The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-07-21
THE WRONG MAN.
A Case Where tho Joke Was on
the Joker.

Cno sjCi&0r.
''1t was this way" prcfaced the old
sailor, filling his pipe. He struck a
match, took pull two, and then
gave the following story:
I'D been off in the little trader
Cydia-Cap'n Mark Haznrd--on a trad
ing run to the Sandwich ialan
eve came into port one fine morn
ing, lnloaded our cargo, and tho yes
sci having to go into dry dock most Of
her crew, me included, had nothing to
do but stroll about and spend our
money.
:Onc afternoon when we were loung-
ing about a trim sharp-eyed young fell
low in a long coat passed us on his. way
uptown.
HE had on his arm the sweetest
faced young girl ever set my eyes on.
*'She wasn't more'n eighteen, her
hair was like gold and she was as trim
a yacht.
''Well, I hadn't a thought of any of us
seeing each other again. and I don't
think Bob thought anything at all
about it; but an hour later the same
sharp-cyed young fellow who had been
the young girls companion came up to
us and passed word or SO about the
weather.
''When do yo,, sail and for what
placer he asked. n fter n little time. adj
dressing his talk to Lob:
"'We're out of BERTH, said Bob.
1.-THE young fellow was going to leave
us when Bob snid that, only n man
standing close by turned out to be
a skipper short Of hands. and we
signed with him for n whaling voyage
to the Windward islands-hc coming
over to us when he heard Bob say we
wasn't hired, and hiring us then and
there.
His schooner, the Nancy, he said,
wa 11-in f.
ward and was to pull out at about
three o'clock in the morning.
1.-The young fellow asked us to go
along with him when things were set
tied.
".Nhat tack are you drivin' at, any
.vay?' Bob asked when we had stopped
in a quiet doorway; speak up, for
we're your men,
"Wen, it's this the sharp-eyed
young fellow said. 4 want to play
joke on a friend Of mine. and you two
will be paid for helping me-
"'Orders?'' said Bob.
coat about half-past twelve o'clock
tonight come up to -, and he gave
US the name of a boarding-house that
forget the name of, and go up to the
Second floor. The man I want you to
take on the cruise with you is in room
32, at about the head of the stairs
Go in quietly, chloroform him and
take him dovvnstirs to d hack Ill have
waiting in front of the house. And
"'Enough said,' Bob interrupted.
i've done the thing before. Snuggle
him abroad, and when he gets his
senses back he won't know who
brought him there and we won't be
likely to tell him.
:How about the pay for the job?'
Bob wanted to know.
".I'll give the hackman five dollars
to give each of you when he sees you've
A1.4 ~ cot he
''That's agreeable" said Bob. How
can we get into his room-the fellows
you want to joker
'''It just SO happens that the lock to
his door has been broken for the last
week and he has been unable to fasten
it. said the young, sharp-eyed fellow
We're in luck, you see.'
EFT turned out afterward that he
his name was Fink Campbell-was in
love with the pretty, sweet-faced girl
we'd seen him with.
Her name was Elsa Horton, or
make mistake.
''And she was in love with the chap
this Campbell hired us to lSidnap-a
handsome, manly young fellow, whose
name was Fred Kingsley, and who
loved her for her sweet face and not
for the money her old father was said
to have, the way young Campbell did.
''Then he got her-she and young
Kingsley, It seemed, were to be married
in q few days-to say, without think
ing, that if Fred Kingsley didn't appear
when it was time for the wedding she'd
marry hir-as girls talk sometimes.
you know.
''Then he must have begun to scheme
how to get Frank Kingsley out of the
way, or perhaps he had the scheme all
made up ut first.
Bob and bought a new fit-out, and
took our bags aboard the Nancy.
Then about twelve o'clock or n lit
tie after, we struck out for the board
ing-housc our employer had told us to
visit.
Campbell forged n letter and fixed
It. so Elsie's father and she would get it.,