The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-07-26
HE PAID THEM BACK.

A good story is told of the immor-
tai 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 entertain them.
When they boarded the train. thev
Iotinu only three vacant CnaIrS 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 de-
signated the other two as having his,
as Jerome was carrying them for the
party. Upon reaching Jerome the
conductor asked if Wiman (designa-
ting 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 ali right. I've
told him you had it," etc.
"Said he was friend of mine"
asked Jerome. "Never saw him in
my life before, " looking at Travers in
apparent astonishment.
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." Wiman went down the
car, followed by the conductor, and
demanded, whats the matter,
boys?" But the "boys" didn't re-
spond. Travers quietly suggested to
the conductor that it was probably a
case of mistaken 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 it
was not until the situation was get
ting pretty warm and uncomfortable
for Wiman that they both buree-Gut
laughing and produced the third
ticket.
That was all right, but John Wiman
was not the man to forget his turn at
trick. When they reached the hotel
at x, they all decided that it was
about time to have a little laundry
work done. Wiman saw his chance.
"All right" he said. 'Do up
your bundles and have them sent to
my room, and 1 will attend to il"
He did. He sent for 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 gentle
men 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 1aundress 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 boardlike
garments provided for them, which
emitted a cracking sound at every
movement by the wearers. A more
uncomfortable pair of convives never
sat down to feast.-N. Y Times.