The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1901-09-12

81 told him l didn't know how he
was to know it, but that was guest
In the hotel.
"'Have you anything about you that
will identify your he inquired.
81 have letters addressed to me-
said l, forgetting | had on Blanks
clothes. and l thrust my hand in the
inside pocket and threw him a whole
bundle without looking at them.
81 saw the clerk read the name on
the envelopes, look at me again and re-
tire to another room. Immediately an
other gentleman, who | afterward
learned was the proprietor Of the hotel,
came out carrying the bundle of letters
in his hand
81 beg pardon he said, but there
seems to be some misunderstanding
Have you anything further to identify
you; any marking on your clothes?
Nov, l always have my initials
stuck in my hat, SO snatched it off my
head and, again without looking at it,
handed my hat-or, rather, Blanks hat
to my interrogation. He looked inside
the hat, changed his glance toward me
for moment and asked me to step in
to the office, an invitation l mistook as
meaning he was to deliver the money
and that he was convinced l was the
person l had represented myself to be.
He requested me to wait a moment,
but noted he still carried my hat-or,
again, Blanks hat-with him as he left
the room. He returned shortly, accom-
panied by another person, who l after
ward learned was the hotel detective.
Without ceremony the newcomer adj
dressed me in no polite language.
We've been looking for you for
long time, and we've finally got you,
he said. You're a forger. Now, you
write your signature again before me,
~ you'll have to accompany me to the
police station
81 protested, but to no avail, so at
last l accommodated him and was
shocked when he brought the register
before me and compared the writings
which Of course were entirely different
Il tried to explain that Blank had
registered for me, that | had on his
suit of clothes and hat, but the de-
tective laughed at me. l didn't think of
wearing Blanks linen, and so opened
my vest and challenged him to note the
initials on the flap of my shirt. He
complied with this request, and | sud
denly remembered that l also had on
Blanks shirt and attempted to tell
him of this fact, but it was no use. He
didn't stop at my shirt flap, but inves
tigated the straps of my underwear,
where in ink indelible as night was
marked in big letters j. II. B. He re-
moved my collar, my necktie, my cuffs,
and on each of these things he found
/ the same markings of the same indeli-
BILE initials, j. III. B.
II looked at my watch. 1t was nearly
9. o'clock, and l was down for the first
address. ] protested till was tired as
1 for the second time put on Blanks
garments, which had got me into such
an embarrassing predicament. / was
actually being led from the hotel to the
police staff, n when Blank, all excited,
rushed in and grabbed me by the arm.
Explanations followed, and apologies
came later from the clerk, the .proprie-
tor and the detective, and finally de-
livered my lecture. But after it / need
ed the hundred given me on my check
by the proprietor to square myself with
the boys.
"By the way" he concluded, looking
af his watch s'I almost forgot uo wero
going to take the $50. We've got just
Is minutes to get it, and it'll take some
lively hustling to make the station
New York Times.