The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-01-19
JOHNSTON'S CASE

lie told me that II you should at
tempt to enter into conversation with
a fellow passenger in a Chicago train
he probably would present you with
the card in question as a delicate hint
that he wanted to be left in peace.
I am going down to Warwick
shire tomorrow, | said
Johnston" to spend a few days with
Scoble, 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
Il took the train at Euston, travel
ing second class.
MY fellowpa was a fine
looking woman OF about 80. The heat
Of the day and the excitement OF
catching the train had given her
ford color, 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
viii you tell me the exact time? My
cabmau-
But here | handed the woman the
Chicago card l had received the day
before.
she read 1t and then said o. in
deed! So sorry. Pray excuse me-
and then lapsed in silence, while | re-
sumed my newspaper and cOngratu
lated myself on the efficacy of the
American plan Of dealing with railway
bores.
1T is true that my conscience did
give an occasional twinge, for the dis
tinction between telling a lie and
handing a person a ready-made lie
printed on a card was not very per
ceptible. | asked myself whether in
giving the woman a card with the
words, L am deaf and dumb. had not
been guilty of lying as certainly as
should have been il had told hor the
same thing in so many words.
"At Willesden Junction another
passenger got in. This time it was
young lady who was evidently expect
ed 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
ill?' she soon said, I had to come
to-day because John has asked that
tiresome Johnston to spend a week
with us and of course it wouldn't do
for me to be away
But, auntie.' said the other, how
do you know that he is tiresome if you
have never seen him?
az know it, for one thing. because
Johns friends always are tiresome. 1t
does seem as If he deliberately chose
the most stupid men he could find and
asked them down to Greencroft, just
to make life a burden to me. And
then, my dear, for another thing, |
tried to read this detestable John
ston's books. Anything more stupid
and silly you can't possibly imagine.
so was actually travelling in the
same carriage with Scoble's wife and
niece, and the former was dreading
my arrival at her house and looking
upon me as a tiresome nuisance.
The two ladies talked on, but
happily seemed to forget the exist
ence of the unfortunate Johnston.
Once Mrs Scoble came to the window
where l was sitting. to point out some
thing to her niece, and the swaying Of
the carriage nearly threw her on my
lap.
Just then the elder lady began one
If those nervous and hurried searches
or her purse which women when
raveling are so prone to make
1T is gone!' she exclaimed; and
am sure that fellow in the corner
licked my pocket when | was looking
ut of his window
He could not have done that re-
lied the niece, for | was looking at
I'm at the time, AND he never once
,ok his hands or his eyes away from
is newspaper
My dear child! Do you suppose
Oh are quick enough to watch the
lotions OF a professional piclpocket?
nat nan has my purse, | am perfect
, sure of it;and l shall give him in
barge the moment we get to Rugby
at was clear that l must bolt from
he carriage the instant the train
cached the Rugby platform, and
before a policeman could be called.
rhe train was already slowing, and
hastily gathered up my rug and
and prepared to move to-
ward the door.
No, you don't, my mani said Mrs /
Scoble, rising ana taking possession /
of the door by the simple process Of /
thrusting half of her ample person /
through the window.
q saw at once that the game was
up.
"That man has picked my pocket
said Mrs. Scoble, as soon as the
policeman opened the door. Search
him and you'll find my purse in his
possession. 1t is marked "A. ID. 5.
and has four five-pound notes,two so
vereigns. and some change in it, be
efdac my ticket
"'What do you say to thisY .
policeman asked me, evidently
pressed with the certainty OF my gu
"'Simply that it isn't true !
plied. I know nothing of the lady
purse, and can easely convince you
that | am respectable person.
"My goodness" exclaimed my &C.
cuser. why, the fellow isn't dear
and dumb. That shows what
scoundrel he isl
81 rose up to follow the policeman,
and my foot struck against something
that was lying on the floor of the car
riage. l stopped and picked 1t up. IL
was the missing purse.
"Ts that your purse. madamr
asked, as held it up You must have
dropped it when you were looking Out
of my window
az wouldn't advise him to play tnae
pame any more.s said the policeman,
severely. Let me tell you, sir, tnat
n Won travel under false pretenses
vo,, needn't be surprised II you fnd
yourself in trouble. your nave "