The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-12-01
EDNARD aIEYRICh'S FRIEND.

MI. IuoGtds springer Nau IGtG
several years IN New York city, and
yet could have disappeared without
causing amy anxiety or leading any
one toIccl more than a moments GU
riusity, uui "a say responsibility.
To begin with, his name was not
in the clty directory. Tie never was
anywhere when the canyassor for
the directory was ON iiis rounds.
lie invariably LETT the house wnery
hc rOoncd gust before the annual
visitation both o! the directory man
anI the assessor OF taxes, aud while
these detectives were Out, WIS either
travelling or lodging as "a transient
lu some motel. lie took lodging and
pud his rent montlly il advance,
but he found his table at some one
or other of the numbcr.css hotels
and restaurants, wherever he hap
ocned To be when his hour for din
ing came round. He had no place
ot business, Tor he had no business.
He had money, enough and more
than enough for his needs, which
was al invested in Government
bonds.
1t must not be supposed that Mr..
Springer because he mad so slight Il
ho.d on the community was mere
vagrant. Having nothing To do, he
tell into the most methodical habits
of doing it. He was the most punct-
ual of men and the most orderly.
He kept al personal effects in a
trunk, and he had simplfied life so
perfectly that 1t never required more
than half an hour for him to get
together in MS room all that he pos
sessed and pack it neatly in his own
trunk.
The time had come round for one
OF his periodical removals on Sat
urddy, and his trunk was packed,
ready for the carriage he had tax
en- leave OF his landlady with his
usual formula 4 am grateful to
you for your care of me- | am going
off on a Journey to-day and am un-
certain how long | may be gone, so
| will not ask you To reserve the
room for me, +" and she said as his
landladies always did:
"Oh, ] hope you will come back
again, sir, and if anybody asks for
you, where shall / say you are?"
Il should really liketo come back,
he replied. You have taken excel
lent care Of me, but | won'tpromise;
good bye, good bye!.' Then this
landlady like all the rest cherished
Tor months q vain hope that the qui-
ct gentleman who paid in advance
and never made any trouble would
come back. For some reason the
carriage did not come, and Mr..
Springer, getting impatient, went
out to call another. He stood IN the
doorway looking up and down the
street, but there was no vehicle IN
sight. There was no man or woman
either, but presently sturdy young
fellow came slowly along the side
walk. He may have seen Mr..
Springer's anxious face at any
rate he stepped briskly to his side
and asked if he could do anything.
DO you want your trunk carried
he asked with q little hesitation and
a slight blush. II am strong enough
to carry it some way. I'd like to
earn little something" Mr.. Spring
er looked a second time at the
young man, who was not, however,
much younger than himself, but
more robust and self possessed. The
young man had asked a favor, but
Mr.. Springer, who was always rath-
er helpless in an emergency, seized
III on him as n deliverer.
"Oh, if you would" he said crate
fully.
II was looking for Il carriage, but
| don't see any. Ii is no; very far,
only to the Grand Central Depot.
He said this last in low tone as II
wishing not TO be oyerhe lrd by
his landly who was standing near.
| will pay you literally. / will pay
you What | should have to pay the
hackman.
Come along" said the goQng iel-
low shOuldering the trunk and
marching of followed by Mr..
Springer Il was not long walk.
and As the porter vas a vigorous one
Mr. Springer found II easier 70 drop
behind and follow his trunk. At
the depot his trunk was ohncked for
Oakdale, a village in the interior,
for which Mr.. Springer had bought
his ticket There was a half hour
We, before the train was 70 start, and
he need not have been 90 worried.
Vow that be had nothing 10 do be
recovered his equanimity and TAX
iug out his pccketbook gave his ex-
iemporized qarter dollar
Ifs more than a hackman fare
int Ia a4ked the nan, s,ill look
ing a; L wisttuliy.
NO, It's no more than 1 might
have been charged" said Mr..