A Put-up Job.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 28, 16 August 1887, Page 4

A Put-up Job.

Wx left Memphis by steamer at about eight o’clock in the evening, and among the deck passengers I noticed a couple, man and wife, who gazed around as if they had never seen a steamboat before. They bad an old coffee sack with some clothing in it. but no other baggage. They moved about in a timid way, and both seemed much afraid of the water.

The boat had not gone five miles down the river, and the large number of passengers had not yet settled down, when there was an unearthly shriek, followed by the cry of " Man overboard I ” The boat was stopped, and her wheels backed, and after two or three minutes it was learned that one of the couple I have mentioned—the husband—had fallen overboard. The woman 11 took on " in the wildest manner, crying and moaning and wringing her hands, and when asked how it happened, she replied; “He just dun fell over—fell over—fell over ?’, By that time it was uselees to think of lowering a boat. Them was a swift current running, and as the man had not cried out there could be no doubt of his being drowned. Everyone pitied the woman, of course, and when somebody took off his hat and dropped a five dollar bill into it, it was a“go " all around. A hundred dollars was raised for her in fifteen minutes, and she went ashore at the first landing made by the boat, luggkug the bag of clothes with her. I went down as far as Hernando, Mississipi, and stopped off there the third night from the above occurrence. When I

went down to the levee I saw a couple with an old sack between them, who reminded me of the pair on the boat, and I also saw them come aboard. The resemblance astonished me, but it had to go for a coincidence. The steamer pulled out about ten o'clock, and had not been underway half an hour when there was a loud shriek, followed by the cry of “ Man overboard'" It was a repetition of what I have related before, except that some of the passengers had gone to bed, and the shake-purse didn’t count up over 40 dollars. The hat was passed to me, but I declined to chip. The *’ recent and grief-stricken widow ” left the boat at the first landing, and I went to bed with the feeling that curious coincidences were mighty thick on the Mississippi Biver. I left the boat at Helena, made a three days’ stay, and was ready to take another boat on the down trip when I ran across the self-same couple at the levee, waiting for the same boat After some minutes spent in solemn reflection I walked up to them and said to the man:

“ Come, now. this is a square deal, and I give nothing away. I've seen you drowned twice, and I’ve seen this ‘ widow ’ go ashore with a breaking heart the same number of times. Tell me how you play it, and I'll give you

“ Let's see the money." I handed it over, and he stowed it away in his pocket and then replied: “ I’ve got on a rubber life-preserver under my clothes, as you see, and I generally make shore within a couple of miles. Stranger, don’t give it away. We are poor but honest paople." I solemnly agreed that I wouldn't, but I think they rather mistrusted me, for they waited over to catch a boat next night.—M. Quad, in the Detriot Free Press.