The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-07-19
He Paid Them Back.

From the New York Times.
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 number Of dinner
parties that were 10 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 a kindred spirit who was to entertain
them
When they boarded the train, they
found only three vacant chairs in the parlor
car-two at 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 conductor passed through and
came to Wiman for his ticket, he simply
designated the other two as having his, as
Jerome way carrying them for the party.
Upon reaching Jerome the conductor asked
if Wiman designating him) was friend
of theirs, as he had said his ticket was in
their bands. Jerome looked at the con-
ductor and then at Wiman, who was
nodding and smiling. '.That' all right
I've told him you had it, etc.
ssSaid he was friend of mine p asked
Jerome. 'Never saw him in my life be-
FORE looking at Travers in apparent as
tonishment.
Travers also looked at Wiman and shook
his head
The conductor went back and told
Wiman he must produce his ticket or ssget
out, as them gentlemen don't know you. Z
Wiman went down the car, followed by
the conductor, and demanded, What's
the matter boys ?" But the 'sboys'
didn' respond Trayers quietly suggested
to the conductor that it was probably
case of mistaken identity. Wiman com
menced to smell a rat Here, he said,
"what's the matter with you fellows?
What kind of game are you trying to
play ON me Jerome still rendered his
two tickets, and it was not until the stu
alton was getting pretty warm and uncom-
Portable for Wiman that they both burst
out laughing and produced the third ticket.
This 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 it was about time have
little laundry work done. Wiman saw his
chance.
GAN right, he said sDo up your
bundles and have them sent to my room,
and / will attend to it. =
He did. He sent for a laundress, aud
when she arrived he said:
'sThis bundle marked sWiman' 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 as stiff as the hosoms, 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 instruc-
tions to the letter. The bundles were re-
turned, neatly done up, and Wiman gave
each TO its owner just in time to get them
hacked before starting off again. 1t was
| not until the trio had reached their desti-
nation and were dressing for dinner that
the awful truth was discovered by the VIC
inns. There was no help for it. They
had no other clean linen to put on, so per-
force had to wear the boardlike garments
provided for them, which emitted crack
ling sound at every movement by their
wea,ers. A more uncomfortable pair Of
conyiyes never sat down TO feast.