AN AWKWARD FIX.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1345, 21 August 1883, Page 4

AN AWKWARD FIX.

“ -Fgt.es,” in the Australasian, tells the following;—Archdeacon M—, of New Zealand, was a gentleman remarkable for getting into minor scrapes through an innocent meddle someness. Shortly after landing in England, upon a brief holiday tour, he was walking along a railway platform, when he described a few yards in front of him a gentleman whose back he recognised as that of an old New Zealand friend. Inspired by an impulse to playfully surprise his old acquaintance, the Archdeacon plucked at a pocket-hand-kerchief which was hanging out, but in an instant the stalwart hand of a policeman was on his arm. “ Come with me, and come quietly,” said the guardian of the peace. “ You mistake me,” said the prisoner. “ I am Archdeacon M—, of—, in New Zealand,” pointing to his clerical attire. “ Oh, that won’t do,” said his captor; “ that game is often tried on.” “ But,” remonstrated the archdeacon, “ that gentleman in front is a friend of mine. Ask him what I am.” To this reasonable request the policeman acceded. Overtaking the reverend gentleman’s friend, the policeman tapped him on the back, and as he turnedjround the Archdeacon saw, to his horror, the face of an entire stranger. “ This person,” said the policeman, “ just now picked your pocket He says you’re a friend of his.” “ Never saw him before in my life 1” was the reply. And the policeman, now certain that he had got hold of an accomplished imposter, ran him in. It was only by communicating with the Bishop of Lichfield, under whom he had served in the diocese of New Zealand, that the sportive Archdeacon after a time obtained his release.