Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-04
THE STRANGE CASE
OF mo. 132-B. DECK
Luck of One Fleeing From Ger
many and Unexpectedly Land
ing in Palace

TT CAS- hardly hc said that it's llh" pulling
| teeth 10 gct uut Of Germany, for lool,
at the trouble the kaiscr's dentist had III
performing that feat pr. ~ y. Davis Of
Puua, o., the newspapers have been telling
us lately was eleven months on that home
coming job
Now NJ H. ro,ncrTurd. of this city, did n
better Job than that. II was dohc. Of course,
under different conditions, and Mr.. toincr-
fords lifelong experience as Il rcSourr"tul
traveller made his success possible. It's
four-yCar-uld story, hut II has never been
told ~ print. aud there arc features about
II that invest it with interest even now.
\ few days before war was declared Mr.,
comcrford was i'm Berlin and chatting to
get away 'rhc big ship Natcrland was
about to vail from Hamburg and Mr. Conner
ford was determined TO sail with her. lie
was told AZ tho bookiuE office, however that
every statcroom had been sold and that
nothing could bc done for him.
Still he assured some Of his business asso-
CiatcS in the German capital that hc would
hc on the Natcrlaud when she sailed. Some
weeks before that, while in Paris, fellow
traveller from New York, named IibnaT, had
urged him 10 book for the homcward pas
sage there and then, and now he began IN
regret that ne hadn't done It, Libman AT
that moment was probably well upon his way
10 America ON second thought, however,
Comerfurd recalled that il was upon tho
Natcrand that Libman had expressed his
intoLtiou to sail. II made him more than
ever determined to get aboard that boat
lie packed his trunks and attached to them
the customary tags, upon which he wrote
his name and the number Of stateroom.
The selection OF this number was haphaZard.
Ilc didn't even know that tho Natcrland had
u NO. 132-B Deck" but that's what lie nut
down. lie shipped the trunks off at once,
and the next day, with his bag H. hand he
presented himself at the dock at Hamburg
and went aboard
lie put in his time In tho smoicroom until
tho steamer had been under way for sew
ordl hours and then quietly walked in upon
the steward, who turned out to be one
Schmidt whom hc had met before on the
old America,
MIR. Schmidt" said he, II got a cable
gram yesterday from my folks AZ home and
I've rushed aboard Of YOU without any
ticket"
But my dear Mr. Comerrord," said
Schmidt every statcroom Of the ship is
sold
"I'll sleep in a coal bunker If necessary"
said the traveller. but perhaps one Of the
under officers will give M his cabin for a
consideration"
wait" said Schmidt. until we leave
ChcrbourE and I'll see what 7 can do for
YOU. IT, the meantime I'll put you into
splendid room which has been engaged by
a party coming aboard there"
IF marked my trunks for NO. 132-B Deck
but probably you have 10 such number on
the boat"
Yes We have" Schmidt said, but tell
You it's taken"
"Oh, well, my trunks can he moved later
We can let them stay, I suppose"
Come said the steward, "and we'll see"
The trunks were found in the passage
way outside the door of 40. 132 and left
there for the time being Then Schmidt led
the stuwaway to the statcroom he was 10
have until they reached Chcrbourg II
proved to lac extra lie luxe, something Mr.
tomcrford would never have dreamed Of en-
gaGiug if his pockctbool had been q dozen
times as corpulcnt as it was. And he was
to have 1t for few hours. 1t would make
tho balance of the voyage n drab and gray
thing for him. The two brass bedsteads, the
spacious bathroom, the comfortable lounge
tn" rnomy Insurance Of the entire apart-
mcnt he rerclcd in while he could and lust
before tho steamship touched at Cherbourr
he packed his duds and kissed his hand to
all that maEnitCcncc.
just after pulling out from Cherbuurg he
met the steward Yes, You've guessed II
The high-rolcr who had engaged that por-
gcous apartment had not rolled aboard
so, Mr. comerford." said the steward "it's
yours. But, hold or," gasped the stow
away, what's the rate?'
"Oh, the minimum, OF course since IFS
all We have to offer YOU"
Nh Comerford went into the smokcroou1
to make n burnt Offering of an extensive
cigar TO the lucky sprtc that had presided
friend, the forchanded Mr.. Libman. of New
York
Mr.. libman was not happy His state
room, lac said. was mere hos and not any
thing like hc had expected il to be from the
chart he had seen in Paris
"Nhcrc is your stateroom?" ComcrCord
asked. mo. l32-B Deck" said he.
Comerford nearly fell out Of his big leather
chair, Then he laughed, and when he started
laughing he couldn't stop.
whats aing you" demanded Libman
why, that's my stateroom," said Conner
ford.
mot on your life" cried I.ibman ,'rbere
isn't room enough in it for one and rm
that one "
I'm show you" said Comerford. and Icad
ing the way to No, SO, he showed Lima
his trunks in the passageway marked M
| j. Comerford, No. 132-B Deck"
Iibman became so nearly apopcctic tbo,
| Comcrford called the joke off and taIin,
| the poor man around to the stateroon, ia
| luxe allowed him TO take the second-bos,
| bed '''
Now the thing in this story for nsvcbisis
| telepathists-or whatever you cali em.tn
| solve Is how did Comerford happen IN hi,
'P'" '"t w. i'--p LUCK r. A. ID,