The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-24
MY LIGHT-COLORED
COAT.

Aunt judith, with whom boarded, said II was
poor economy, because the light color would
soon soil ana the mulberry velvet collar would
1ade readily and would have shabby-looklDg
overeoat by another winter.
But the garment made me look so well that
laughed at economy and felt as II l could well
Afford TO throw il TO the winds
How thoroughly l surveyed myself In the
glass;
Ny coat was perfect in every respect. II was
lust the right length, which is great desdera-
lum in an oyeTcOat. II was not so long as 10
make me look like pear-tree packed in straw
and coffee bags, ready for transportation, nor
yet SC short as to insinuate that had run TO
shoulders like Dutch cabbage.
On the whole. ii was an exceptional coat, and
paid for it with pleasure, and told Mi Snirpit
that / should take pride III recommending him
10 the patronage OF my friends.
All tie time l was wondering what my fair
Alicia would think of II when presented myself
before her IN all It's glory.
Alicia lived IN large city, which will deSlg-
nate as WeStland, and was going to make her
q visit OF q few days, and II was somewhat in
reference 10 this occasion that purchased my
OveTcuat.
set forth at the close OF the week-one Friday
night, just at dark. The journey would occupy
the night and a IOItion Of the next Gay.
thuk l had been asleep, but am not sure,
when l was aroused by small, WeaZen-faced
g ntlemau in short blue coat who asked me If
the seat beside me was engaged. lastened 10
Tase for his accommodation.
He was a very sharp-eyed, shrewd-looking
little fellow and he entered INTO conversation
with me AT ntiy horsepower, and larry look my
breath away by The rapldity With which he
iauBehed forth his ideas on everything Ia general
aud nothing 10 particular.
/ noticed tIat lie wat ned me very closely and
that lie frequently ei Ired 10 little sliu of pa
yer IN his pocket book-a printed sip judged it
WaS-an after each successive reference the eX
preston Ot his face grew more and more tn
dmphanl.
Al Meridian we STOPPED ten minutes for re
freshments. l b gan 10 feel a void in Tie region
Of lie stomach, ana when the conductor rang
uut The steTeutyred notice rose quickly TO bolt
with the resi- OF The passengers. But 10 my in
Unite surprise my new friend laid his hand on my
sm and ue,diued me.
"Gently, my good sir" said he; regret it
exceedingly, but cannot permit you to leave the
"You cannot permit me2" said l. What do
Softly. Don't make a disturbance. You are
my prisoner"
e" Ha, how muOcen; We are! Amt we now?"
said lie, with a chuckle. 'Wny, IFS about that
'er.ck up 10 SwSSey's last Monday night. l
supp o>e you never saw about TWO dozen silver
Spoons aud four OF five sets OF jewelry worth 4
thousand each? Now, do ye?' and he gave ne
poke IN the ibis Intended 10 be extremely face
!ious.
"Swasey's? Jewelryl Silver spopnsq" said
Old gentleman, You must he either drunk
Neither" said he. Il am Mr.. Detective Pa
ley OF lie police"
" ell, / WISH lle W ponce Joy having SQcl
elockhead IN their ranks. For whom do you
take me, pray p
For David Russell, alias John Brown, alias
Dayids,"
M y real name, Mr.. Detective Paley. is Her
bert Lane, al your service"
On. Is IL? Much obliged for the Information.
SO you have got new alias. eh? But never
MUD, arrest you all The same"
Nj. faey," said l. with dignity "this is
aeI?1
BY what authority? Look here, young man.
IFS as plain as The nose 90 your face ~ aud he
thrust printed slip OF paper under tie nose he
mentioned.
read with, must confess some amusement
a. well as Indignation, the following d description:
" Said Dayids is about feet 10 inches in height.
Rather slight. Brown halr and blue eyes.
Wears a n.usache, which is blonde when ii is
not dyed. Has delicate hands and feet, aud had
on Wien he left This city light coIored oVeTcoat
With mulberry velvet collar"
"1heTeY exclaimed Mr.. bet. ctlve Paley, with
aYlcl0rlqus ar Gould anything be more com
plefe? spotted you al once because OF tile
OveTcoat. Don't you ?"
The train had just arrived at Dalton, aud here
Mr.. ialty Insisted on stopping. He was TO meet
some associates here VINO would assist him in
taking Inc back 10 Boston, where IL seemed the
IobbeIy had been committed for which 1 was
held 10 answer.
