The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-23
TO SEEM A WIZARD.
NOW AN OBSERTANT CITIZEN Rad
Fun WITH 4 TRAYELLED HOBO.

Some people have the luck to get reputation
cheap. and then, after they have got 1t. find out
that they'd rather be without 1t. That Is the
case with Lieut.. Oscar King. He is at present
regarded as n wizard Of superior attachments
by a number Of more or less disreputable char
acters whose notice he would gladly dispense
with, II ali came about through the inability
of Lieut.. King to withstand the temptation TO
u"rpetrate a little joke for which an excellent
opportunity presented itself. II he had known
how seriously his joke was to be taken in GER
tain quarters he wouldn't on any account have
perpetrated 1t.
About a month ago Lieut.. King was going
uptown on a crowded elevated train when he
found his feet trespassed upon by n man
in 'front.' OF him. The Lieutenant
waggled his feet expressively, and the occu-
pant OF them as standing room apologized In
muttered tones. and resumed his conversation
with a companion who was standing up. like
himself. From behind his paper King became
Interested in the conversation, all OF which
was distinctly audible to him. The man who
had stepped on his feet was recounting his ad-
ventures and travels to the other in a racy.
sketchy fashion. which was not without charm
to the casual listener. The fellow had wan
dered over the length and breadth Of the
country in various shady pursuits. and his no
tions of the places he had visited we're expressed
with the greatest frankness. as we're also certain
details OF his career not Of a nature commonly
given forth to public notice In a community
which can boast OF the presence Of a police
force. He looked like a hobo in good luck.
Before the train reached Harlem he and his
companion had gravitated to two vacant seats
out Of the interested listeners hearing.
Neither Of them had noticed him and he forgot
about them as soon as they were out OF his
sight.
Several days later Lieut.. King had occasion
to call on his friend Major Barry at the latter's
office downtown. The conversation turned
upon the subject Of character reading from
externals. Barry. who is Of q skeptical turn OF
mind, denounced 1t all as nonsense and cited
the deductions" of the famous Sherlock
Holmes as excellent examples Of the ridicu-
lousy impossible.
IF a man whom I never saw before" he
said. comes In here and sits down in that
chair and talks to me l can probably deduce
whether or not he has been eating onions for
dinner. and also whether he is Of Irish or Ger
man extraction: but as for getting at his pro-
fession. unless he carries the sign manual OF it
with him. or anything about him that differen-
tiates him from the rest OF mankind. can't do
it. and l don't believe anybody else can
But that's Just it." replied King. Every
man does carry his sign manual. II only we
have the sense to see it and recognize it,"
Gentlemen. 1 have here a very fine article
OF coat hanger said a voice at the railing.
There's a living example for you said the
Major. laughing. "One look at that man tells
you. l suppose. that he's a peddler. OF the house,
toulouse order
AS it happened. It told Lieut.. King a great
deal more than that. for at the first glance he
recognized the recounter OF travels Of the ele-
-ateI A.ntn Tha n haI n ranl1nt 80 a1at
hangers slung over his back. which. at a GEES
ture from the Major. he set dow on a chair.
loosening two OF them as samples.
This is the newest thing" he said. glibly:
spreads the coat and preserves the shape Of
the shoulders: Positively the only hanger that
pressed by the tailor. for it removes every
wrinkle in a night. And I'm selling this splen;
did article at 4 quarter. It's the chance of
During thif hsrangg Uei ID de iIten,iv With ,th
AL that you can see in this man is that he
Isl peddler. | suppose;
remarked Barry. IF you can see anything
more J dr iiEG to hear Fl it. ded but did RE- know you
oh. I'm not an adept at it; said King care
lessly., but ! do a little in that way occasion
Can | sell you a couple Of these very fine
hangers. gents inquired the, peddler. who
the the o The not uaSderstandins Clearly to What
kind OF an experiment he was to be subjected
My friend will take a couple presently" said
Never in my lite, said the visitor, taking a
,"Then you'd be surprised il | told you that
the name you go by IS Dinky Bill
he had never, heard the name before. which
caused Major Barry TO laugh disdatnfully.
ne ,,0n, yeis: "1 bs a5 Kief' to t tba ped SHins " Is Snly
Never was there in my life, sir" said the
quite 60 d9w9; .wpteher mean. anyway"
s.a}s : sa% ! f2 1f. alarm lszn rs sa.S KIP Ki59fF: . and a sqd,
into the reddier,,s eyes. he looked intently at
Never dealt faro. either. I suppose" he OBJ
We'll. I might haye-couple o years ago-it
""Out in Butte City" continued the Lieuten-
ant. Pretty bum locality, Butte City: eh?'"
Rotten! - fervently exclaimed the, peddler.
."When were you out there. King? ?" asked
Never was there in my life" said King. but
know men from that locality. ana | could tell
c4sM "T sSsr thaf / the thou isi,eTG s was Wss sn the O. k fns t tsaQ
VwvoTuIldn'ti like the Place
Mister" said the peddler. leaning forward
and looking Lieut.. King earnestly in the face.
who are your What do you know about the
Busted Claim Faro Pa,aceT"
N"NothinG, except what happened 70 Tom Ma
lone there the night you were dealing a brace
| game and he caught you at it," .
"Whew there's no doubt you hit him there. "
| said the Major. for the man was leaning back
| in his chair and blinking as II a powerful light
had suddenly. been flashed across his eyes, He
pulled himself together and said in shaking
accents: You know il wasn't me did the trick.
you've Just heard me say to this gentle
! man, " Interrupted King that I've never been
500 miles Of it so far as | know, ,
Then how did you know-who told you'll
thought nobody here would
oh. how do | know y repeated King. con;
! sailed claim Town Creedc way?"
VI knew Pat Davids, said the peddler in
a tone that was little more than a gasp.
no more than the Prophet Elijah"
Then what kind Of hell,s game is this ?"
broke out the badFercd yenderof coat hang
'"Syuthetic deduction call it." said the
Ike" he added. little thinking how literally
Ill it amt I'm a sheep" said the visitor
with conviction, Il reckon that other is
Latin for it -