Year: 1870

she CirSUmVented his Vigilance.


Chicago Tribune, 2Sth.


On Friday last an episode of an irregular
character occurred on a Michigan Southern
Railroad train coming west, which furnish
ed food for gossip and speculation among
the passengers. There came aboard tht
train at Adrian well dressed, though
modest little woman, bearing in her armsssl
cherub some three months of age. The
woman with her child took seat in the Ia
dies car. Soon the conductor came along
to collect the fares. When he arrived al
the seat occupied by the little woman, he
appeared slightly confused, but regaining
his equilibrium, asked to see her ticket.
She replied that she was not possessed OF
the desired piece of pasteboard, neither
had she the wherewith to purchase theiar-
| ticle. Some conversation in a low tone
then occurred between the conductor and
his impecunious passenger, when he turned
about and going to the gentlemen oc-
cupying the coach, told them that the
woman was deserving creature, who
had met with misfortune through the
Vaccinations of some ''double-dyed vii
lain, etc, and whom he desired to help.
He proposed to head subscription in her
behalf with v; would not the liberal





they would. Who could resist such a
tempting offer? In less time than it re-
quires to write these lines, purse of con-
| siderable magnitude was collected and
handed to the little woman in black, who
returned her thanks with tears, which
spoke more eloquently than could words
While what is above related is occurring,
the train was speeding on Its westward way
station after station being passed in quick
succession. When "Hudson" was called,
the little woman in black started to her
feet, and rushed for the door Of the car,
forgetting in her haste to take along the
''blessed baby" which was left in the seat
lately occupied by its mother. In minute
the train was again under headway, and
was soon beyond the suburbs of the charm
ing village. As it sped along toward the
setting sun, the jostling awoke the offspring
of the ''WOman In black, the late recipi
ent of aims, and then, for the first time
were the occupants of the coach made awar
that the woman had abandoned her babe.
The poor innocent was at ence kindly cared
for by some gentle ladies, and the conduct
or notified of what had occurred.


At Pittsford, the next station, the con-
ductor stopped the train, gave the waif into
the keeping of the agent, and, calling the
telegraph into requisition, sent a dispatch
to Hudson, requesting the arrest of the
''woman in black" and giving his reasons
for making the request.


A lapse of twenty-four hours must now
occur, as they say in the play bills, before
we can commence the second act of our
little drama, the curtain having descended
on the first at the telegraph Office at Pitts
ford.


On Saturday our conductor was again on
the road, this time journeying eastward,
bound for Toledo. When he reached Pitts
ford he again took aboard the abandoned
child, intending to deliver it TO its mother
at Hudson. Upon reaching the latter sta
ton he allghted with the cherubim in his
arms, and Immediately set about searching
for the mother or some one into whose pos
session he could give the babe But no
one could be found to accept the charge
Not they. mot for Josephl" They knew
astrick worth two of that They had been
posted. They had been present at the ex-
animation of the little woman before JUS
tice of the Peace, and heard the testimony.
''Oh, no, MIR. Conductor, keep your ooon
child; don't try to turn it over to us to bring
up. A pretty father are you to act so shame
fully.


Such were the responses our noble con-
ductor received from the people of Hudson,
whose population he was so anxious to in
crease to the extent of one soul.


OF course he was mystified, not to say
dumbfounded. What did all this - nom
sense mean? Would they explain? Would
they come out from behind their masks
and inform him who he was? "And all
that sort of thing"


An explanation followed. 1t appeared
that when the woman was taken into Gus
tody, in response to the Pittsford telegram
of the day before, she demanded an instant
examination before competent judicial
tribunal. This was accorded her, and the
telegram was offered as the chief witness
for the prosecution. Though little irreg-
ular, 1t was admitted to testify, and had its
due weight upon the mind of "His Honor"


Then came the defence. The little wo-
man proceeded. Sic admitted that she
had abandoned her child, but contended
she had done nothing wrong. Only half
of the infant belonged to her, and she was
willing to give up even that share. To its
father belonged the remainder Into the
possession of its father had she delivered
the child. The conductor, the author of
the dispatch which led to her arrest, was
also the author of its being, and he must
look to its welfare in the future. She had
done tor it allzshe was going to, 'tand that's
the end ont"


The learned magistrate took the testimo-
ny under advisement q few minutes, and
then rendered Judgment in favor of de-
fendant," in other words, ordered that the
woman be released from custody and be
permitted to depart. And she did depart,
right soon, to parts unknown.


The conductor-upon hearing this reYel-
alton, was almost distracted; he paced
up and down the platform, one
moment cursing the crowd, which had by
this time grown to considerable magnitude,
and the next imploring some one to relieve
him from his unpleasant predicament, and
take the ''accursed baby" off his hands.
He said he was a married man, with wife
and children of his own to support, and
he did not want to add to his flock any
stray lambs.


Finally he succeeded in convincing an
old lady in the crowd that they had been
imposed upon by the mysterious woman,
and she consented to take the innocent
cause of all his troubles under her protect
ing wing.


''AIl aboardr' The train is under mo-
ton, and our conductor is the happiest
man on earth.


And SO ends the drama of the ''Mysteri-
GUS Woman; or, the Abandoned Baby and
Distracted Conductor"


Tbs above facts were given our reporter
by gentleman who obtained them directly
from our friend, the conductor.


SubterTanean Lakes.


In connection with a notice of the sub
terranean pond supposed to exist at Wor
cester, the Lawrence American makes the
annexed statement:


In Stockton, California, and Immediately
around it, an abundant supply of good wa
ter can be had anywhere by boring down
dozen feet with a common auger with
long handle. Picnic parties carry pump
and stand, lead pipe and an auger as apart
of the rennired articles for the daY. But q