But my good fortune came 10 the rescue for on
the platform We met Judge Wexford, an old
hlend OF my fathers, and IL seemed d parsonage
well Known TO Mr.. Detective Paley.
The Judge shook hands with me warmly, and
Stated the case TO him without delay. He
humble, aud very much disconnected, aud apollo
giZed handsomely, and treated the crowd, and
protested That the mistake was altogether due 10
OF course l allo wed to go on my way In
peace, but before ecu ID manage to get Into the
next train ! was tapped ON tie arm by a sharp.
nosedi fat-bodied little old man, who intlmated
thai he wished 10 speak 10 me moment.
-" IL you llease. Sir" said lie, when had
The money for that lille bill? happen TO be
here 10 meet my daughter, who is coming on the
thought would ask you"
What lit lie bill do you refer top l asked, In
surprise.
"wby, bless your soul, Mr. Burnsi how
strange that you should have forgotten II And
you have the very overcoat CD, tooI'
The Ovei oat!" said !. . Well, what of II 2''
coat, and IFS tile bill for that l want paid.
Don't you see?"
No. said l, ~ don't see anything of the
KIND. Mr.. Snippit OF Boston made this over
coat, and l paid him for it; and my name is
Lane, md not Burns, by long chalkl There.
aud pulled of my hat and showed him my face
by Tie station lamp, REFRESHING The strong in
cilDatlon lelt TO kuOck MIN down.
Bless my soul !" exclaimed lie; % this Is very
extraordinary But hope you'll excuse mel
really DO No hai III intended, you know, sir; IL
was lie oyeTcOat deceived me. | made one pre-.
cisely Ike 1t for MI. Burns and he has neglected
10 rag me for IT. AND your height aud general
air. aud The coat itselfl And am little near
hope You WILL
i QlSeDRaEed myself
from The little tailor, so proiuse was he with bis
apologies; bul succeeded In doing So and get
Ing on board the train was soon at Weslland,
the home OF my beloved
Springng out, l took the shortest cut to the
home OF Alicia. which happened to lead ME
through q back street where there was nothing
bnt clearinghouse. just as l arrived opposite
pretty lille green blinded cottage tie door was
hung oDen aud out few young and very charm
ing lady IN pink dress, aud throwing her arms
around my neck she cried:
:, "oh, Harry, Harryl how glad am to see you'll
You dariDg why don't you kiss me? And
you've been gone three whole days!" aud how
she fell 10 kissing me TO such an extent that
came TO The decision that the world was big
pot OF honey and was sole proprietor thereof.
To tell HE truth, the mistake was not bad to
take. Ike mistakes OF this kind
MY dear lady" said L, but she interrupted
Why, Harry. what ails your never saw you
SO cold beiofe!" aud then she repeated the dose
Oh sweetness, and simultaneously felt a sharp
whacN acI oss my shoulders aud a hoarse mas.
cullne voice cried out:
What do you mean by hugging my wife in that
way?"
"Your wife !" said !. III you'll excuse me-,
III excuse you with Will" said he stranger
and lie blows from his cane descended upon NV
back thick ana fast.
broke away from the lady's arms and pounced
upen the fellow, and we both should have come
cut with a pair OF black eyes, / reckon, If a
couple OF policemen had not happened along aud
taken the case In hand.
"lt a mistake" sobbed the LADY. 81
was watching for Harry. He has been gone
three whole days And saw this gentleman
ScthhIE, duu MS IiSDl OftlcOdI-JuSl ike
deceived me aud rushed out and-I believe
lie kissed NE I"
Tue little jade as II she had not done most OF
the Sissing.
My back smarted lntolerably, but wanted to
see Alicia TOO much 10 walt until IL was better,
SO nasteheu 10 Mr. Con0yer's. The door was
opened by red-laced servant pIrl entirev new
10 NE. Inc instant she saw me her face lighted
up ike The SKY at sunrise, aud SEEING me by the
arm size screamed out at the top OF her voice:
MISS Alicia! MIR. Conoyerl I've got himl
Here lie is, the thief Tie nasty pedder That
pidl'
1 struggled hard, but was no match for the
sturdy girl, and down came my Alicia, and down
came Mi. ConoyeT, both looking very Indignant
The impudent fellow" said lie servant;
''and lie thought to fool me; but / kDowed his
overcoat-lhe color OF a meal bag-and the pur.
pie collar on It,"
."Look herel' said I, angrlly, managing to ex-
tricate myself froW the giTrs CLUTCHES. ~ am
hart Iaoa ftce