The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-07

1
 He told me that if you should at l tempt to enter into conversation with a ] feIow-passenger in a Chicago train he l probably would present you with the 1 card in question as a delicate hint that | he wanted to be left in peace.
 I am going down to Warwickshire ! tomorrow I said"-continued John ston-" to spend few days with ScO- | ble, and I'll take this card with me. If some one insists on talking to me when I'm reading my paper I'll try what handing him the card will do.'
 ''I took the train at Boston, travelling secOnd-class.
 My fellOw-passenger was a fine looking woman of about 30. The heat of the day and the excitement of catch ing the train had given her f1orid col or. and I could see that the desire of condemning the weather and exposing the wickedness of a cabman was strong within her.
 ''Presently the woman caught my eye, and said: I beg your pardon, but will you tell me the exact time! My cabman-
 But here I handed the woman the ] Chicago card 1 had received the day before.
 "She read it and then said, o, indeed! So sorry. Pray excuse me- and then lapsed in silence, while l resumed my newspaper and congratulated myself on the efficacy of the American plan of dealing with railway bores.
 Tt is true that my conscience did give me an occasional twinge, for the distinction between telling a lie ana handing a person a ready-made lie printed on a card was not very percept- ible. I asked myself whether in giving the woman a card with the words, I am deaf and dumb 1 had not been guilty of lying as certainly as l should have been If 1 had tod her the same thing in so many words.
 "At Willesden Junction another pas senger got in. This time it was young lady who was evidently expected by the elder lady.
 By and by my attention was arous- ed in spite of myself by hearing the elder lady mention my name. You seq, : she said, T had to come down to-day because it wouldn't do for me to be away
 "'But, auntie,' said the other how do you know that he is tiresOme if yod have never seen him?
 [ Johns friends always are tiresome. It does seem as if he deliberately selected the most stupid men he could find and asked them down to Greencroft, just to make life burden to me. And then, my dear, for another thing, l tried to read this detestable Johnston's books. Anything more stupid and silly you can't possibly imagine
 'So I was actually travelling in the same carriage with Scoble's wife and niece, and the former was threading my arrival at her house and looking upon me as a tiresOme nuisance.
 The two ladies talked on, but happily seemed to forget the existence of the unfortunate Johnston. Once Mrs. Sco- b.e came to the window where 1 was sitting, to point out something to Ter niece, and the swaying of the carriage nearly threw her on my lap.
 Just then the elder lady began one of those nervous and hurried searches for her purse which women when tray cling are so prone to make.
 '''It is gone" she exclaimed; and I am sure that fellow in the corner pick ed my pocket when I was looking out of his window
 "'He could not have done that re- piled the niece, for I was looking at him at the time, and he never once took his hands or his eyes away from his newspaper
 "'My dear child! Do you suppose you are quick enough to watch the motions of a professional pickpOcket? That man has my purse, 1 am perfectly sure of it; and shall give him in charge the moment we get to Rugby
 Tt was clear that I must bolt from the carriage the instant the train reached the Rugby platform, and be- fore a policeman could be called. The train was already slowing, and I hast fly gathered up my rug and umbrella and prepared to move toward the door.
 "'No, you don't, my manr said Mrs. Scoble, rising and taking possession Of the door by the simple process of thrusting half of her ample person through the window.
 "I saw at once that the game was up.
 "'That man has picked my pocket said Mrs. Scoble, as soon as the police man opened the door. Search him and you'll find my purse In his possession. It is marked A. D. S. and has four five pound notes, two sovereigns, and some change in 1t, besides my ticket
 "'What do you say to this? the po- liceman asked me, evidently impressed with the certainty of my guilt.
 Simply that it isn't true replied. I know nothing of the lady's purse, and I can easily convince you that I am respectable person.
 My goodnessr exclaimed my accus- CT. Why, the fellow isn't deaf and uuIuU dileT dIl. OoASldOie, ue pIeltHu- ed to be deaf and dumb. That shows 1 what Scoundrel he is"
 "I rose up to follow the policeman, and my foot struck against something that was lying on the floor of the car riage. I stopped and picked it up. You must have dropped it when you were looking out of my window
 "I wouldn't advise him to play that game any more,' said the policeman. Sc yere.y. Let me tell you. sir. that if you