Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-10-30

Sorry 70 disaPpOint you, bat I can't
come. VIII see y0u In New York, Satur-
day"
/ saw that I must telegraph to New
YOFk for money, and as I walked toward
the operators desk blessed the man
who invented the idea Of mixing light
ming and finance together.
''5iZty-hVe cents p said the operator as
he counted the words.
COLLECT at the other end"
20, no ! not unless You are identi-
fed r. he ohuckled as he returned it.
1t was Just possible that I might run
across some one in the place who'd help
me out. took ons hotel after the 9th
or, and scanned their registers for a week
past. No good. Then J walked a mile
and half to the POstOffice, and a mile
and half back. Every face was strange.
Sudden thought I'd pawn my watch.
I kicked myself for. not thinking Of the
scheme before, and then started for a
pawnshOp. There wasn't one In the
place. went into a eating house and
said TO the man at the besk:
II want SO or s. on this watch until
can get money from New York by tele
graph"
He did not even glance at it, but fast
ened his eyes on me and slowly replied :
''There was a detective In here not
more than fifteen Minutes ago looking
or you and that watch! You'd better
skiPr
That ended the watch business with
him. 1 thought I'd 60 back and try
and interest the hotel clerk. I had
scarcely entered the big hotel when he
beckcned to me, and as the distance be-
tween US We reduced TO the width Of
the counter ls said
'If you owe the hack-driver anything,
Why don't you pay him2 We don't
want him calling here every ten min
utes."
81 don't pay him because I've lost my
money"
Hump Did you come here on your
last dollar?"
81 can get money by telegraPhing to
New York"
"Ohl you CAM Then I'd telegraph. %
"Wn you guarantee ne to the opera
tort"
''No, sir"
I went out into the wide world again
to wonder what I could do under the
circumstances. On the veranda was a
benevolent-lOoking old gentleman who
seemed to eye me kindly, and on the i'm
pulse Of the moment 1 walked straight
up to him and said:
"AIy dear sir, through an accident
am dead broke, and 1 want you to lend
me a few shilings to send of a telegram
af6er some money"
"Ohl hal hal hal You do, ehY' he
laughed. ''Wel, you are a cheeky man
very cheeky"
"HoW?"
"Why, you struck me day before yes
terday for 81, yesterday for 81, and now
you've come down to a few shillings.
Do you think I'm blind? Do I look
like an idiot? II you bother me any
more it Will be my duty to give you
away to a detective"
I concluded not to boiler him any
more, and started for the station. deter
mined to board a train and cheek it with
the conductor. On the way down met
stranger wearing a badge inscribed
ga. o. U. w" The problem was solved
Here was a friend and brotherI I gave
him the haiIiDg sign and come to try
it on, had forgotten the sign. I sought
to recollect the password but 1 couldn't
remember 1 tried to give him the grip,
and he slowly drew his hand away and
cody remarked:
stranger, If you try to fool with me,
III knock you down"
went to the railroad station and sat
down on the platform, and the hack
driver came down after me and said he'd
lick me to kidding wood if didn't pay
that 90 cents. got rid Of him by Civ
ing him a 25-cent knife to hold as secu-
rity, and he had Just gone when a couple
Of men sat down and began 70 dispute
about the price OF bathing tickets. One
said they were % cents and the other
stuck to 20.
"Bet you fveg' exclaimed the first
take itr' tersely replied the second.
As the money was put into my hands
1 asked their names and address, while
they were so excited that no questions
were asked in return. They entered a
hack and drove of to see who was right,
and the vehicle was still in sight when I
bought my ticket and boarded the train
for New York. returned the money
the next day, and on the second received
this note:
LONG BRANCH, 18th, 1885.-DEAR SIR:
Money received. You are the most hon
est dead-beat We ever met with. Can't
understand your game.