The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-05-28

Jnat DIT OF news didn't affect the hack
man at all. He was a married man
with family of seven, and he had to
assist in supporting five different sa-
looms, so he wanted cash on the nail.
There were tears, but they didn't move
him. He had often seen them at home
when he had reeled in on Saturday
night without a cent in his pocket.
Miss Jackson couldn't pay the cab
man, and she couldn't buy a ticket to
Hastings, and for ten minutes she felt
as helpless as a child. She was about
to give the cabman a diamond ring as
security when young man of twenty
five stepped into the breach. He had
the long hair that some professional
men affect, and he had the rusty
clothes that other professional men af-
feet; but, as for his heart that appar-
emily was pure gold. He stepped for
ward, paid the cabman and told him
to be gone. The cabman smiled and
winked and drove away. Then the
young man introduced himself as Pro-
fessor Nordenfelt of Columbia college,
professor of languages. He asked the
inestimable privilege of buying a ticket
to Hastings for the young lady. He
asked it because some one had rescued
his sister from just such position in
Chicago few days before.
AS soon as the young man an"
nounced that he was a professor Miss
Jackson drew long breath of relief.
She had met but few professors in her
life, but she knew them to be all right
Like sensible girl, she leaned on this
one. She wasn't even surprised when
he said that he was on his way up to
Irvington and would take charge of
her as far as Hastings. She might
have opened her eyes had she seen him
pay for both tickets out of her lost
purse, and she might have been most
unhappy had she known that he had
her diamond brooch in view, but as it
was she felt nothing but glad relief.
They sat together on the train. Miss
Jackson told the professor all about
Columbus, and he told her all about
Columbia. He spoke seven different
languages and was learning seven 9TH
ers. The girl had always heard that
professors were profound, absent
minded and tactiturn, but she did not
find this one so. He had given her an
address so that she might return the
money he had loaned her.
When Hastings was reached, her
gratitude became profound. She in
sisted that he stop over one train and
allow her aunt to thank him. He
smiled in curious way, thought over
it for a moment and then accepted the
invitation.
The aunt was no spring chicken, and
she was puzzled over the professor. At
first she set him down as a confidence
man, but his knowledge of Columbia
college and the seven languages upset
this theory. His manners were good,
and his conversation confirmed his as
sertions. He was finally accepted, re-
paid the loan and invited to call again.
The police will never be able to salts
factorily explain to themselves why
Jimmy the Kid, as his photograph
In the rOgues' gallery was labeled,
should have made a second and third
visit to the house on the Hudson. IT
couldn't have been from a spirit of
bravado, for Jimmy was sly. He
couldn't have been "hit," for he was
the one who had robbed the girl on the
ferryboat and was still making use of
her money.
For his second call Jimmy had
dressed up bit 1t helped him in one
l.,
didn't look so much like professor in
his better suit, but it did help his looks
as a caller. He was still interesting,
too, and an hour passed away. When
he had departed and the women had
criticised him fayorably, the aunt said
to Irene:
"a professor of languages must get a
big salary in college"
Surely he must"
"He must be received in the best of
society"
"Of course
And he is probably rich"
II don't doubt it."
Irene, wouldn't it be funny, wouldn't
1t be odd. wouldn't 1t be romantic, II
something were to come of this?"
What kind of something, aunt?"
asked the girl, without blushing. There
was man in Columbus To be sure
he was not a professor, but
Jimmy's third appearance was his
last He announced that he had mas
tered one more language and would
soon be ready to tackle the ninth. He
said something about his having helped
to raise $4,000 to erect a new depart
ment at the university, and he men,
toned that he had received an auto
graph letter from King Edward. These
things were not stated in a boastful
way. They simply crept in inciden-
tally. 1t could not be said that Jimmy
was seeking to make an IMPRESSION
but he made one for all that, and ia
vorable one too. The only slip he made
and that was not noticed until after
ward-was in referring to his travels
| For Columbia college professor, en-
| gagged in teaching languages for six
| hours a day, he had gone around the
country at lightning speed. He had
also made some acquaintance that do
not fall in the way of the ordinary pro-
fessor He knew Detective Johnson
and Captain Flynt and the police com
missioner, and because of his knowing
them he had surprise on hand.
There was something dramatic in the
way Jimmie fished up Miss. Jackson's
lost purse and restored it to her 1t
created a sensation. Assisted bT@bhe
detective, the captain and the commits
] sioner. he had run down the desperate
criminal and forced him TO disgorge
The lost money was there to cent.
No. thanks! 1t was only his way-only
| an incident in his study of languages.
He was about ready to take his leave,
but had been urged to call at his con
venience in future, when young Tom
Blynn, who was in a city real estate
Office, but living in Hastings. and an
acquaintance of the aunt, called on a
matter of business.
He had barely been introduced to
Professor Nordenfelt Of Columbia col
1ege, professor of languages" when
the ladies noticed that Tom stared and
the professor changed color. 1t SEEM
ed plain that both had met before.
Toms stare became a scowl. With a
gesture, oddly appealing, the other
man stopped him and said to the la
dies:
Il have waited until the last moment
to tell you that this may be my last
call here. The university has decided
! to send me to the island Of Samalong