Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1900-01-25
JOHNSTON'S CASE

! know this story is true, for John.
ston told II to me himself, and he has
not Imagination enough to invent an
untruth.
He told me that if you should at
tempt to enter into conversation with
fellow passenger in 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 continued
Johnston" to spend 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 fellow-passenger was a fine
looking woman of about 30. The heat
of the day and the excitement OF
catching the train had given her a
florid color. and ! 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? Ny
cabman
but here handed the woman the
Chicago card had received the day
before.
She read it 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. I am deaf and dumb I had not
been guilty Of lying as certainly as
should have been if had told her the
same thing in so many words.
AT Willesden Junction another
passenger got in. This time 1t was a
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
III? she soon said, I had to come
to-day because John has asked that
tlresome 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 II you
have never seen himY
1 know it, for one thing, because
Johns friends always are tiresome II
does seem as if he deliberately chose
the most stupid men he could find and
asked them down to Greencroft, just
10 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.
$50 ] 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 | 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
of those nervous and hurried searches
for her purse which women when
travelling are so prone to make.
1t is goneI she exclaimed; and
/ am sure that fellow In the corner
/ picked my pocket when / was looking
+ out of his window
He could not have done that re.
f,1faI ff,1 nfnna for I rtrnu Iodine .
him at the time, and he never once
took his hands or his eyes away from
his newspaper.
MY dear childl Do you suppose
4 you are quick enough to watch the
motions of a professional piclxpocket
! That man has my purse, am perfect
ly sure of it;and / shall give him in
charge the moment we get to Rugby.
1T was clear that | must bolt from
/ the carriage the instant the train
| reached the Rugby platform, and
before a policeman could be called
The train was already slowing and
hastily gathered up my rug and
umbrella, and prepared to move to
ward the door.
No you don't, my mani said Mrs
Scoble, rising and taking possession
Of the door by the simple process OF
thrusting half of her ample person
through the window.
Il 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. It is marked "A. ID. s..
and has four hve-pound notes two 60
vereigns, and some change IN 1t, be
sides my ticket
"'What do you say to this? tho
policeman asked me, evidently i'm
| pressed with the certainty Of my guilt
"'Simply that It isn't true re
/ piled. 1 know nothing OF the lady.
! purse. and can easely convince yot
/ that am a respectable person
"My goodness exclaimed my ac
cuser Why. the fellow isn't deal
and dumb That shows what q
ov11.r m YDrl WANT