Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-02-28
A PUZZLED
He was Used to Detectives, but This
Boston Cabman Amazed Him.

AALlh
The express from the West was just
IN, and a traveller stepped out of the
side door of the Albany station into
the outstretched arms of fourteen Bos-
ION cabmen and hackS1rivers. saws
the Boston Journal.
Ihe traveller, a stoutly built man.
oetWeen 80 and 40. with \ god
natuHed face and a solid, dark nous
tache. selected one whom he detected
III pdrlally putting away into the
sue pocket of his overcoat a dog
cared copy of Carlyle's s.French Revo-
iu1lon." The cabman touched his bat
III modest appreciation of the favor
SHOWN by his new fare. and after
ounulinG 4 large valise upon the dash
ooard, opened the door and stood
wanting with a keen twinkle of ex.
p~ectancy.
lou may take me to Young's Or
or Parker's, perhaps" said the tray
eler' with a distinct English accent
ana a decided interrogative infection
in his voice. ~
fardon me-" was the immediate an.
s"er, but l think you'll find Mai
L onu "altlng for you at Parker's."
Inc travellers jaw quivered for q
moment, but only for d moment. After
dartlng a sharp glance at the cahman
he bowed, as if obeying orders. and
entered the vehicle.
Inc rlde was a noisy one. but brief
Notwithstanding -bumnr
Inc fare. glancing through the glass
III the front of the carriage, found his
man. sitting as erect as the flo q
week man OF Lady Churchill. As tba
can rolled into School street the trav-
eler sank into the corner of the cush-
Toned seat in the attitude of deanas,
meditation.
"A moment more, seemingly, and the
ooor opened. The stoutly built mas
senger felt in his pocket for change
az at IS not too great an intrusion.
should greatly prefer a ticket to
u lecture. If you have none of
the printed ones with you, your agent
would doubtless honor one of vour
visiting cards, if penciled bv vour-
The passenger showed signs Of
strong inward emotion.
Come, come, 1 am not accustomed
20 be beaten at my own tricks" said
ne, almost gruf1y. 'Tell me how Won
ascertalned this, and you shall have
tickets for your whole family and
cigars as you smoke here in. Am
erica BESIDES" breaking at the end
nto a smile.
. course, we all knew that you
we're coming on this train-that IS.
OF the members of our Cabmen's
literary guild" was the half apolo-
set1c reply. GAS 1T happens, I am the
only member on duty at this station
his morning, and / had that ad-
vantage. If you will excuse other per-
'onal remarks, your coat iapels are
badly twisted downward, where they
been grasped by the ~pertinacious
View York reporters. Your hair has
he Quakerish cut of a Philadelphia
barber, and your hat, battered at the
,rim in front, shows where you have
lightly grasped it in the struggle to
your ground at a Chicago liter
Try luncheon. Your right overshoe
has a large block Of Buffalo mud just
under the instep, the prdor of p
Utica cigar hangs about your clothing,
the Overcoat itself shows the SLOW
enly brushing of the porters on the
through sleepers from Albany. The
crumbs of %doughnut on the top of
rour b~ag-pardon me, your luggage
only have come there in Spring
ield, and stenciled upon the very end
If the Wellington in fairly plain
ettering,. is the name Conan Doyle"
"NOw l know where Sherlock
Holmes went when he died." said this
treat writer of detective stories after
he cabman had finished his third
slass of brandy neat THAT leaves
ne free to write any more adventures
If his that l wish, except that ! must
Ocate them in Boston,"