Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-04
HE WANTED 4 DOLLAR.
Tried New Way OF Borrowing without
Success.

tried new way or borrowing without
Success.
A Broadway cable car late at night was
on its down trip. AT Cor.lGndt street a
tall, thin man with long hair, soft felt
hat that was too small, a shiny frock coat
that was too long and shiny. black trous-
ers that were too short. got aboard. In a
front corner of the car sat fat man with
a big valise. There were seats a-plenty,
but the TALL thin man walked the length
of the car and sat down next to the fat
man in the corner.
"Erastus G.. Lowell, OF Hackensack," eX-
claimed the thin man, how are you to-
night?"
The fat man stared a moment at the
speaker and replied with some asperity.
Il am not Erastus G. Lowell of Hacken>
sack, but am quite well tonight"
Not Erastus G.. Lowell, of Hackensack,"
said the thin man, apparently much sur
prised. "Why, are you sure?"
well. I guess l ought to know who
am" exclaimed the fat man.
Certainly, sir, certainly. To be sure"
asserted the thin man. But, mercy, how
could | be so much mistaken? Why, if 1
had gone on with what had on my mind
l would have been mortified beyond meas
ure. l was so sure you were Erastus c.
Lowell, of Hackensack"
Mistakes like that frequently happen"
said the fat man, his good nature, restor-
ed.
YES. I know" said the thin man. But
the thought of the modification / would
have suffered if had gone and done what
l had on my mind, and then found that
you were not Erastus G. Lowell of Hack
ensack, is what annoys me. Mercy!
The fat man smiled reassuringly and
bowed.
yes, indeed" continued the thin man.
81 don't know what made me pause on this
occasion, for 1 always go straight up to
Erastus G.. Lowell, of Hackensack, and
say: Lend me a dollar until tomorrow.
Now, il l had done that tonight, and,
after you had loaned me the dollar, had
discovered that you were not Erastus G..
Lowell. Of Hackensack, just see how dead
" my modification would have been!
Mercy. 1t makes me>cold to think of it,
The fat man assured him with smile
that there would have been no occasion
whatever for modification on that score.
Thanks! thanksr exclaimed the thin
man. You are very kind. But [ don't
know that ought to accept it even until
tomorrow. If you were only Erastus e.
Lowell. of Hackensack, now. You are so
exceedingly like him in looks and man
ner."
The fat man bowed again, but his smile
was missing. The s,r was nearing the
end Of the route
IF. as you say. my fears of being morti-
fed beyond measure If 1 had gone at you
as though you were Erastus G. Lowell, of
Hackensack. are groundless," continued
the thin man. blandly. II will put the
thought aside and accept the loan-but
only until tomorrow. Only until to-
morrow
The car hadn't stopped yet, but the fat
man grabbed his valise. hurried to the
platform and jumped off. looking back as
he rushed for the sidewalk as If he feared
the thin man was in pursuit The thin
man wasn't. He satsstill and watched the
fat man as he disappeared. Then he
arose mopped his forehead with red
handkerchief, and, as the car stopped at
the end of Broadway, said to the conduc-
tor:
IT'S terrible nowadays how tight the
money market is. amt it?"
But the conductor said nothing, and the
thin man got off.-Ed Mott in New York
Journal.