Mower County transcript., 1902-10-01
1 PERSONA TON
OF THE BOARDS
(Original.1

/
A gentleman jumped 1 from cab,
paid thedriv verssand, selling "a small
handbag pnd a package OF umbrellas
and canes, stepped brigkly into a 10
tel: His:faces was eleanl y shaven, and
he was dressed in q new suit of Scotch
tweed with "a figure like d checker
board. From this description he may
easily be recognized as belonging to
the dramatic rofession. At the coun-
ter he swung the register around,
seized a pen and entered his name as
John Overaker.S = j. :. S.Ss ~. -. l. 81
LET me have a blank. check" said
| the gentleman.sEs.s ;: yj<,, -,,;gy.. - 2
| The, clerk handed him the desired ar
ticle, and Mr.. Oyeraker filled it out on
New York bank for $50. Handing it
to the clerk, he stood as though expect
ing the money. The clerk hesitated.
"I'm sorry, Mr., .Overaker," said the
| clerk, that we deposited in bank near
ly all our cash today. If you can wait
awhile, I'll be happy to accommodate
you" =. =, = :-:s~-=.
ANY time,"' said the gentleman IL
! may not need itstill late: this evening"
He then; turned and followed the
bellboy to- his room. In half an hour
he descended to the dining room, from
| which he emerged a few minutes be
fore O'Clock. He was about to leave
the hotel when the clerk called to him:
81 have the money for your check
now. Will. you kindly step into the Of
fee moment?' -
Why he was asked into the office
Mr.. Overaker could not understand
Nevertheless he stepped through door
beside the counter and found himself
in a small room with two men in police
uniform. :; - -.
mr.. Overaker," said one OF them,
have you any letters in your pocket?'
"What does this meanY asked the
gentleman, astoniShed.
Answer my question"
Eyes; have. Do you want to exam
Inc my private correspondence?
II would like to look at the address,"
Mr.. Overaker took half dozen let
ters from his pocket and handed them
to the officer, who looked at them, then
looked at Mr.. Overaker, then put the
letters in his pocket. From another
pocket he drew a photograph, which he
studied carefully, after which he made
similar study Of, the features OF Mr..
Overaker. -.
"Pat Doolan," he said, "Allus Handy
Jim, we've been looking for You for
some time You're the slickest con
fdence man in the business. This job,
however, lis 80 barefaced. 80 easy" of
detection, that | am, astonished, You
not only impersonnte a man well
known in this town, but when asKt,d
to identify yourself as him you h;tlld
| out letters addressed to another man
This photograph from the rogues' gal
lery was evidently taken when you
were "a younger man; but the ae1pres
sion is less hardened. y. ..,.~~-~ it.. -. =.
"Mr. Policeman" said the accused
man, with queer look in his eye,
''don't you think. I'm at least entitled
to the money on the check I've
drawn?" ->
Il think you'll come along with me"
are a thousand people waiting for that
hardened face. of mine. After they're
through with me I'll devote myself to
you"
Before you see them you'll be back
| in familiar Quarters-a CELL"
"Who are you anyway?'
:tInspector Gallagher
0io1 nt
ring at the telephone bell, which was
answered by the clerk, who had been
a locker on.
"Wel]?"
els this G.'s hotel?'
Eyes
SIS Walter Courtney there?'
"No such person stopping here"
Eyes; there is. Start your boys
around at once to find out what's the
| matter with him."
'I tell you he's not here"
"And I tell you he is. We're waiting
for him."
who's waiting for him2" -: -.
'TWhy, the company at the theater.'
"What theater" -: :.. t::~>.
At the word theater Mr.. Overake1
pricked up his ears. :'',- t~-5s"i.:.
"B.'s theater. Perhaps he's regis
tered under another name. He is an
absentminded man and gets mixed
| with the characters he plays" =.
"What character does he play to-
| nightT s..-s.. ,ss;.. %. .-4..~
.'"John, oyeraker in The. Shortest
Way There :" " '.'' y
"By thunderv' .|.s &.3:"Ci.*s;
Meanwhile the policemen were about
to take away the suspect when the
| clerk stopped them and told them to
| wait a bit. After hearing the last
words he dropped the receiver and said
to Mr.. Overaker: ..,-> -. .|.
"Are you. Walter Courtney ?'':5,.G:
| !: "Of course am :" -; - u ~
''Then why the: dickens have you
been personating john OvcrakerT'S5, =
Mr.. Courtney for. tAs, first time saw
his blunder. s. .4.s:: ~ r
| n Because be replied, With a twin
kle in his eye. Tim an actor. "]ssS1.-