The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-01-11
THE WRONG MAN.

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dark felt hat.
was a young man about twenty six
years old, with brown, curly hair, shoul-
ders slightly stopped, wearing a light
overcoat and dark felt hat.
Inoted with some interest those several
points of coincidence, and finally, in
order to get square look at the stran-
gers face, passed him I'm going for a
drink of water. A twin brother could
not have resembled me more closely in
feature and expression. The likeness
was wonderful.
| He looked up suddenly and my own as
| Constituent was reflected In his face.
"My double" he exclaimed pleasantly,
"eyen TO the hat and coat. You almost
frightened me. am John Lloyd Evans,
OF Boston,"
"And l." as we shook hands, "am
Parker M. Leonard, OF Chicago"
"So," he laughed, "if only our names
got mixed there would be tangle, chr"
He had handed me his card, and this,
after glanclng at 1T, put in my pocket
The name was printed in old English
type on thick bevel and gilt edged white
card board.
We soon became quite confidential. He
told me that he was a stock broker and
man of leisure.
told him that was senior bookkeeper
for a big Chicago packing tirm, that
had fallen in love three years before with
an Ohio young lady and was to marry her
next day.
ats pleasant to hear you talk about
it," he said, thoug htfully; wish you all
happiness"
He was silent for few seconds, busy
with his own thoughts. Then he asked
abruptly:
Don't you stay over in Cincinnati
until morningP"
"Yes; leaving at and reaching there
at H."
"but your dreams there to- night will be
pleasant enough"
"Yes," said, "but don't You 60 on to
Cincinnati with met"
"No; my ticket is for Cincinnati, but I
won't 60 that far, Leonard-or Mr.. Leon
ard-will you humor a fancy of mine?"
sin reason" Iassented readily. "What
is it?"
"Register tonight under my name.
Call yourself John Lloyd Evans, of Bos-
ton, and let me register as Parker M.
Leonard"
thought he must be joking, but his
face was quite serious. 1t seemed silly
request, but after some little hesitation /
consented.
Five minutes later left him to return
to the rear car i'm which / had left my
vslise and parcels.
"No," he had replied to my invitation,
g. won't go back now. must enjoy an
other cigar or two here. However will
see you again presently"
He didn't though. Just before the
train reached Cincinnati went forward
to look for him, but my double had dis
appeared.
In Cincinnati registered according to
promise as John Lloyd Evans, Boston.
For an hour or two i lounged about
the hotel, meeting no one with whom l
was acquainted, and was finally upon the
point of going to my room and to sleep
when noticed shabbily dressed man at
the clerks desk staring at me.
Just then another man joined the one
at the counter and both stared at me.
After a seconds conversation-about me,
Ithoug ght-they approached me together.
"Good evening"" said one of them.
"What is your name, sir?"
Leonard" / answered, thoughtlessly
and rather curtly.
The shabby man laughed boisterously,
nudging his companion.
"That's good" he said, "that's clever.
But isn't your name John Lloyd Evans?"
al am registered by that name," had
to admit.
"So-we want you, Mr.. John Lloyd
Evans. We want you bad"
Before could protest was handcuffed.
They started out with me, one on each
side.
"Come, come" said the shabby man,
"you're too old bird to be taking on like
this. Come along quiet"
/ pleaded and threatened, but to no
purpose. A crowd Of street arabs were
following at our heels and people passing
by stopped to look and smile.
81 have been fool" protested fran
tically, but no more than that"
1T was rather lame in you," said my
shabby captor, A" but the smartest of you
slip once or twice in lifetime"
Twas finally allowed to order double
carriage 80 that all three of US might ride
to the central police station, in this man
ner avoiding the humiliation Of being
dragged along the sidewalk.
AT the station was searched. It can
readily be understood that on wedding
other papers of Identification. The only
name in my pockets was on that card
which Evans had given me.
In this card my two captors and the
several other detectives present ap-
peared particularly interested.
The same to a T." said my shabby ac-
quaintance. Get the telegram and let's
see."
The telegram was from the chief of po-
lice of Philadelphia:
Arrest Link Murphy, alias Stoop
Meadows, confidence man, forger, safe
expert and murderer. One thousand
dollars reward. He is twenty eight
years old, brown curly hair and stoops
slightly. He was in Chicago two days
ago, but believed to have left there for
Cincinnati to-day. Just before he left
here Monday nigh called at Job printing
Office for cards ordered that morning. |
There was only one, which had been
taken as proof for him TO correct. lie |
took this with him. 1t was in old En- |
glish type on bevel edged white card, also |
gilt edged. When he left here wore light |