The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1896-10-15
A sUaREpTITIoUs SWIM.
Why Respectable Merchant Parad-
ed Paris Clad in Silk Hat.

The night was as balmy and soft
as the most exacting poet could rea-
sonably desire. Not breath OF air
was stirring, it is true, to raise clouds
OF dust in the streets, but neither
was there any stored-up heat to be
radiated from the brick and mortar
Of the houses. The sky was remark
ably clear, the moon unusually
brilliant.
1t seemed almost pity to go in
doors at all on such asplendid night
and two very respectable merchants
who were Of this way of thinking,
drove out to the Bots and strolled
about leisurely, conversing on trade,
politics and the philosophy Of life.
When they reached the edge Of
the cool, clear water, one OF the pair
suggested that they should have
plunge The other, in whose head
the spirit of prudence was FREEDOM
inant, demurred, for is not bathing
in the Bots at night a forbidden
pastime9 They debated the subject
for some time, and finally COM
promised matters by each having
his own way, the prudent individual
agreeing to take charge of his
friends clothes while the latter was
disporting himself in the water in a
state Of nature except for his silk
hat, which he retained on his head.
While the lover of pellucid lakes
was on the far side OF the sheet Of
water, he heard cry of alarm, and
saw, as he thought, the figure OF a
policeman standing boldly out
against the picturesque background
Of moonlit armament and light-green
foliage OF the trees. He could not,
OF course, know, in the hurry and
excitement of the moment, that the
little scream was uttered by female
dressed in male cycling attire, and
that she, in turn, had been Mortified
at the sight of his floating top-hat,
which she took to indicate the re-
cent preparation of some grewsome
crime. Monsieur X, remembering
that the police have been very
vigilant in the Bots of late arresting
the houseless and homeless, grew
frightened, and swan az rapidly as
he could to where he had left his
friend.
On terra frma once more, he HE'D
him breathless to the trysting spot.
GIVE had close call, old boy" he
called out in a subdued voice, shut
for heavens sake hide everything
behind tree, and I'll come round
in moment il there are no police
about"
"Oh, you've had close call, have
you2" exclaimed gruff,. bass voice,
which was not that OF the intimate
friend, while full weighted blow
on the nose, leveled by an unknown
hand, nearly knocked the unsuspect-
ing merchant off his feet. "Give me
my silk umbrella and my overcoat,
you scoundrelly night-thief, or you'll
spend the evening in tho lookup"
"Your overcoata l know nothing
Of it; | only wish / had my own"
None of your lying tricks with me.
You are the tramp who stole my
property here an hour ago. l recog-
nize you"
"How can you? Don't you see
have no clothes Of my own, and if
could get hold OF coat by hook or
by crook, would use it to hide my
nakedness?"
The stranger looked, saw that X.
was clad only in silk hat, and re-
luctantly concluding that it was
case OF mistaken identity, went his
way grumbling.
X, to his horror, then found that
his friend had likewise gone his way,
leaving him alone with mere top
hat. For nearly two hours the
wratchad man wandarad about Tho