The morning call., 1894-04-07
Collecting fares OF optical Illusions don't

COLLECTING fares Of optical illusions don't
pay"
II should say not" said the octor. "But
my opinion is that you turned our back a
minute and that the woman got on with
out paying her fare. Probably she was
full of frauds. She made you take the
paper to the man to give herself chance.
See now?
| didn't see; but what can you do when
folks are so sensible hat they can't believe
anything?
"Twasn't like that-there she was and
there she wasn't" said l. That's how it
was"
IF it happens again come to me and I'll
write you a prescription and make you a
present O. it," said the doctor.
So | thanked him kindly and went away,
and il didn't happen again. Weeks went
along. and il was winter, and as cold as
Greenland, ana passengers more bother
some than | ever knew 'em, when one day,
standing in tho stables. talking 10 Mike
Gallagher, the old fellow that watered the
horses and always had Joke fer every
BODY. heard my name called
~ ou're wanted, JIM" said some one,
and | went out into the street, and the
man that had called me pointed to gen
tleman-Aabout as fine looking one as
ever knew-and he, the gentleman, walked
up to me.
tits your dinner time, isn't itP" said he.
Yes SIR" said /. I've got few min
utes left"
Come along, then" said he. he walked
me into a restaurant close by the stables
and said Cali for what you want" ana
| named it. Then said he: You don't rs-
member me, Jim Brown p
mo, sir. said /.
you gave ME q paper about six months
ha cNc + bad
your name"
ION. ohp' said 1. mo, sir; l dldn't
know you. | begin TO see the likeness.
but yOu-vou-"
II know" said he. 81 was pretty we'll
down on my luck then. See eP"-he
unbuttoned his coat, a sealskin. bless you,
and took out of the breast pocket news
paper-''read that" he said, pointing to
where it was folded.
] read it. This is what 1t said:
IF Ferdinand Melrose will return home
all will be forgiven by his dying father,
and after that where he WAS to Inquire for
further PARTICULARS"
well, [ am Ferdinand Merose," says
the gentleman, 1.-THE black sheep of nay
family. Long ago my stepmOther made
mischief between my father and myself.
He forbade me his house, and l rather
went to the bad. No matter for my story.
Besides the fare you injured about l had
only bottle of audanum In my pocket.
l was going 70 Central Park to take il.
l should have Silent myself out of life
into eternity, and the city would have
seen to my funeral If you had not given
me that paper. l went to the place men
toned. and found, as / expected. that
money had been left in lawyers hands
to take ME home. When / got there
found that my stepmother had been dead
three years, and that my father had been
attacked by disease that must be fatal
We were recOnciled, and when he died
found myself rich man. had kept Jim
Browns address, and l feel that l owe
him something"
"Nolhing at ALL" says "The lady-the
slster-told me to give it TO you.
What lady?" asked he.
I'D like to know myself" said i, and
then told him my story.
II is strange" says he. II could swear
that was the only passenger at the time.
| felt SO miserable and so sha bly, that
purposely waited for an empty car. And
another thing is true, jim Brown" said he.
I'VE had ghost in our family. nun is
said to appear now and then, always to do
good. And my father declared that while
he was i'll she appeared to hun three times.
always pointing 10 my portrait. which
hung IN his bedroom, and always convey
ing to him in some way that it was his duty
IS search for me. In fact, she was the
means of our reconciliation.
l couldn't say anything. Neither of Us
spoke bout the thing again, but when he
insisted on starting me in the clearinghouse
Inc wasn't fool enough to refuse. and as
you see. Pm not bobtail-cardriver any
longer.
No, haven't seen anything queer since
that time and | can't say I'm anx Gus; but
whether the lady was what the doctor
called an optical Illusion, it's certain tina,
she only did good to all concerned. Bless
her for coming!