MR SHORT AND THE "DETECTIVE."

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 24, 23 October 1907, Page 2

MR SHORT AND THE "DETECTIVE."

/ INCIDENT OP THE ARGENTINE. AN EMBARRASSING MOMENT. Mr. Short, tlio Roinnoy sheep breeder, has told tlui following story against himself to the ' 'ing Star":—During his recent trip to t jrfchorn Hemisphere he arranged by cable to bo met at Monte Video by a Mr. Demetrio Windmuller, a runholder with whom ho had had some correspondence. After the vessel (the Athenic) had. anchored, two boatloads of passengers, including Mr. and 'Mrs. Short, put off for the shore. A sprightly oil launch came off and stopped abreast of the first , ferry boat, but, apparently not satisfied in its quest, it boro down on the second ferry boat, which contained Mr. and Mrs. Short. As it approached thero was an apprehensive hush, on the overladen forry boat as the luxuriously appointed launch clowcd down alongside, and someone said, "Who is the gentleman in the launch?" To which reply was made by another, "A detective in-plain clothes." "Somebody evidently 'wanted on voyage,' " returnod a third, amongst a number'of other romarks likely to make someone uncomfortable. • ~ Then a gentleman of-military bearing, tall and dignified in., stature and appearanco, in commanding tones and stentorian voice asked, "Is Short aboard?" Tho glass fell quickly! "Who'd have thought, it. 'Well, well; how sorry.. Poor Mrs. Short I What a pity for the family I" and so on, were amongst the comments freely exchanged by the passengers. Receiving a reply in the affirmativo, the questioner called out, "I am Demetrio Windmuller, your friend, olient and correspondent ; only wo liavo never yet - exchanged photographs." v Wliilo tho rest wcro : recovering their breath, Mr. Short showed what agility he had left aftor rather a rough time aboard by climbing over the top of the ferryboat, on tho principlo of every man for- himself, and into tho launch, a course Mrs. Short could not very well follow./ But the separation was only of short duration. It was rathor amusing to notico tho commiserating expression on tho faces of the passengers as tho arrestee stepped into custody; as was ovidently still believed by many who had not heard the conversation: ' But tho extremely courteous and friendly .reception by Mr. Windmuller quickly; removed all traces of uncomfortable suspicion, and the true position of- affairs was revealed, only to be succoeded by envy ■at the glorious lot that had fallen to tho arrestee) as the launch glided off for tho shore.- Oil reaching the wharf, tho first step was to rescue Mrs. Short from her deserted position,, and .they entered Mr. AVindmul'ler's l''ronch motor-car for a tour of inspection. ■