The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-22
NEWARK's STATE OF MIND.
FURRY About a Man with n Siiver-Mounted
Bottle and n Patch of Human Hair.

"af
FURRY About a Man with n Siiver-Mounted
Bottle and n Patch of Human Hair.
Had II not been for n small stretch OF ice on
the Newark train platform the man would UNI
doubtedly have alighted and gone about his
business without further notice from anybody.
He was a commonplace looking person. clothed
with not too conspicuous elegance and carry
ing a black handsatchel. Evidently he was in
q hurry. for he launched himself from the step
OF the still rapidly moving train right into the
Jaws OF fate. as typifed by the little stretch Of
ice. Out few his arms. up went his feet and
down came his head with an emphatic thump
on the wooden platform. The satchel flew
from his hand and went sliding across the
flooring. 1t was all done 30 swiftly that the
eye was taxed to follow the various aspects Of
the involuntary acrobatic performance.
In the station there was the usual crowd.
and. Newark people having the same appreci-
alton of a situation as the inhabitants OF other
cities. a general outburst OF mirth greeted the
agile performance. Tho victim OF the mishap
didn't heed 1t. He lay prone. moving his legs
feebly. stunned for the moment. Then he be-
gan painfully to get to his feet. Two men who
stood near and had been convulsed with glee
ran forward and helped him alphabetically.
One OF them felt his shoulders and arms for
possible broken bones. explaining that he was
a physician. The other. an elderly gentleman
In n fur-lined coat. picked up his hat and re-
| stored It 70 him.
"How's your head ~ asked the physician,
| steadying tho sufferer as he got to his feet.
You haven't broken any bones. luckily"
"All right. 1 guess replied the traveller:
II feel a little dizzy. that's all. That was q
pretty fierce bump, Much obliged to YOU"
There is nothing more foolish" said the
elderly man didactically. than alighting from
a moving train. or more useless. 1t saves no
time and is likely to result in serious injuries"
That's So" assented tho other. didn't
| calculate to light on a skating rink. though.
What became OF my Grip2'
The satchel had brought up against a post
with such violence that 1t had burst open and
! part of it's contents had rolled out upon tho
flooring. They had 50 disposed themselves
that there lay close together q small silver
mounted glass bottle and what looked like a
| patch of human hair Of brownish hue. For the
rest. there were bits OF cloth. brushes and other
| small bottles. But the doctor had bounced
unon the silver-m3unted vial and the patch Of
hair and was holding them up in a glngerly
fashion. one in each hand. with an expression
DO you see those ~ he said In a low tone to
the man in, the fur coat.
You see y said the doctor. with intense en-
section OF red beard"
Good heavens" exclaimed the elderly man.
glancing with Mortified eyes at the victim OF
the tumble. do you suppose he could be the
poisonerf"
= Without replying. tho doctor turned to the
stranger. who was now busying, himself with
his satchel while the crowd watched him, and.
holding up the bottle. asked sharply:
What does this contain. sir?"
1T contains itS q preparation of M oTn:" said sal
"Oh. Il pre- aration OF your own, Ell 2" re-
pented the doctor. with sarcastic emphasis.
Made 1t yourself. / suppose ~ suggested the
Allnr1tv 1anf 4 IN fnF amt lnnRin0 nj
You seem a lot interested. you. people re-
and hi thank You to give Il back to me: Wills
you're doing that you can tell me what you
The doctor and the. elderly gentleman looked
! at each other and nodded.
The police might DO interested in that. too"
It might contain; for instance. cyanide of
There; was a murmur from the crowd. which
Yes. o., i might contain pink extract of rain
bow" said It's owner. coolly, only 1t don't"
He took It from the hand Of the doctor. then
took the patch Of hair and put them both in
.n "YSq n need r. think anstoy yG s, SH1 GSt aaTqy that
'"For WHAT Think you must be of your
ba a 5 .v,donc. orouob rich. :, that n,c
to show you are the rei.headed man that got
the poison to, send 70 Harry Cornish;" said tho
beard and there's the bottle. What more Is
'"Grab him p called n voice from the rear OF
the crowd. Don't let him go. I'll get a po-
Keep your hands off me-" said the man.
Whats all this about Poisonf Cornish =?
oh. | remember reading about that a couple OF
"%nRememPcE nothing" shouted n voice.
That's n blulf,m,,
mo. il Isn't, I've been travelling in the back
woods for the last month ana haven't read the
'"'That's all very WE'LL said the doctor. but
how do you account for the red beard and the
bottle which is Just like the one that contained
the cyanide OF mercury Y.
Mighty little like II; If remember the de-
s%rription. Anyhow, don't know that Pm
obliged To account for those things: but I'm
afraid some Of YOU fly people will 20 way and
burst n bloodvessel with excitement ii you
don't find our. so I'll tell. you; I'm travelling
our fancy ones, The red beard. az my friend
sample on which | make my tests"
He opened his satchel while the crowd gaped.
and took out more hair Of various hues and
many other little bottles: !
There's SOnc more OF my layout. lie said, |
land here are n fcwof my cards. which you can
pin IN your hats for future reference
lie scattered u dozen with a toss Of his hand. |
One of them lodged in the Doctors hat brinI. |
lie knocked il out testify and disappeared
through the crowd. followed by the eldorly
gentleman.
III there's any prize amateur keen-eyed
yellow detective in this crowd that isn't salts
fled yet continued the stranger as he re-
turned the articles to the satchel and closed II:
I'm Just, tell him now that I'm going, the
round OF the barber shops, where there's about
nifty BARRIERS who can identify me. and ne can
follow on IL he wants to-"
He showed his way. none too gently, out OF