Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1904-09-01
4 SINGULAR
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Have you seen white house with
green blinds go by here today7"
surely there was insanity in his eye.
he was thin little chap with a mel
ancholy look about him. At any rate
the man sitting on wooden armchair
pefore hook and ladder company's
station of whom he asked the question
thought SO.
NO; l hain't seen no white house
with green blinds go by here today. II
l had I'd "a stopped it to give it some
refreshment."
The questioner regarded the fireman
lntently for a moment, as though an
idea were being born in his brain.
Then he turned away and walked on.
He had gone but half a block when
out of a fine residence came a young
man of rather sporty appearance, smok-
ing cigarette. The wayfarer adj
dressed him:
Have you seen anything of a wom-
an with black hair and eyes and two
kids, boy of five and girl of three,
both looking like me, riding past here
today in white house with green
blinds?"
The sporty young man took his ciga-
rette out of his mouth and looked at
the questioner with blank stare.
"You mean white horse and green
buggyr'
mo; mean white house with
green blinds"
my friend" remarked the sporty
man, "Pll just bet you 500 to $40 that
no family has ridden this way today in
any kind of a house, and no family
will ride down this street in a house
tomorrow or next day."
So saying he turned on his hee, and
walked away. The man called after
him:
'Take you"
Turning, the sporty man saw the
other holding ten dollar bill toward
him. The former stood irresolute for q
moment, wondering If he had better
call an ambulance to take the man to
Bedlam, but he was dead game
sport" and would not go back on his
bet even with lunatic. He went into
the house for funds; then as the luna
tic proposed that the fireman he had
interviewed hold the stakes the sporty
man went there with him.
"This gentleman" said the lunatic,
"bets me 500 to $40 that a woman
and her kids haven't ridden by here
today in a white house with green
blinds or won't ride by here in white
house with green blinds tomorrow or
next day.
The fireman and the sporty man re-
tired for consultation, then returned,
and the fireman agreed to hold the
stakes, which were deposited in the
chiefs locker. The lunatic departed
and the fireman and the sporty man
went to the telephone, where they re
ported the matter to the police station
The consequence was that after tele
phoning the various asylums for the
insane and not hearing of any escape.
the inspector concluded the suspicious
person to be confidence man and sent
q ROAASOAhoA W SAdOOW Qllus Liz pO
Hceman who went on this duty, after
seeing the fellow make several bets
that family had ridden or would ride
within two days down the street in O
white house with green blinds, decided
to take him in. The man said that he
would make it hot for the police, de.
claring that his wife would be worried
to death about him. Then they asked
him where he lived. He said he didn't
know. The question seemed to quiet
him, and he went to Jail peaceably.
The next morning the prisoner was
brought up on charge of vagrancy
He was not known as criminal, had
done nothing criminal, and there was
no other charge to be made.
''Ten dollars said the judge, "and
in default thirty days."
The prisoner pulled out $40 and com.
placently paid his fine, much to the
establishment of the court, policemen
and spectators. Then he went away
while the police authorities debated
whether to rearrest him or let him go
my A1hoAy 0CS1uCO OA Iuc ldILGI
course.
The same afternoon the lunatic col.
lected the persons with whom he had
made bets, telling them that his wife
and children would ride by in a white
house with green blinds. They laugh.
ingly followed him, pretending to fall
in with his idea, some Of them having
intended to turn a penny by his folly
others to return him his money even.
tually. The lunatic posted them on the
sidewalk in the middle Of long block
and asked them to wait a few min.
utes. Presently man emerged from
the next side street above and began tc
plant windlass
The bettors looked at each other, Their
with one accord started to see what
was coming, the lunatic going with
them. There on rollers was a white
house with green blinds. In an open
door was woman pushing back q
boy and girl.
Hello, Molly" said the lunatic
"They didn't get you started yesterday
see."