American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-12-10
"But the cook-ah !"

"Come on we'll be better Boon.---
1t was those cursed pepper corns /! We
ate too many of them" o9a
But Tub, shallow-pate, and coward,
saw perfect Lucretia Bergia in the
little lady; and deemipg his life un-
safe went early next morning to mag
istrate and made complaint. Officers
were sent to her house. She, the cook,
and the angry, raging father were ar
rested. Young Miss told the story
and implicated the dressmaker. who
was also arrested. They questioned
the latter, but che refused to say q
word, until before the Mayor. She
would confess all to his Honor. So
they were conducted to his Office. l
There were present the Mayor and
several officers, the father and brother
of the little lady, herself, Tim, Tub,
the dressmaker and a newspaper re.
porter at the key-hole. 1t was init.
mated to his Honor that the dressma-
ker had a confession to make. He ad-
vised her not to implicate herself, but
she insisted on doing it. He offered to
hear her in private. No, she had rath-
er speak before them all.
''Mr. Mayor" said she please to
hear a long story. My room in --
boarding. house is next to that gentle.
man S."
81 don't board there at all" criod
out Tim. ~ 1
she did three weeks ago as l know
very we'll, for every time / came up to
my room he opened his door to stare
at me-" ES
Tim snapped at the chance of hay
ing fling at her.
"You were such beauty that I
couldn't help it," said he slighting!y.
"No fippancy, Sir" said the Mayor.
The sly little dressmaker courtesied
to Tim and smiled. 81 thought you
would take the opportunity I gave you
to betray yourself and confirm my
words. Thank you Mr.. Tim"
The policeman grinned and coughed.
"Now, my girl, go on" said the
Mayor. #.a I'
"Well, Sir, there is only thin
board partition between our rooms
and one day when a headache kept me
at home, and he did not know it, /
heard him concocting wonderful new
medicine with Mr.. Tub. Mr.. Tim was
to be DR.. Pillarius Mr.. Tub dis
tinguished Professor-he |! he ! If YOU
choose to send for his landlady at
street, she can identify them in both
these characters. She don't know
them in any other"
"Send for the woman" said the
Mayor, and an officer departed. $50
on Miss"
$50, Sir, as soon as this medicine
was ready in the grand new Office, /
went and bought some.'
"Why did you do that?" asked Tim
amazed.
81 don't wonder you ask that, Mr..
Tim, when know what your pills were
made of. But / thought it only fair
to try upon you, whether they were 30
sure mot to hurt anybody"
"You gave an overdose"
~ gave at one time just what you
would have spread over two days, and
that is not much difference. Besides,
if you had let Mr.. Tub 'monopolize' a
little more you wouldn't have got 50
many of the pepper-corns."
"Speakso that / can understand you
Miss said the Mayor.
Certainly, Sir. I persuaded this
young lady to give box of pills to
this young man, disguised as pepper.
corns preserved in ounce. They say
they were poisoned !! l think sir, they
ought to be indicted for making poi.
son, and selling it, and saying it would.
mt hurt anybody"
"What were the pills composed Off"
asked the Mayor.
The dressmaker told him.
"You are pretty shrewd young
woman replied that functienary to
the demure dressmaker. "Your plan
was q good one. | commend you for
it. You are discharged. These young
gentlemen will beware how they try
quacking again, when such as you are
under the roof with them. Messrs.
Tim ard Tub you will await further ex-
animation after the arrival of the land
lady. Young Miss, you are acquitted
of the charge of poisoning, since we
have the testimony--.in solemn public
acknowledgements of tba oantjanoa, :,