The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-01-30

On the second nlgh' "I'eI NY "'''"' -,
Acton, Mr. hlrby came 70 my rooms ana to!u
me mCst prepare 10 START ior I'ohuoh ~
once.
You must take care you Wc not seen, ne
continued ror if YOU are cadght now things
would he yer awkward. Tell Jim he must
come down here at once; he had better walk
down for the trains may be watched. If he
can rct DOM without being seen, all will bt
we'll but If not, fear they will try 10 make
it a case of conspiracy,
on how bitterly rcpented having coEsca.
ted (, leave nay butter.shop! for, all things
considered, the police were to me worse tiis'n
the butcher BY keeping myself strictrr
oner in my own house, could avoid tlre
butcher; bat there was no safety from IRE
police.
With beating heart crept up tony own
shop ara knocked gently at the door, which
was opened directly by jim, to wh5h de
liyercd my dreadful message
4 nust be off at once, Dick he SGid; we
must change clothes directly. You will be
alright, Tor have made every one believe
I was you. I made a capital tradestnan after
al. I've sent your business up wonderfully
L am very glad TO hear il, 3in1 I'm sue II
needed IT. But how about the butcher?
'Oh, he has been great Nuisance, certain.
"; but look here DICK, dont you be half 50
easy with him. ! dont'helieve he has hall
the pluck he prctends to have
i do h,0n it, WIS my rueful answer,
but if the business is improving, shall try
to put up with the annoyance
That's right, Dick And now good-by.
Tn much obliged TO you for what you have
done If any of the girls say you made love
to them, YOU will know that am the culprit
only don't say, so, but keep the fun up.
It's not dsagrecable work, | can assure you,
IIa, ha! hd! nobody would believe you if
YOU were to swear it was me- So goodby
and take care of yourself
With a hearty laugh jim went on his road,
and l. with sad heart, sought my bed.
| arose very early the next morning a1d
took down the shutters, 50 as to avoid meet
ing that horrid butcher, a few minutes al.
terward a very pretty girl came tluttering
into the shop, and, with many pretty smile
and shipper, purchased half q pound Of
best fresh butter.
why, how dull you are this morning, Mr.
Perklnsn she exclaimed, with Il pretty, sly
glance.
'DullT replied, in dreamy manner,
'Oh, nonsense. she cried, 1T is no good put
ting on that modest air, after the way you be
haved yesterday Do you knew, when yoa
first came here, we all thought you such
sneak-at least most Of US die but always
said that you were not so demure as you
wished to make out-and the way you snatch.
d that kiss from me yesterday proves it
So thought /, that Is the way Master Jim
has been improving my business, is it?'
| looked at he little rosy mouth, and could
not blame him-nay, ventured to follow his
example, and did 50 with the greatest sue
cess.
DO you know said the young lady, put.
ting her arms on the counter-'do you know
| have liked you ever since you thrashed that
big bully, Grote the butcher!'
What" exclaimed, in amazement, thrash.
cd Grote'
OF course you did, when he came over
here swearing he would pull your nose. On,
did like the cool way in which you went to
meet him and knocked HIM down. 1t was
,plsndid.'
Could it be possible? Had my twin broth.
er thrasheti the butcher, and left ME to reap
the glory? As if to confirm my suspicious
at hat very instant Grote appeared in his
shop-and, oh, his face! 1t was one mass Of
bruises. | stepped out on the pavement to
have look at him closer. On seeing me he
bowed politely, but merely shook my fistal
him, and he retreated rapidly.
/ cannot describe how nay business in
creased from that day, and all through Jim
boldness and lightheartcdness. During the
lay | received q letter from my dear brother
in which he informed me that he had not
lost his money; but having heard OF my mis- ,
cry, he invented this little plot to save me
] have now several large shops. Jim has !
never joined me, he having retired from the
urf and become a gcntleman-tarmer, | am
married, and have large family. My eldest |
BOY is about TO marry Miss Groic, Grote hav-
ng become very good friends with me, and, |
what is better, 6pJrich. But, good friends as
ye are have never thought 1t worth my
While to inform him of his Slight mistake