One Woman's Wit

In the waiting room of the raüroad station at the foot of Hontgomery Street, Jersey City, sat a well dressed elderly man and woman, people of evident respectability. They had just arrived on au incoming train. They were waiting to make arrangenients for the transfer of their baggage to this city. Beside the man was a gripsack labeled "Weaver, Hamilton, Canada." Finally the man, who appeared to be extreinely nervous, arose and started toward the smoking room. As he did so a little old man, attired as a granger, and who had sparkling gray eyes, which were not even concealed by the glasses he wore, grabbed the man by the coat collar. The man turned pale. "What do you mean?" he asked of the old fellow. "I mean that you've been smuggling opium into the United States, ' ' said the old fellow "I'm a detective. " And he showed his badga He ran his hand up under the other man's coat, at the back and, after fumbling about, produced several bottles and packages. "There's the proof, " said he. "I've been watching you ever since we crossed the border, at Niágara Falls, and I thought there was something wrong. I don't knowwhat to do in this case. Do you know that I could send you to state's prison for this?" The derelict's lips quivered and ho looked pleadingly at the elderly woman, his wife. Tears flashed to her eyes. Finally, she said, hesitatingly: "Yon 're quite wrong, sir. That is consumption medicine. My husband lias longr been endeavoring to conceal the faot from rae that he is a victim" of consumption. Just bef ore we left Canada he liad his life insumí for my benefit, unknown to me, he thought. I have known of his deception and wheneveí he has left me, on the cars, I knew that he desired to seclude himself to take the medicine. ' ' There were tears in the eyes of those standing about, and finally the detective murmured a few incoherent words and departed. The elderly man and woman boarded a ferryboat and then a Ninth avenue elevated railroad train. A reporter, who bad witnessed the waiting room scène, sat behind them in the car. Neither of them spoke a word until they were well up town. Then said the man to his wif e : "Mary, how could you lie so? How carne you to think of such a story?" "John, I could and would die to save you disgrace. But for tho land's sake don't be tempted asrain, " said she. -