Year: 1878




1 turned quickly. 1 don't think East
more had made signal, but he had not
concealed his incredulity. found then
that might better have gone alone to
the landlord.


"I don't know anything about your
losing your pocket-book, said the Irish
man, after hearing me out. eff you
have no money, you must get some. My
business is to keep hotel, and / can't
furnish guests with board and lodging for
the fine stories they may tell.


The words stung me, but l managed
to reply calmly


"I don't ask you to do any such
thing. shall pay you every cent owe
you. But have lost my money, and
can't very well afford to stay here until
receive more"


Then it occurred to me that that was
Just what he would like to have me do.
He could hold my valise for security,
and my bill would be increasing, 30 L
added


"I shall be obliged to leave your
house, anyway. If you will let me take
my valise, think may get passed
over the railroad; and promise to send
you the two dollars owe you as soon as
1 reach Utica"


He smiled.


"What time is it2" he asked. / took
out my watch and told him. "That's q
good-looking turnip," he said. "Leave
that, and you may take your baggage.


The watch had been my fathers. 1
wouldn't have trusted it in his hands on
any account.


"No thank you |" said, and put it
back into my pocket.


He saw that I distrusted him, and be-
came abusive.


"You're a swindlerl" he cried. GIVE
heard of you before, How many
pocket books have you lost this week2
I've cat here that could eat them all,
and lick her chops for more. AhI-he
shook his fist at me angrily-"I'm the
wrong man for you to try your little
confidence game on, II you come into
my house again without the money" he
shouted after me as was turning my
back on him indignantly, "I'll have you
arrestedl I'll have you in the lockupl"


think was never 80 angry in my
life; but what is the use of arguing with
wild beast? 1 held my tongue, and
walked out of his miserable hotel with
out my baggage. 1 had been poorly
accommodated there, and his charge,
after all, was extortion-almosta as much
as I should have had to pay in those
days at frst-class house.


/ should have found no fault with that,
and would gladly have sent him the
money if he would have let me off; but
to feel that had been imposed upon as
well as insulted increased my in
dignation.


Eastmore followed me out, and spoke
some words intended to appear sympa-
thizing; but had no patience with the
cold, suspicious, non -committal charac
ter of the fellow, and gave him but a
curt reply. So he went his way, and
mine.


I had already resolved what to do. L
walked boldly into frst-class hotel,
entered my name on the register, and
then asked the clerk to be good enough
to put my watch in the hotel safe. 1t
was an unusual act. 1 knew the clerk
would wonder why requested it; but I
made no explanation. 1 then took a
room and wrote letter to my mother,
which I thought would reach her the
next morning, and serve my purpose as
we'll as a telegram. got my letter into
the mail and took "mine ease in mine
inn." determined to enjoy my stay at
the Falls, while waiting for money to
get away.


The next day, while walking out of
the hotel, met Eastmore walking in
He gave me curious smile and went to
the desk, where he seemed to be looking
over the register for names


I didn't have anything more to say to
him, but sauntered away, with my head
up. / looked eagerly, the next morn
ing, for the expected letter from home.
1t did not come. But l got an interest
ing bit of news instead.


I took up at the breakfast table news.
paper which gentleman had laid down,
and read with feelings which you can
perhaps imagine, this item, under the
heading of "Spray from the Falls
"Don't drink out of the Cataract
That is what Philip Clement Edney at.
tempted to do on Tuesday, in the pres.
ence of our reporter, and thus parted
with a large and well-stuffed pocket.
book, which took that occasion to LEAP
out of his breast-pocket and dart ovel
the American Fall like fish. Philip
Clement Edney was hugely dIsgusted
so likewise was the landlord of the Eagle
House, when he found that the said p
@. E. had nothing but fair promises
wherewith to settle his bill. Unfortun
ately our reporter could not swear to the
wallet and its contents; and in this age
of dead beats and confidence men, p. O.
E. naturally fell under some suspicion


eff an impostor, which our reporter
did not believe, he is a very young and 1
very good-looking specimen. If an homes
person, as he appears, we can only say
that it was an expensive drink, and refel
the prudent reader to the MORAL of oul
story, which, to insure its being read
we have placed at the beginning, anC
here repeat at the end, Don't drink Ou
Of the Cataract -