The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-25
A BOGUS NYE AND RILEY.
How Two ImpOstors Were Cornered and
Chaffed in Michigan Town.

Chicago Mail.
/ went over to st. Joe, Mich. Sunday, for
breath of air. Paul Hull and b. A. John
son, of the Press Club, were the remainder
of the party. When we wrote our names
on the register at Plank's Tavern Mr.. Hulps
eagle eye caught the names, Bill Nye, New
York" and -. w. Riley Indianapolis" on
the sheet little way above, and called at
demanded TO know where the celebrities
were. and Manager Tanning said they were
at dinner. We bolted into the dining
room and walked its entire length looking
for the inimitable pair OF entertainers, We
all knew them, but Mr. Hull was closer
friend than any of us, for Mr.. Nye had
once given him letter of introduction and
Endorsement which Mr.. Hull declared had
ever afterward proven an effectual hoodoo
wherever he had gone. Naturally Mr.. Hull
wanted to see Mr.. Nye and grasp his hand.
But the conviction forced itself upon us
during dinner that the people who had
registered as Nyeand RELY were impOstors.
"Ill Try and ind 'em after dinner" said
Mr.. Hull, land If do I'll have fun with
'em.n
So after dinner he asked the clerk to
point out Messrs Nye ana Riley. When he
had located them he pointed out a tall,
slim-faced and smooth-shaven young man
and shorter blonde young man, with a
very slight mustache. Mr.. Hull approached
the tall gentleman. and said, with that in
genuousness of manner which always cap
tivates the simon-pure granger and charms
everybody:
This is Mr.. Nye, 1 believer The gentle
man admitted as much by a nod, and Mr..
Hull, having thus forced him into corner
from which he could not escape, proceeded
In that hearty tone which Is part OF his
personality, and which in this case was any,
thing but pleasant to the bogus Mr. Nye:
well, Mr.. Nye, Pm glad. to meet you.
My names COok-Joe Cook, of Boston
and L want to say that think 1T queer that
we've never met before-bOth in the lectur-
ing line, yOu know"
The gentleman looked at Mr.. Hull to see
If he was being hoaxed. but there were no
signs of it other than that Mr. Hull was a
very. very slim young man, while Mr.. COOK
is the exact reverse. Mr.. Nye" acknOwl-
edged that it was. little queer, and was
attempting to get away when Mr.. Hull
nailed MIR. Riley" and said:
'Ah. your colleague, / believe. Will you
Introduce meF
Thereupon Mr.. Riley was introduced to
Joe Cook, and felicitOus remarks were ex-
changed. Then Mr.. Hull called up Mr..
johnson and myself.
Mr.. Nye, want to introduce you to
Marshall p. Wilder. one of your contempt
raries in the fun-making field" he said;
due respect to Mr.. Wilder 1 am no more
like him than saw-lOg is like q lead
pencil, but didn't dare laugh.
This is Mr.. Cody, better known as
Buffalo BILL" said Mr.. Hull, bringing Mr..
johnson to the front. In turn we were
both presented to "Mr. Riley" also.
By this time the two gentlemen who had
fooIishly claimed the names of Nye and
Riley were sure they were being chaffed,
but we didn't say anything which would
| give them chance to lay down their pre-
| tense and cry mercy. On the contrary, Mr..
| Hull chatted away as glibly as lightning
rod agent. and in good, healthful tone,
too, so that everybody near by could hear
him, and whenever an opportunity afforded
| for calling "Mr. Nye" or "Mr. Riley" by
name it was done. The two pretenders
| were becoming extremely uncomfortable
when Leigh Lynch. who piloted the base
ball people around the world, came out on
| the veranda picking his teeth.
"HellOw said Mr.. Hull, there's my friend
| Bob IngersOll," and he caught Mr.. Lynch's
| eye, and beckoned him to approach. When
| Mr.. Lynch had joined us. Mr.. Hull pre-
| senteG him to each one of the group, Mr..
| Johnson and myself included and at the
mention of the name of Ingersoll, Bill Nye,
| Riley. Buffalo Bill, and Marshall r. Wilder,
the people who were sitting round within
reach of Mr.. HulPs resonant voice, pricked
/ up their eaIs, and began to edge nearer No
| doubt they thought there were laughs on
| tap in the atmosphere which surrounded us.
| "Nye" and Riley" couldn't stand it any
longer, They rushed the quartet of us oil
| tavern, where the hot western sun can't af-
| feet the goods" and then MIR Nye" said:
"See here! Let up on us and tell us who
you are. We know you are on to us. so we
| throw up our hands. We are So-and-so
and So-and-so. Now tell us who you are
| and We'll square Ii right here"
WhereupOn Mr.. Hull told them who we
| were, and the masqueraders squared 1T
| handsomely and to everybody's satisfac-
| ton.