, 1875-02-27

| jim! L stlmmcfeui why what Is
the natter"
Shut the door and come into the par
lor, then | will tell you"
did as he commanded, and then wait
ed lmpatiently for the explanation of
| this sudden and mysterious visit.
"Phewm said jim, as he threw off his
| cloak, " I've had narrow escape"
But how have you had an escape?
and from what have you escaped?"
=. Dick, am ruined" cried my broth
er, throwing himself into a chair Il
backed the wrong horse for the St Leger,
! and have lost all my money
Il knew you would, jim" | said; q
knew you would. But it's no use crying
| ever split mifk, as the proyc:b says; you
must come and share with me, though
| Heaven knows that have not much to
! 0Her you, for that hOTrid butcher has
| neariy ruined me-
" You're a good fellow. Dick, but !
have worse news still You must know
that had 81 600 placed in my hands to
| buy horses for a gentleman. So con
viuced was | that Vandcrdecken would
win this race that | not only put ny
| money on HIM, but also that which had
/
to fly to avoid the police"
The frightful news SO overcame ME
that | could only wiring my hands and
exclaim:
"Oh, what is to be done: what is to be
| done."
! This is what must be done, said jim,
| in a hurried whisper: "yOu must take
my clothes and my name and will take
| yours in exchange, you must 20 down TO
| Acton 10 my rooms, and | will carry on
your business here. Do you secz"
Yes, see; but the police may arrest
mt by mistake"
- OF course they will; that's the beauty
of the thing. expect to make hatful
| of money over the next race, and when
| | have done that ! will show up, declare
! that the whole affair has been 4 mistake,
! either pay the el 900 or buy the horses;
YOU will be released. and can bring an
| action for damages for false impTiSOn-
ment"
d" Yes, that's all very well, Jim; hut
suppose YOU should not win this money"
! Nonsense, my dear fellow; | must
win it It's As safe as the bank
- Yes, but so was Nandcrdecken."
|
! | must win; besides, shoUld fail, bolt
over to France; then YOU prove your
identity, they must release you, and there
You are"
Yes; but in the meantime | shall be
in prison
Not necessarily; you must keep
close, and then perhaps theymay not find
you. l will give you a letter to my
friend Bob klrby-you are sure TO find
him at the Bit and Bridle-and he will
tell YOU what to do. You must not
write TO me here. Bob will do all the
writing, and let you know how things
are going. Now come and let Us change
clothes; there is not moment 10 lose
or you will be too late for the train"
But nv busincss." | gasped, for did
not like the job at all.
"Oh, can take care Of that; you know
understand the trade
q" But the butcher
Unjust put up with him, suppose"
said jim, looking rather blue " Of
course it is not pleasant, but nothing Is
in this world, and rs you have stood his
insults fer SO long a time, suppose |
shall be able 10 bear it for little while.
!
clothes and put on mine"
How jim did it ! cant say; but in less
than quarter of an hour | was dressed
in his clothes and turned out of my own
house.
| crept along the road, trembling at
the sight OF policeman, and wondering
at the little notice they took of me. l
reached the train in safety, and arrived
in Acton without being arrested.
| found the Bit and Bride" ana Bob
Kirby. 10 whom | delivered the letter.
He read il, and Al once they took NE 10
Jim'S rooms, advising me not to move
thcrcfrom il valued my liberty. Need
! say that felt very uncomfortable and
/ obevcd his orders to the letter?
| On the second night after my arrival
/ in Acton Mr- Kirby came TO my rooms
| and told me must prepare to start for
/ London at once.
You must take care YOU are not
seen, he continued, "tor II you were
caught now things would be very awk
| ward. Tell Jim he must come down here
| at once; he had be ter walk down, Tor
| the trains may be watched. If he can
get down without being seen all will be
well; but if not, fear that they viii try
| TO make it a case of conspiracy
/ On. how bitterly l rcpentcd having
consented to leave my butter-sh0p! for,
all things considered, the police We're 10
/ me worse than the butcher. BY keeping
myself a strict prisoner in my own house
| l could avoid the butcher; but there was
no safety from the police
! With a beating heart | crept up to my
own shop and knocked gently at the
door, which was opened directly by him,
/ to whom | delivered my dreadful mes
! sage.
/ Unjust be off at once, Dick" he said;
. We must change clothes directly! You
/ will be all right, for | have made every
one believe | was you. make capital
tradesman after all. I've sent your buSl-
ness up wonderfully"
Pm very glad TO hear it, Jim; In
sure it needed it. But how about The
butcher?'
..Oh. hes been great nuisance, GER
tainIy. but look here. Dick; don't YOU
be half so easy with HIM. don ne
leve he has half the pluck he pretendS
10 have"
Il do know it" was my rueful an
sWer: but if the business Is improving
l shall try to put up with the annoy
anCe"
That's right, Dick. And now good
byl I'm much obliged to you Tor "haI
YOU have done. If any Of the girls say
YOU made love to them you will know
that | am the culprit-only don't you
say so, but keep the fun up. It's not
disagreeable work, ] can assure YOU
Ha, hal ha. nobody would believe YOU
if YOU were 10 swear 1t Was me! 20
good by, and take care of yourself "
With hearty laugh Jim went on ms