Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1900-03-16
JOHNSTON'S CASE


know this story is true, for John
ston told 1t to me himself, and he has
not imagination enough to invent an
untruth.
He 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"-cOntinued
Johnston" to spend a few days with
Scoble, and I'll take this card with
me. II some one insists on talking to
me when I'm reading my paper I'll try
what handing him the card will do
II took the train at Euston, travel
ing second class.
my fellow-passenge was a fine
looking woman of about 80. The heat
of the day and the excitement of
catching the train had given her a
fiorid color, and | could see that the
desire of condemning the weather and
exposing the wickedness OF cabman
was strong within her.
Presently the woman caught my
eye and said: 4 beg your pardon, but
will you tell me the exact time? Ny
cabman-
But here handed the woman the
Chicago card l had received the day
before.
"She read it and then said %, 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.
tinctlon between telling a lie and
handing a person a ready-made lie
printed on a card was not very per
ceptible. l asked myself whether in
giving the woman a card with the
words, I am deaf and dumb 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
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 1t 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?
"I 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.
$50 | was actually travelling in the
same carriage with Scobles 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
of those nervous and hurried searches
for her purse which women when
travelling are so prone to make.
"lt is gonel 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
piled the niece, for | was looking al
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 pickpocketi
That man has my purse, am perfect
ly sure of il and l shall give him in
charge the moment we get to Rugby.
1T was clear that l 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 anc
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 tho simple process O.
thrusting half of her ample person
through the window.
Il saw at orce that the game wal
up.
THAT man has picked my pocket,
said Mrs Scoble as soon as the
policeman opened the door. 'Searcl
him and you'll fir my purse in hi.
possession. It is marked "A. d. s.
and has four fiye-I ound notes,two 60
yereigns. and SOM change in it, be
sides my ticket
What do you say to this?' tn
policeman asked me, evidently in
pressed with the certainty Of my gull
Simply that It isn't true, / re
piled. i know netting of the LADY,
purse. and l can easely convince yol
that l am respectable person
MY goodnessi exclaimed my &C
cuser. Why. the fellow isn't dea
and dumb. That SHOWS what
Mrs. j. X. M ler. Newton Hamil
ton, Pa. write- Il think Dewitt
witch hazel salve the grandest salvi
L. I