The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-17
A DETECTIVES DISCOVERY.
Eow Nrs. FOpperman Grew jealous
Over n Mysterious Bur.

"Where did these burs come from 2"
and Mrs. Popperman pulled three real
old-fashioned burs from her husbands
coat as he lay on the lounge the other
evening.
Now, it would have been very easy
for Mr.. Popperman to have told where
the burs came from, but he Thought it
would be good joke to mystify his
wife, so he pretended to be surprised.
'I--I-dont know"
"Have you been in the country to-
day.
NO"
"Well, it's very singular how BUSH
ness man can get burs on his
clothes in New York"
"Well, I'll tell you. The health
officers have planted burdock bushes on
Broadway to purify the air and prevent
the horses from having the blind stag
gers. Sometimes brush up against
these bushes"
'Oh!' Mrs. Popperman eyed her hus-
band suspiciously, but said nothing
more.
The next morning two more burs
were picked from his pants.
Now, / want to know what this
means. 1 went to New York yesterday
ON purpose to see if there was bushes
on Broadway. There wasn't one. Now,
want an explanation"
"Well, I'll tell you. my dear. These
are burs. They are the fruit of re-
markable tropical plant which is now
on exhibition at the Fifth Avenue motel.
This plant is twenty feet high. De-
casionally l go into the hotel, and.
while standing under the leaves of this
plant. the fruit, which resembles burs,
drops on my clothes"
"What is the name of this singular
plant?'
"The botanical name is Lumty tum
olius."
After Mr.. Popperman had departed
the next day his wife sought de-
tective
"My husband comes home every
night with burs on his clothes. Now [
want You to follow him and find out
where he goes
The detective undertook to solve the
mystery. No burs on Mr.. Popperman's
clothes that night-nor the next. The
third night he returned with the usual
complement. The next day the detective
called upon Mrs. Popperman.
I've discovered allr'
"What! Is my husband then false to
me? Does lie go to the country to visit
some woman, or does he spend his after
Moons at Central park? 2"
Il followed your husband two days.
He attended strictly to his business.
Tie third day he left his office about 2
o'clock, and"
Went in the country"
"No, ma am. He came to Brooklyn
and rode to the vacant lot which he has
just purchased on Schermerhorn street.
While ruperinten ling the erection of a
fence around the lot he often came in
contact with the burdock bushes, and
there is where he gets the burs-"
ooh, am 50 glad. You have done
Your work we'll Good day. sir"
That evening when Mr.. Popperman
returned his wife threw her arms around
his neck and said MY dear, Tn SO
glad to know you are not villain
"What do you mean?'
"Well, abont those burs. you know. 1
put detective on your track, and he
told me that you got the burs in that
lot on Schermerhorn street, and that
YOU are innocent"
"Ha. Ha! SO you put detective on
my track. did you?"
YES"
Good joke" and Mr.. Popperman
laid back in his chair and fairlyrRred
with laughter.
Yes dear, and here's the detectives
bill, which you have got to pay
$40 shsdowing Mr.. Popperman for
three days, at 80 per day, SGT
The laughter subsidized, and for an
hour it was SO quiet that you could have
heard bur drop.