Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-16
HE Paid THEM BACK.
How John wimnn Squared Accounts
With Travers and jerome.

How John Wiman squared Accounts
With Travers and jerome.
A good story is told Of the immortal
trio, Larry Jerome, Bill Travers and
John Wiman, by one who knew them.
1t all happened some years ago when
they were on their way to attend a
number of dinner parties that were to
be given in their honor west. They
had spent two or three nights on the
way at the houses OF friends. and X.
was the next stopping place, where
dwelt kindred spirit who was to en-
terrain them.
When they boarded the train, they
found only three vacant chairs In the
parlor car-two ut one end and one at
the other. John Wiman gathered up
his papers and belongings and took
the single chair at the end, leaving the
other two together. When the con-
ductor passed through and came to
Wiman for his ticket. he simply desig-
mated the other two as having his as
Jerome was carrying them for the par
ty. Upon reaching jerome the con
ductor asked If Wman designating
HIM was friend of theirs. as he had
said his ticket was in their hands.
Jerome looked at the conductor and
then at Wiman, who was nodding and
smiling. That's all right. I've told
him you had it." etc.
said he was friend Of miner"
asked Jerome. Never saw him In my
life before" looking at Travers in APP
parent establishment.
Travers also looked at Wiman and
shook his head.
The conductor went back and told
Wiman he must produce his ticket or
'get out. as them gentlemen don't
know you" Wlman went down the
car. followed by the conductor. and de-
manded, What's the matter, boysp
But the boys didn't respond. Trav-
ers quietly suggested to the conductor
that it was probably a case of mstak-
en- identity. Wiman commenced to
smell rat. Here he said, whats
the matter with you fellows? What
kind Of game are you trying to play
on me:' Jerome still rendered his two
tickets. and n was not until the stu
alton was getting pretty warm and I'M
comfortable for Wiman that they both
burst out laughing and produced the
third ticket
That was all right, but John Wiman
was not the man to forget his turn at
a trick. When they reached the hotel
at X, they all decided that 1t was
about time to have little laundry
work done. Wiman saw his chance.
'All right" he said. do up your
bundles and have them sent to my
room, and / will attend to it,
He did. He sent for a laundress,
and when she arrived he said:
This bundle marked 'Wiman' do up
In the usual way. but those two belong
to some very eccentric gentlemen and
require different treatment. They like
the tails of their shirts starched as
stiff as the bosoms, and they won't pay
you If you bring them back any other
way. Make them as stiff as boards"
The laundress carried out her in
structions to the letter. The bundles
were returned, neatly done up, and
Wiman gave each to its owner just In
time to get them packed before start
ing off again. 1t was not until the
trio had reached their destination and
were dressing for dinner that the aw-
full truth was discovered by the vic
tins. There was no help for it. They
had no other clean linen to put on, so
perforce had to wear the boardlkc
garments provided for them, which
emitted cracking sound at every
uncomfortable pair of convives never
sat down to a feast.-New York Times.