind
ly toned proposition of Mr.. Heller.
"Look here, gentlemen, this is all
good enough, and ycz have me tanks.
But may never see n sixpcncc again
but wasn't paid, and that bill never
saw before in all me born davs. |
didn't have a clint about me-" and the
indignant hackman slapped his hand on
his coat pockets.
"l on have no other money on vour
| person!' demanded Mr.. Heller.
"No." said the driver. unhcsitatinp-
ly.
"W hats this. and this, and this. and
tms!' inquired the magician, rs he deli
catcly pulled bank note first from tho
poor cabman's side coat pocket, then
one from his coat cuff, another from his
pantaloons pocket, and another from n
boot top. "My friend" continued Mr..
Heller. in a voice soitencd by swelling
emotions the while the crowd around
moancd with excess of sorrow over the
sad exhibition ofhuman depravitv, ''vou
are not yet lost, but you are on the
brink of ruin. We all feel for YOU, don't
we, gcntlcmcnT And groans came in
response.
''Look here, me friends cried the
hackinan, "this here things played out.
m not the worse man in the wurrld"-
when, to his utter horror, the magician
interrupted him to take from his coat
pockets, hat, trousers and boot tops not
only greenbacks and plenty of silver
com, but pens, blotting paper, matches,
blank cards and the general invoice of
stationery usually to be found on hotel
desk.
"Man, who are you, anyhow" cried
the, poor fellow, as he. crossed himself
and commenced to back out.
''Hawkshaw, the detective !" shouted
jarrett, as he struck an attitude.
'My name is Norval." replied Mr..
Heller.
".'Tis Clitford's voice, if ever Clifford
spoke" added Mr.. Cheney.
81 am thy fathers spirit" groaned
MIR. Chanfrau. And by this time the
perturbcd driver had reached the street,
shouts oflaughter falling on his ear. and
with another surprise awaiting him.
Mr.. Heller had placed five dollar
note in the mans vest pocket.