The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-12-29


when turning the corner by the park, he
saw Patty Joined by tall, stylish flgure,in
q fur-trimmed overcoat and such silk
hat that he -Charley--could only afford to
wear on Sundays and high holidays.
He paused second looking after them,
and then turned back, with a heart as
heavy as lead in his bosom,
Meanwhile Patty tripped along by the
side of her cavalier as light as alark.
"You're late tonight, my darling" said
he of the fur-trimmed overcoat.
Yes, said Patty. "We're taking ac-
count of stock, and"
Spare me that trade7iargon, if you
please" said Mr.. Sinclair, elevating both
hands with deprecating air.
81 beg your pardon" fluttered Patty
"I had forgotten you didn't like it."
"Because you know, my dear" said Mr..
Sinclair, patronizingly "you're such a
nice little creature when you do remember
yourself. Let me see--it's your eighteenth
birthday tomorrow ~
"How did you know it ?" cried out the
enchanted girl.
"a little bird told me" (Mr. Sinclair
might have said, with more truth, that the
innocent damsel herself divulged the fact
some days ago in her unconscious prattle),
"and havn't forgotten it, l don't for
get Here's birthday gift for you,
cara !"
"Not fifty-round note" cried Patty,
as the CLEAN of street-lamp fell across the
slip of paper in her lovers hand.
"Oh, that is nothing-nothing at all. l
would have picked out something myself If
l had thought could have suited you ~
said Sinclair, loftily.
Patty's eyes glittered.
Here was a prettT cheUalier, indeed.
How long would it have been before
Charley Denbrooke gave her fifty-pound
note?
And Patty resolved that she would buy a
velvet cloak, just like those worn by the
carriage customers.
She asked for an afternoons holiday the
next day, and went out with glowing
cheeks and dimpling lips, to make her pur-
chase.
What would Walters and Hetty Clark
and all the other shop hands say when they
saw her, Patty Price, resplendent in new
velvet basque?
She bought it, and ordered it to be sent
to the shop.
"I'll try it on there" she thought, land
then they can all see it,"
But the next morning, as she took of
her bonnet and shawl in the back of the
shop, in walked the proprietor of the vel
vet-cloak establishment with policeman
at his elbow.
"We want Miss Martha Anna Price
said he. "She bought a cloak at our place
yesterday-anG she paid for it with coun
terfeit note. Here it's"
'.Impossiblep' cried Mr.. DenbroOke.
"Quite out of the question:" said Char
ley, bouncing down from the cashiers desk
"Our Patty never could" u
''It is quite true, - said Patty, as she ad.
vaneed, pale as death and trembling all
over. 81 did buy the cloak. did pay
the note for it, and received thirty pounds
in change. Here they are in my pocket,
now. But never dreamed that the note
was anything but a good one"
"I've heard all that before" remarked
the policeman, nonchalantly. "Whert
did you get it?"
Patty colOred scarlet.
at was given me by Mr.. Montpensiel
Sinclair" she answered in a low tone.
"Can you identify him ~
Certainly"
"Then p'raps you had better come along
with us. If you are really only a tool In
his hands, why, things won't go quite SC
hard with you. Step along anyhow. We
can't stand here waiting all day."
"Stop," said Charley Denbrooke 81
will go with her."
And Patty's limpid eyes, all swimming
in tears, thanked him.
Mr.. MontpensieT Sinclair, who had the
misfortune to fall into the hands of the
police just as he was developing a nice lit
tie scheme for making great deal of mon
ey out of very little capital, was duly
identified by poor mortified Patty.
She hardly dared look at him for fear o.
hurting his feelings, but she might have
spared herself the apprehension.
Mr. Monfnaua;ar Sinclair vraa ,,aad 4,
that sort of thing.
"oh," said Mr.. Sinclair swinging hi
legs easily, and chewing straw, otis The
pretty shop-girl. thought So"
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