Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-03-06

Drane were going to the parsons house
to elucidate together one or two prob
lens that were not yet clear to either of
them. During all the conversation that
this involved, Lawrence discreetly kept
his mouth shut, and presently Jimmy
dashed off presumably to give a column
of copy to his newspaper for the last
edition. After this the two men paused
on the sidewalk and Mr.. Drane began:
"My dear man, there is something
about you, in addition to my clothes,
which makes me think that you are or
ought to be gentleman"
"Sir," responded the tramp, "there Is
something about you besides that ILL
fitting Bowery suit that makes me re-
gard you as destined to better things
than you have endured during the past
week"
Then both men laughed and after that
they shook hands heartily.
81 say" said Lawrence, ''what is your
name, and how the uncomfortable
fend did you get into tramp's life?"
"My name," responded the other, sis
plain johnson, baptised Richard j.
was at one time country schoolmas-
ter, which may account for my lapses
into fairly correct English when talk.
Schoolmastering, found, did not pay
for q man who had acquired champagne
tastes on beer income, and so deter
mined to travel. Experience of an I'M
usually severe nature undermined my
convictions respecting naeun1 ct tuun7,
and therefore descended to theft. But
it is only fair to explain that this de-
scent in morality came from the fact
that soon after gave up school-teach-
ing went into politics."
"Unfortunate," murmursd Mr.. Drane.
"I was an alderman" continued the,
tramp, land voted various franchises
to railroad corporations and escaped in
dictment l never knew how. Then,
having my hands in the public treasury,
otherwise the peoples pockets, for two
or three years, lost all sense of de-
corum and honesty"
: 'You are to be pitied, not con-.
demned," said Mr.. Drane.
49," continued the tramp, 81 am not
altogether bad. That, with your kind!
ness, you seem to see; but the fact is
that If l had always worn as good
clothes as these of yours, I would not
have been tempted to commit the
crimes that have brought trouble upon
| you"
THAT is doubtless true" answered
Mr.. Drane, obviously recalling his pc.
! culiar adventures; "but it was very
wrong of you to take away not only my
garments but my name and credit as
we'll"
"Ah, sir" replied Mr.. johnson, smil-
ing, SIT is an old saw that necessity
knows no law But let US not
waste time in argument. came
here to seek my wife, and when
have found her you shall be
fully repaid in money for the misery
which have caused you"
They had been walking along inde-
terminedly, and here Mr.. Drane stopped.
johnson" he said, ''you are in bad
fix. Your wife is not only poor fnan-
cially, but so badly off that she wants to
! claim me for husband"
johnson opened his mouth wide with
| amazement, and as he knew not what to
say, Lawrence continued:
"Whatever claim she had to riches she
distracted from another person, as you
took my clothes. have seen her this
morning. She claims to be Mrs. Drane,
and"
"You internal scoundrelr' exclaimed
johnson, and he seized Mr.. Drane by
the collar. erich or poor, she is my
wife, and If you have gone and got her
away from me I'll break your back and
put you in the asylum again to boot"
/ Mr.. Drane shook Off his antagonist
easily.
Don't you call me names," he cried,
''or I'll have you arrested for theftl"
johnson cooled down at once.
''Where's my wife?" he asked pres
emily.
"Come with me-" said Mr.. Drane,
"and I'll show you," and he forthwith
led the way to the parsons house. just
as they arrived at the door two men
hurried up who greeted Lawrence effu-
sively. They were relatives of his
from Kansas City, arrived by way
train from New York, johnson hav-
ing caught an express at the same
hour. The relatives looked at Law
renee sharply and seemed to wonder
whether he was all right or not, but he
refrained from explaining himself until
they had come again into the parsons
study.