HELLER AND A HACKNEY. COACHMAN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 307, 28 December 1877, Page 4

HELLER AND A HACKNEY. COACHMAN.

(From the Boston Traveller.)

When Heller, the magician, arrived in the city on Friday last he directed the hackman to drive htm to the Parker House. Reaching the hotel, he stepped briskly up to the clerk's desk and was soon surrounded by a host of old friends, including Dr Tompkins of the Boston Theatre, Arthur Cheney, Henry C. Jarrett, Frank Chanfrau, and a dozen others. Amid the hearty greetings came a rough voice, which soon attracted general attention.

It appears that the hackra&ti hadn't beeo paid.

<s What is it, my good ■ftfe.Bd ; what ■are yea yelling to me Bbcut ,?" desaentfed Mr Heller,

11 1 wasta me fare. I saw you ekip •sway. Two dollars for Jyou and tbe Jady."

Thia answer crested a laugh among the magician's friends.

"I know I paid you, you rascal," exalfumed Mr Heller.

" Divil a cine."

" Too put it in your hat. Hand it tomej" and, to the consternation of Jehu, there was the bright clean two dollar note taken from the lining of hia cady and held it up to the gaze of the rapidly- increasing crowd. Cabby stood transfixad with wonder.

" I am afraid of your future, my poor fellow, and advise you io alter your course," interposed Mr Jarrett. "Be virtuous and you'll be happy,'* was the advice of Mr Cheney. ; " This, after all ouri boasted New England civilization and moral advanca-i ment 1" added Mr Chanfrau.

"If this thing should get abroad 1" was Dr Tompkins* alarming exclamation.

" Think of your wife and children. Repent ere it be to late," was tbe kindly toned proposition of Mr Heller. "Look here gintlemen, this is all good enough, and yez hev me tanks. But may I never see a sixpence again, bat I wasn't paid, and that the bill I niver saw before in all me born days. I didn't have a cint about me," and the indignant hackman slapped his hands on his coat pockets.

" You have no other money on your person?" demand Mr Heller.

" No ! " eaid the driver, unhesitatingly.

" What's this, and this, and this, and this ? " inquired the magician, as he tUUeately pulled a bank note drat from the poor cabman's side coat pocket, then one from his coat-cuff, another from his pantaloons pocket, and another from a boot-top. "My friend", continued Mr Heller in a voice softened by swelling emotions, while the crowd around moaned with excess of sorrow over the sad exhibition of human depravity, "you are not yet lost, but are on the brink of ruio. We all feel for you, don't we, gentlemen ? " And groans came in response. " Look here my friends, v cried the hackman, " this here thing's played out. I'm not the worst man io the wurrld"— when, to his utter horror, the magician interrupad him to take from his coat pockets, hat, trousers and boot tops not only greenbacks and plenty of silver coin, bus pens, blotting paper, matches, blank cards, and the general invoice of stationery usually to be found on an hotel desk.

" Man, who are you, anyhow?" cried the poor fellow, as he crossed himaalf! and commenced to back out.

"Hawkshaw, (he detective!" shouted Jarrett, as he struck an attitude.

"My name is Norval " replied Mr Heller.

"'Tis Clifford's voice, if ever Clifford spoke," added Mr Cheney. * lam thy father's spirit," groaned Mr Chanfrau. Aud by this time the perturbed driver had reached, the street, shouts of laughter falling on hia ear, and with another auprise awaiting him, for Mr Heller had placed a 5-dollar note in the man's vest pocket.