Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-11-09

over a glass Of whisky punch in the
bar-parlor OF The Anglers Rest"
"Very bad" he repeated; II wonder
Mr.. Fancourt doesn't have a vet. to see
her-she's valuable dog"
''She's worse again to-day, !" said John,
patting Juno's head, who tried feebly
to lick his hand as she lay extended at
his feet. "She's been better for a few
days, but now she's worse. / said to
master this morning, IF / were you,
sir, I'd have vet. to see Juno Those
were my very words, Mr.. Perkins. But
he said to me, just rs he said before,
Leave her alone; don't think there's
much amiss.' My master hasn't got
much feeling for dumb animals, l take
it. What should you say, Mr.. Perkins?
You've known him longer than have.
Take another glass of punch, Mr..
Perkins"
"Well. don't care if 1 do" resuond-
ed Perkins. holding out his glass to be
replenished. Its good stuff they keep
here, and no mistake, "he added. smack
ing his lips as he slipped the fragrant
beverage.
you may well say that, Mr.. Per-
kins," returned John. 1.-The sort of
fishermen that come here like what's
good, and know if they don't get it.
As was saying, you knew Mr.. Fan
court before did, MIR. Perkins"
mot long before" said Perkins. II
key. L d gone out there with family;
land for me, says; so / was glad to
get back. We didn't see much of Mr..
Fancourt that is now, then. We lived
over china and glass shop in West
bourne Grove-a deal livelier place than
this, to my thinking"
"You may say that. Here's to your
health, Mr.. Perkins" !" interposed John,
taking sip.
1t might have been observed that
whilst he took care to replenish his
companions glass with good liquor his
own was scarcely touched.
"Of course it was livelier," John re-
sumed. This is but dull place for
person of your powers of observation,
Mr.. Perkins. Did Mrs. Lemont keep
much company therep That would
make a difference, too, because she
doesn't see much now, take it."
"Well, no, can't say as we did have
much company" replied Perkins, who
ALWAYS became eXtra-confidential over
his glass. "You see, l may tell you,
being one of the family, as one may
say; but it must not go any further, you
know-mum's the word!' And Per-
kins, with knowing wink, put his
finger to his nose.
John nodded, as though to say, II un-
| derstand."
1--WE didn't have much company,
though my mistress used to go out a
| good deal, and was sometimes fetched
by dashing sort of party. But there
was gent as used to come that she
seemed wishful to get rid of-some sort
of relation, take it, said Mr.. Perkins.
cay" returned John, carelessly. -
"What did she want to get rid of him
for?"
II think he used to come for money"
Mr.. Perkins replied, land we none of
us like to be sponged upon-my mis-
tress no more nor any one else"
mo, certainly not, said John. "You
are not drinking your whisky, Mr.. Per-
kins. viii you have a pipe?n
''Well, / don't. care if do have a
Whit, Perkins answered, using his GUS
tomary formula.
John called for clean pipes, and pro-
duced a tobacco pouch from his pocket.
you'll find this good, Mr.. Perkins, y
he said, as he laid it before his friend.
''Help yourself"
"You'rea a fine Judge of character, Mr..
Perkins" John resumed, after the pipes
had been brought in and filed, and the
smoke from the fragrant weed began to
ascend. "You ought to have risen in life.
AS for me, can brush clothes and go
of errands, and perhaps know a thing
or two; but l haven't your powers, Mr..
Perkins. Now I should just like to hear
you describe this gent; you'd do it like
print,,you'd hit him off to the life' l
know"
John put his head on one side, pre-
pared to listen with becoming attention.
swell, he was rather little chap
Perkins began, fiattered by his compan-
ions praise-"less nor you-and you're
not Of the biggest, you know. He'd a
dark complexion, and black eyes that
was always twinkling about, and an
aquiline nose, and thin lips that always
looked as if he was a-saying something
to hisself; and he didn't wear no whis.
kers nor moustaches; and he always
looked out-at-elbows like. though he did
get money from my mistress"
"Ha, ha!'' laughed John. "Your de-
scriptions are as good as a play, Mr.
| tlhlllS. w udU Woto OllC udLIlO VI UuS
CENT? I've queer fancy for knowing
have a likeness in 'em to the people that
owns 'em somehow"
II can't tell you," said Mr.. Perkins
II never heard. l only heard my mis-.
tress call him Pierre-that was what
made me think he was some sort of re.
lation. And I don't mind telling you
queer start, Mr.. John, because know
it will go no further. A young lady
called at our place one day to inquire
after this Mr.. Pierre-about something
that he had lost, and she had found
she said. My mistress had said to me
more than once, Mind, Perkins. if any
one should inquire after that gent
don't you, on any account, LET out that
he comes here.' And when she sent
for me upstairs to ask if any one
had been to the house the evening be-
fore, she gave me look, and held uI
her finger, so I stuck to it as no one hal
been, in course"
"Of course, Mr.. Perkins, quite right,
agreed John. "Ha, ha! can't hell
thinking how clever you are in taking
notice, to be sure. And where is this
Mr.. Pierre now, / wonder? A little
drop more, Mr.. Perkins,"
mo. thank you-no more" Perkin.
replied, at the same time edging hi'
glass nearer the jug.
Just little" John urged. "Thi
good old whisky is an innocent as milk
you know"
We'll, just the least DROP said Mr.
Perkins.
II wonder where he is," John repeat
ed. II could just fancy I should know
him if / met him." W
You're not likely to meet him; he'
in France said Mr.. Perkins. II know
that much.n 6- tet