The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-05-28
DEACON PILSEY'S PLOT.

had a weakness, it was for making things
in general so about as he wanted them to.
Not an overbearing man by any means, and
certainly not violent one, but with won
derfully cute and quiet and subtle ways of
his own, by which he brought matters
about without letting other folks know how
the thing was done. When man is ac-
customed to have his own way, he makes
up his mind pretty easily; but there was
one point of all others upon which Deacon
Pilsey had been set and fixed for years, and
the care of which lay heavy on his mind,
for the time had come when, in his judg-
ment something deep required to be plan
ned and all his skill exercised in carrying
it out. To mind like this, that had taken
perfect measure of every other in the
village, and for miles around it, there could
be little difficulty in selecting his tools and
assistants, and he had no need of counsel
lors. That was how he came to be talking
so confdentially with Joe Gaines, as the
two stood by the yard-gate.
"Why, deacon,' said Joe, 81 always
thought you liked Bob Humphrey. He's a
tiptop fellow, and good match for any
girl know of"
So he is, so he is" replied the deacon.
Cant say a word agin him. Know him
from boy. Can't forbid him the house,
or any of that sort of nonsense; but, then,
he can't have Irene Wyer." ...
81 don't see how you'll help it, deacon.
You're only her guardian, and she is about
of age"
Not for year yct-that's how the will
reads-and she's in my own house, you
know. guess / can fix some things, es-
pecially if you'll turn in and help me.
You're lawyer, Joe Gaines, but you're
young one yet, and I'll give you the fattest
fee you ever dreamed of if you'll only hitch
teams with me, and see that Bob Hum
phrey don't get the upper hand"
"Well, if that's what you're after, so it's
all right and square, I'd as lief earn a fee
one way as another. What's your pro-
gramme?" qeF
Well, you know there's nigh onto
thirty thousand coming to Irene Wyer
in her own right, and I've took the best
kind O. keer of it. It's been mighty sight
of trouble, and all along I've thought of my
son Scott" s t
"Scott Pilsey ?" interrupted Joe. Why
he's in California" ....fg
He won't be long. He's comin' home
inside o. six months, and / want to keep
Irene safe for him. They used to be won
derful thick, and he writ to her regular ever
SO long after he went away, and SO did she
to him." e.,r
"Do they correspond now ?" said Joe.
No, not now. There's the rub. That's
the rub. That's one reason Pm looking
out so sharp arter Bob. Now, l want you
to just take a holt and try and keep Bob off
till Scott gets back. 'Twon't be for long,
and Irene amt such bad company nohow."
81 don't know" said Joe. "There's
Maggie and her mother. couldn't be par
ticularly attentive to Irene without their
knowing it, And Bob Humphrey will be
sure to be around most of the time, and it
won't be long before have the whole viii
lage talking the matter up.' oi.
"Never mind that, Joe, never mind that.
1t will be all right when Scott gets home.
I'll give you the biggest kind of fee.''
"Well, deacon" coolly replied the young
lawyer, :" it's pretty tough case, but III
take it on one condition" 'f'
"What's that9'' Hi e"
"Why, so long as it's only fun, and all
that, III go ahead, but if it seems as if I
was doing any harm, anything real bad,
you know, Pm to be at liberty to back out"
"Well, don't mind, so long as you let
me know in time"
And SO the deacon and the lawyer discuss
ed their plot to their satisfaction, and when
all was settled the latter took his own way
down the broad and grass-worn street of
the village. 4.tH+a -ll.
" The old shark p he muttered, as he
strolled leisurely on. "What on earth put
it into his plotting old head to pitch on me
for his tool? He never was more'n half de-
cent to me before reckon I'll earn my
fee, but III be fair and square with Bob
Humphrey. What would Irene say if she
knew what was upP Wouldn't those black
eyes of hers strike fire ?''
Now, it happened.that of late, unknown,
perhaps, to the deacon, there had been
growing up more than little closeness of
intimacy between Joe Gaines and Bob
Humphrey, and thus it was treachery to
his friend as we'll as unfairness to the pret-