Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1875-02-12

suuI tuc uOOI, VI SHALL Uc SelLeu.s t
Jim" / stammered; "why, what IS
the matter?p
"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.
"Phew" 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 chair. 81
backed the wrong horse for the st. Leger,
and have lost all my money"
| q knew you would, Jim," I said; al
knew you would But it's no use crying
over split milk, as the proverb says; you
must come and share with me, though
Heaven knows that have not much to
offer you, for that horrid butcher has
nearly ruined me-"
"You're good fellow. Dick, but l
have worse news still. You must know
that had 81, coo placed in my hands to
buy horses for gentleman. So con-
vinced was l that Vanderdecken would
win this race that | not only put my
money on HIM, but also that which had
in trust. l have lost all, and have had
to fly to avoid the police'
The frightful news so overcame me
that | could only wiring my hands and
exclaim:
ooh, what is to be done? what is to be
d0ne?"
"This is what must be done, " said Jim,
in hurried whisper: "you must take
! my clothes and my name, and l 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"
| q 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 mistake,
| either pay the e1 900 or buy the horses;
you will be released, and can bring an
| action for damages for false imprison.
| ment."
"Yes, that's all very well, jim; but
suppose you should not win this money!
Nonsense, my dear fellow; must
win it. It's as safe as the bank"
eyes but so was Vanderdecken."
| ooh, bother Vanderdecken! tell you
l must win; besides, should I fail, bolt
| over to France; then you prove your
identity, they must release you, and there
you are"
eyes but in the meantime I 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 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 to lose
or you will be too late for the train
"But my business?" gasped, for / did
not like the job at all.
| ooh! can take care of that; you know
| understand the trade"
"But the butcher?"
| II Imust put up with him, suppose"
said Jim, looking rather blue. "Of
course it is not pleasant, but nothing is
in this world, and as you have stood his
insults for so long a time, I suppose
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 can't 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.
reached the train in safety, and arrived |
in Acton without being arrested.
I found the ''Bit and Bride" and Bob |
Kirby, to whom l delivered the letter |
He read it, and at once they took me to |
Jim's rooms, advising me not to move |
therefrom if ] valued my liberty. Need |
/ say that | 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 / must prepare to start for
London at once.
"You must take care you are not
seen," he continued, {" for if you were
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
we'll; but if not, fear that they will try
to make it case of conspiracy"
Oh, how bitterly l 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
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 l 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 busi-
ness up wonderfully"
| Y" I'm very glad to hear it, gJim;nI IN
| sure it needed it. But how about the
butcher?"
Yt"Oh, he's been great nuisance, GER
! tainly; but look here, Dick; don't you
be half so easy with HIM. don't be-
lieve he has half the pluck he pretends
to have"
"I dol know it!" was my rueful an
swer; "but if the business is improving
1 shall try to put up with the annoy
ance."
"That's right, Dick! And now, good
by! 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
disagreeable work, I can assure YOU
Ha! ha! ha nobody would believe you
if you were to sw,ar it was mel So
good-by, and take care of yourself !"
With hearty laugh Jim went on his
road; and l, with a sad heart, sought
my bed.
/ arose very early the next morning
| and took down the shutters So 90 fo