Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-07-02
A Close Call,

AWo SOhuohoh WOiO ShoehhS W.
gether about many things over a
small bottle in a club. One was q
tall, well-built man, whose chief bust.
ness in life it was to keep himself in
good form. The other, says the
Epoch, was an admiring friend from
the country, who was listening to the
formers tales of metropolitan expert.
ences.
"Did you ever hear" asked the
city man, "about the cane racket
No? Well. then, l will tell you
about one of the closest calls / suppose
that ever had. 1t was one o'clock
in the morning. After the theater ]
dropped in here at the club and play
ed small game Of poker for an hour
or two. l did not have very good
luck, and when / left the club had
only little small change in my pock.
ct, besides having blown in several
duplicates Of my autograph torn from
a pocket check book.
"It was a mild evening in early
autumn and l walked along up town
at swinging gait. My overcoat was
thrown open, showing my dress suit,
and in my right hand carried a
fairly heavy stick. did not keep
to the avenues, but to vary the monot'
ony took occasionally a block on the
cross streets in working my way east
/ noticed that there was man follow
ing short distance behind me, who
was very gradually overtaking me
but | did not think much of it. AS
turned into Thirty-sixth street he
brushed by me, knocking my cane
out of my hand. 1t fell foot or SC
in front.
Despite his muttered Excuse me,
it passed through my mind in a min.
ute that it was done purposely. l did
not wait for second tn ought. ]
turned upon him and let him have
left-hander under the jaw. He wa
evidently taken by surprise and of
his guard, for he fell sprawling into
the gutter.
Before he had time to recover
himself l stood over him with my
right hand clinched and lifted.
Crawl along on your hands and
knees said 1, until you get opposite
where that cane is lying He did so.
Now said l, while you keep your
left hand on the ground, reach out
with your right, pick up that cane
and hand it to me- He did that, to.
Once more,' 1 said, get on your feet,
clasp your hands and hold them out
in front of YOU He obeyed sheepish.
ly. Now added, walk straight
along and if you dare change, or
make a movement to change, from the
position which l have given you /
will brain you
"a child could not have been more
obedient than this supposed ruffian
was. He walked along with his
clasped hands in front of him, slowly
like a blind man feeling his way,
while 1 walked behind him gripping
with both hands the upraised cane,
in the attitude of Ajax defying the
lightning, ready to let it descend with
all my strength and crack his skull
if he showed the least disposition for
funny business. We advanced this
way little more than a block when
we met policeman. To him l de-
livered over my captive. ! accom-
panied them to the station house.
"Hello,' said the sergant at the
at the desk, is that you Jim : What
brought you heIeY'
III told the sergant my story and
he seemed very much amused. He
began to poke fun at Jim for being
SO easily run in bya dude in dress
suit. Jim's reply was very compli-
mentary, Me amt no id chump.'
when the officers went through
Jim's clothes they found slungshot
in one'of his pockets as well as re.
volver. Had | stopped to pick up
that cane | should no doubt have re-
ceived a playful tap on my head that
would have left me sleeping on the
sidewalk"
"The sergant warmly congratulated
me on my escape and on my render
ing valuable service to the police de-
partment. 1t seems that Jim, other
wise known as 'Pimply JIM was a
recent graduate of Sing Sing He
celebrated his return to freedom by
committing house burglary, and the
police were at that time hunting for
him. In going from one hiding place
to another he had run across me, and
thought that he might utilize me, Sc
curing my watch and ready money.
I Lad Aha r,loasura of saeinu him shut