The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-03-04

the little notice they took OF me. ]
reached the train in safety, and arrived
in Acton without being arrested.
On the second night after my arriva
in Acton, Mr.. Kirby came to my rooms
ana told me L must prepare TO start tol
London at once.
| "1ou must take care you are mo-
seen," he continued, 'for il you are
caught now things would be very awk
ward. Tell Jim he must come down here
at once: he had better walk down ior til,
trains may be watched. Ii he can &c
down without being seen all will be we'll
but il not, lear they will try TO make Il
case of conspiracy"
With a beating heart l crept up TO my
own house ana knocked gently at tht
door, which was opened directly by
him, to whom l delivered my dreadful
message.
II must be off at once, Dick" he said
"we must change clothes directly. Yor
will be all right, Tor have made every
one believe l was you. l make a capita
tradesman after all; I've sent your bust
ness up wonderfully"
"l'm very glad to hear. it, Jim; Pm
sure it needed 1t. But how about the
butcher?"
son, he has been great nuisance, GER
tainly; but look here, Dick; don't you
be half SO easy with him. l don't be.
lieve he has half the pluck he pretends tc
have"
81 dol know it," was my rueful an.
sWer; "but If the business is improv.
ing, shall try to put up with the an.
nOyance."
arose very early the next morning
and took down the shutters, so as tO
avoid meeting that horrid butcher. A
few minutes afterwards very pretty
girl came fluttering into the shop, and,
with many a wink and blink, smile and
simper, purchased half pound of my
best fresh butter.
"Why, how dull you are this morning,
Mr.. Perkins," she exclaimed, with a
pretty, sly glance.
"Dullp" 1 replied. in a dreamy man.
ner.
"Oh, nonsense" she cried; "it is no
use putting on that modest air, after the
way you behaved yesterday. Do you
know when you first came, we all thought
you such q sneak-at least most of US
did; but ! always said you were not so
demure as you wished to make out--and
the way you snatched that kiss from me
yesterday proves it,"
$780," thought !. "this is the way mas
ter Jim has been improving my business
is itT
looked at the little rosy mouth, and
couldn't blame him, so l ventured to
follow his example, and accomplished
my design without her giving the first
sQuirm. Indeed, she was as cool about
it as though she had practiced the bust.
ness for weeks.
"D0 you KNOW" said she, putting her
arms ON the counter, ."that | have liked
Won nvpr cinan VOlI fhrashnh fhot hi,,
butcher, Grotep.
"What, thra, she'd Groter" / exclaimed
in amazement.
got course you did, when he came over
here swearing he would pull your nose.
Oh, did like the cool way in which you
went to meet him, and knocked him
down. 1t was splendid"
Could it be possible? Had my twin
brother thrashed the butcher, and left
me to reap the glory? AS if to confirm
my suspicious, at that very instant Grote
appeared in his shop--and oh, his face.
1t was one mass of bruises. l stepped
to the pavement to have look at him
closer. On seeing me he bowed politely,
but l merely shook my fist at him and he
rapidly.
] can not describe how my business in
creased from that day, and all through
Jim's boldness and light heartedness.
During the day received a letter from
dear brother, in which he informed me
that he had not lost his money; but. hav-
ing heard of mytrouble he invented this
little plot to save me.
have now several large shops. Jim
has never Joined me, he having retired
from the turf and become gentleman
farmer. l am married and have large
family. My eldest boy is about to marry
Miss Grote, Grote having become very
goods friends with me, and what is bei-
ter, very rich. But good friends as we
are, have never thought it worth while
to inform him Of his slight mistake.