Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-02-26

not like the job at all.
"oh can take care of that you know
understand the trade"
"But the butcher ?"
"I must put up with him l suppose"
said Jim, looking rather blue. "Of course
IL Is not pleasant, but nothing is in this
world, and as you have stood his insults
for so long time, suppose / shall be able
to bear it for a little while. There is the
letter; now of with your clothes and put
on mine"
How Jim did it l can't say, but iu less
than a 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 a policeman, and wondering at the
little notice they took Of me. reached
the train in safety, and arrived at Acton
without being arrested.
found the "Bit and Bridle," and Bob
Kirby, TO whom 1 delivered the letter. He
read it, and at once took me to Jim's room,
advising me not to move therefrom if 1
valued my liberty. Need 1 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 awkward. 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 be-
ing seen all will be well but If not, fear
they will try to make it case Of conspira-
cy."
Oh, how bitterly rePented having con-
sented to leave my butter shopl for, all
things considered, the police were TO me
worse than the butcher. By keeping my
self a strict prisoner in my own house, l
could avoid the butcher but there was no
safety from the police.
With 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 message.
81 must be off at once, Dick" he said,
1--WE must change clothes directly. You
will be all right, for have made every one
believe l was you. make capital trades
man after all. I've sent your business up
wonderfully"
"rm very glad to hear it, Jim; I'm sure
it needed it. Bat how about the butch
erP'
"Ob, he's been great nuisance, certain
ly: but look here, Dick, don't you be half
so easy with him. l don't believe he has
half the pluck he pretends to have"
~ dol know itr' was my rueful an
swer, "but if the business is improving, 1
shall try 10 put up with the annoyance"
THAT'S right, Dick Aud now, good by.
rm 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,
can assure you. Hal ha ha! nobody
would bel ieve you If you were to swear it
was me So good by and take care Of your
self"
With a hearty laugh Jim went on his
road and with a sad heart, sought my
bed.
! arose very early the next morning aud
took down the shutters, 50 as TO avoid meet
ing that horrid butcher. A few minutes
afterwards very pretty girl came flutter-
ing into the shop, and, with many pretty
smile and simper, purchased half pound
Of my best butter.
"Why, how dull you are this morning,
Mr.. Perkins!' she exclaimed, with pref
ty, sly glance.
"Dull ?" replied in dreamy manner.
"Oh, nonsenser' she cried "its no
good putting on that modest air, afi er the
way you behaved yesterday. Do you know,
when you first came here, we all thought
you such sneak-or at least most of us
did; but / always said you were not so de-
mure as you wished to make out-and the
way you snatcaed that kiss from me yes
terday proves it."
49," thought l, "this is the way Master
Jim has been improving my business, is
itP"
/ looked at the little rosy mouth, and
could not blame him-nay, ventured to
follow his example, and did so with the
greatest success.
"Do you know" said the young lady,
putting her arms on the counter, "do you
know that have liked you ever since you
thrashed that blg bully, Grote, the butch
err"
"What," l exclaimed in amazement,
"thrashed Groter -
"Of 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 knocke ed him down
1t was splendldw
Could ii be possible Had my twin
brother thrashed the butcher, and left me
to reap the g.ory! AS If to confirm my
suspicious, at that very instant Grote ap'
peared in his shop-and oh, his face Il
was one mass of bruises! stepped ou
on TO the pavement to have look at him
closer. On seeing me he bowed politely
but merely shook my fist at him, and hC
retreated rapidly.
| / cannot describe how my business in
creased from that day, and all through
Jim's boldness and light heartedness. Dur
ing tie day 1 received a letter from deal
brother, in which he informed me that hC
had not lost his money; but having hearC
of my misery, he invented this little plo
to save me.
have now several large shops. Jim hai
never Joined me, he having retired from
the turf aud become gentleman farmer
l am married, and have a large family
My eldest boy is aboutto marry Miss Grote
Grote having become very good friends
with me, and, what is better, very rich
But, good friends as we are, have neve
thought it worth while to inform him o
] LII IL. :.