The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-12-03
PUZZLED.


The express from the west was
Just In, and a traveller stepped out OF
the side door of the Albany station
into tho outstretched arms Of II
Boston cabmen and hack drivers.
The traveller, q stoutly built man,
between 80 and 40, with good hu-
morod face In solid, dark mustache,
selected one whom he detected in
partially putting away into the side
pocket of his overcoat dog cared
copy of Carlyle's French Revolu-
tion." The cabman touched his hat
in modest appreciation of the favor
shown by his new fare, and after
bundling q large valise upon the
dashboard opened the door and stood
waiting with keen twinkle of ex.
pectancy.
"You may take me to Young's or
OR Parkor's perhaps" said the
traveller, with distinct English ac-
cent and decided interrogative in
Election in his voice.
Pardon mo-" was the immediate
answer, "but think you'll find Ma
jor Pond waiting for you at Par
ker's.
The Travellers jaw quivered for a
moment but only for moment.
After darting a sharp glance at the
cabman he bowed, as If obeying or
ders, and entered the vehicle.
Tho rido was a noisy one, but
brief. Rattle, rattle, bump, batter,
bump! The fare, glancing through
the glass in the front of the carriage,
found his man sitting as erect as the
910 week man of Lady Churchill.
AS the cab rolled into School street
the traveller sank into the corner Of
the cushioned seat in the attitude OF
deepest meditation.
A moment moro seemingly, and
the door opened. The stoutly built
passenger felt in his pocket for
change.
IF il is not too great an intrusion,
sir, should greatly prefer n ticket
to your lecture. If you have mono
of the printed ones with you, your
agent would doubtless honor one of
your visiting cards if penciled by
yourself.
The passenger showed signs of
strong inward emotion.
"Come, come, / am not accustom-
cd TO DO beaten at my own tricks, {"
said he almost grufly. "Tell mo
how you have ascertained this, and
you shall have tickets for your whole
family and such cigars as you smoke
here in America besides" breaking
at the end into q smile.
"Of course we all knew that you
were coming on this train--that Is,
all of the members of our Cabmen's
Literary guild" was the half apollo
getic reply. "As it happens, am
the only member on duty at this
station this morning, and had that
advantage. If you will excuse other
personal remarks, your coat lapels
are badly twisted downward where
they havo been grasped by the per-
tinacious New York reporters. Your
hair has tho Quakerish cut of Phil
adelphia barber, and your hat, bat
tered at the brim III front, shows
where you have tightly grasped it
In the struggle to stand your ground
at Chicago literary luncheon.
Your right overshoe has a large
block of Buffalo mud just under tho
instep, the odor Of q Utica cigar
hangs about your clothing, and the
overcoat itself shows the slovenly
brushing of the porters on the
through sleepers from Albany. The
crumbs of doughnut on the top Of
your bag--pardon me, your luggage
could only have come there in
Springfield, and stenciled upon the
very end of the Wellington in fair
ly plain lettering is the name Conan
Doyle ,"
"Now l know where Sherlock
Holmes went when he died." said
this great writer of tictoctivo stories
after the oabman had finished his
third glass of brandy neat THAT
leaves mo free TO write any moro ad-
ventures of his that 1 wish, except
that 1 must locate them in Boston.
boston Record.