Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-02-10


to buy horses for a gentleman. So con-
| WINGED was that Vanderdeclzen would
win. this race, that I not only put my
money on him, but also that which I
had in trust. I'have lost all, and have
had to fly to avoid the police"
The frightful news SO overcame me
that L 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 hurried whisper; you must
take my clothes and my name, and /
will take yours in exchange; you must
go down to Acton to my rooms, and [
will carry on your business here. Do
you see %
eyes, see but the police may
arrest me by mistake. D." aa ."
"Of course they Will; that's the
beauty of the thing. / expect to make
a hatful of money over the next
race, and when I have done that I will
show up, declare that the whole affair
has been mistake, either pay the 81,
900, or buy the horses; you will be re
leased, and can bring an action for
damages for false imprisonment.
eyes, that's all very well, Jim; but
suppose you should not win this
money !"
"Nonsense, my dear fellow; I must
win it. It's as safe as the bank"
eyes, but SO was Vanderdecken.
ooh, bother Vanderdecken [ tell
you must win; besides, should fail,
I bolt over to France; then you prove
your identity, they must release you,
and there you are. %
eyes; but in the meantime shall be
in prison"
"Not necessarily; you must keep
close, and then perhaps they may not
find you. will give you letter to my
friend, Bob Kirby,-you are sure to
find him at the Bit and Bride, 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 mo-
ment to lose, OF you will be late for the
train" s..r ...
'sBut my business I gasped, for
[ did not like the job at all.
ooh can take care of that; you
know I understand the trade"
s'But the butcher?'
F. ct must put up with him, I sup
pose," said Jim, looking rather blue.
i" Of course it is not pleasant, but moth
ing is in this world, and as you have
stood his insults for so long time, [
suppose I shall be able to bear it for
little while There is the letter; now
off with your clothes and put on mine"
How Jim did it I can't say, but in
less than aquarter of an hour | was
dressed in his clothes and turned out of
my own house.
I crept along the road trembling a.
the sight of policeman, and wonder.
ing at the little notice they took of met
I reached the train in safety, and arriv-
ed in Acton without being arrested. n
[ found the e'Bit and Bridle," and
Bob Kirby, to whom I delivered the
letter. He read it, and at once took me
to Jim's rooms, advising me not to stir
therefrom if [ valued my liberty. Need
[ say that I felt very uncomfortable, and
obeyed his orders to the letter?
On the second night after my arrival
in Acton Mr.. Kirby came to my rooms
and told me I must prepare to start for
London at once.
"You must take care you are not
SEEM" he continued, "for if you are
caught now things would be very awk-
ward. Tell Jim he must come down
here at once; he had better walk down,
for the trains may be watched. If he
can get down without being seen all will
be well; but if not, [ fear they will try
to make case of conspiracy"
On, how bitterly / repented having
consented to leave my butter-shop! for,
all things considered, the police were
to me worse than the butcher. By
keeping myself strict prisoner in my
own house, I could avoid the butcher;
but there was no safety from the police.
With beating heart [ creptup to my
own shop, and knocked gently at the
door, which was opened by him, to
whom deliveredmy dreadful message.
81 must be off at once, Dick, :" he
said, eve must change clothes DIRECTLY
You will be all right, for I have made
every one believe that I was you. [
make capital tradesman after all.
I've sent your business up wonder
fully" b.. ~
"I'm very glad to hear it, Jim; Tn
sure it needed it. But how about the
| butcher
"Oh, he's been a great nuisance, GER
tainly; but look here, Dick; don't you
be half so easy with him. I don't be-
lieve he has half the pluck he pretends
to have
81 do know it !" was my rueful
answer; ''but if the business is improv-
ing shall try to put up with the an
noyance."
"That's right, Dick And now, good
bye ! I'm 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 you say SO but keep the fun UP.
It's not disag1eeable work, I can assure
you Ha ha ha nobody would be-
lieve you if you were to swear it was
me So good bye, and take care of
yourself -
With hearty laugh Jim went on
his road; and I, with sad heart, sought
my bed. 80
I arose very early the next morning
| l. ! L Oh, 10