A Commercial Traveller's Amusing Adventure.

Otago Witness, Issue 2621, 8 June 1904, Page 76

A Commercial Traveller's Amusing Adventure.

Amongstl tbe> many good qualities of aho Irish jarvey or car-driver that of honesty must be included. But there was at least one occasion within llie wiilcr' s knowledge, when tlie cupidity of a driver got the better of him, with somewhat amusing results. A, commercial traveller happened on a particular day to be journey ins from ouo town to another, having in his possession a large bundle of bank notes held together by an elastic band. His drher Larry was a well-known character, and had frequently done; the trig yitth. him before. He heipca

Trith joke and song to shorten the road for the commercial, who, in the height of his humour, decided to have a joke on his own account with Lacry. As they were passing a, grassy, unditch&d portion of the country road, the commercial drew the bundle- of notes from his podket and dropped them quietly on the grass. After they had proceeded a little distance lie shouted : "Hello! Larry, pull up. What's that I see on the grass? It looks remarkably like money." Larry pulled up suddenly, and stared In the direction indicated. "Maybe you're right," ho said, but before he had time bo do so the commercial jumped off the car and ran towards the spot. Ho picked up the bundle in sight of Lariy, cautiously removed the band, and spread out the array of bank notes. Larry almost faint-ed. The> commercial jumped ■with joy, tied up the notes carefully again, placed them securely in his breast pocket, looking stealthily round at the same time. Coming back to the car, he whispered to Larry: "Larry, I'm a made man." " Be-g your pardon, sir," said Larry, *' we're both made men." "How?" asked Jhe commercial, in innocent wonder. ' " We (goes halves in tliai, eir," said Larry. "Do we though?" replied the commercial interrogatively, with a slow wink. " Not if I know it." " Drive on !" ordered the commercial. " I'm as light as a feather now." . La.rry whipped his nag, and continued flicking him nervously, meditating deeply for a while. " But out of all jokes, sir," Hie broke out, *' I'm entitled to half of it anyway." "How?" asked the commercial. " Suppose," said Larry, by way cf answer, "that I picked it up, do yoti think I -wouldn't give you half?'* "Well, why didn't you?" asked the commercial. "I was a dang fool that I didn't," answered Larry, nailing his> na.g in a tender Spot, " bacause I saw it before you did !" The commercial roared. "BegOT, 'ti» no laughing matter," criticised Larry. " Pll tell you what I'll do," s-aid the commercial in a confidential whisper. " What?" asked Larry, in great expectation. "I'll give it to the rightful owner," said the commercial solemnly. " You . will, too," sneered the disgusted Larry. "What a notion you have of it. If you did, how would yoa bo a made man?" "That's my business," drily remarked the commercial. "And begor, 'twill be mine, too," thundered Larry. Thera was a gulf of silence ibetwe&n them until they reaohed their dfesUiiation. Arrived, th» commercial paid Larry, cutting him short sixpence in his usual rate. Larry stared at the coins. "What's this, sir?" be asked). "Your legal fare, sir," roplied the comzniercial. Larry pocketed the money and his feelings. " But about the other thing, sir?" he inquired insinuatingly. "What other thing?" askod the commercial. "The bundle o' notes, you know. I'll take half, or ev<?«n a 'slice'" ' " You're raimeising," said the commercial — and left him. Later in the night, when the commercial iiad forgotten all about his joke, he was informed that the Head Constable wanted to see him. He attended on that officer, TVho looked gra^e and business like. He told tha commercial that from information received, etc. The commercial nearly dropped. The joke- was becoming too big for its parent. However, he inquired ■ for the name of the informant .. ard on learning ifc led tho Head to a private place and unfolded the whole tale. Under the influence of the same, and a drop of malt, the sternness melted from the officer's face. He describedT in a humorous way how Larry, holding one hamf as^faa: down as he> could, and the other a3 far up, had described 1 , with distended eyeballs and bafced breath, tho. ' dimensions of the wonderful find. The commercial felt he was getting well out of it, and" the Head, after going oub, gave Larry a lecture on honesty and veracity, which it is believed will stand him in good stead for the rest of his days on -sublunary roads.