The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-10-02


over, he was my sworn enemy. III
could spoil his prospects of marriage
with the Majors heiress, determined
to do so. Here was my revenge, and
revenge is sweet. That is, those who
have had an opportunity to know say
it is, and believe them.
"Pillkins knows what 1 think of his
trying to marry my daughter. I've
told him. Not only have L told him in
plain words that he is fortune-hunter,
but enforced it by kicking him off the
front piazza no longer ago than this
morning." went on the Major.
"And what did he say to that?'
Say" roared Philpot, prancing an
grily about the room. Good Lordl
He just got up, bowed politely, lifted
his hat, if you'll believe mel the impu-
dent dog! and. saws he, Since you
adopt heroic treatment, my deah Ma
iah, l shall feel obliged to follow your
example and prosecute this court
ship in heroic mannah. I'll have
your daughtah, or I'll die trying to
win her. Remembah that. But he's
mistaken; no Pillkins will ever wed
Philpot-perish the thought. / over
heard them planning an elopement,
and intercepted note from him not
two hours ago, IN which he gave her the
details, and set the time, even to the
hour. 1t is to take place tonight. We
give grand party, you know, and she
is to slip away after supper, when the
carriages are drawn up in line before
the pavement and the guests are taking
their departure. She is to put on a
long dark wrap, and carry tuberose
in her hand, by which he is to recog-
nize her. There is to be carriage
handy. She is to enter it, and the
driver is to go to the devil. But,
unknown to Mr.. Pillkins, Arabella's
old dad is to put in his appearance just
ut this opportune time and stop the
performance, and Arabella herself Is to
be yanked upstairs and sent to bed"
and what am l to do?'
"You are to come to the ball as q
guest. L will introduce you to my
daughter, and you must shadow her
during the whole evening. She must
not be allowed to evade us. l
would go home now and lock her up
and have an end to it all but for the
party. 1t would never do for her to
be absent when our guests arrive. I've
spent small fortune on this party, and
L want 1t to be a success, and L am de-
termined not to give up the entertain
ment, nor to allow Pillkins TO run away
with Arabella."
I'll be there early" said /, eagerly.
"Do. I'll give you hundred dollars
TO help me outwit the rascally Pillkins
He's entirely too smart in his own esti-
nation. And if he thinks he will ever
feather his nest '-fguratively speak
ing, of course-with Arabellas $50, 900
why, then, hell do it through old Phil
pots mistake-that's all. "
you can depend upon me, and 1
never expect to earn hundred dollars
more easily than L will tonight, my
dear Major Let me see: tuberoses-
dark wraps waiting carriage at about
3 o'clock in the morning. / give you
my word, Maj. Philpot, that if Pillkins
gets away with Arabella tonight you
may use my head for football"
Good. I'll expect you early" and
with that he tore himself away.
hired an elaborate evening suit and
took my way to the Philpot mansion.
The Major lived in elegant style in
big brown-stone house on Schuyler
avenue. He had given me card,
which / sent up by the servant. In
stantly the Major came into the study
where the servant had conducted me
to wait moment.
Cad" says he, "you look like
dandy"
Il am dandy" says /, "for tonight,
any way. How goes it ?"
Lovely. Arabella suspects nothing
She is rather more affectionate than
common, but, in view of her intended
fight, perhaps not more so than is
natural"
A heavy velvet curtain that concealed
doorway trembled slightly and caught
my attention for moment. What if
somebody should overhear us: but no.
that was impossible. L stepped toward
the curtain, but at that moment the
beautiful .Arabella herself appeared in
the farther recess.
MY daughter, this is Mr.. Sidesinger,
of Columbus. Miss Philpot, Mr.. Side
singer" says the Major, introducing
us.
The Major and L had agreed that l
should be known that evening as Mr.
Sidesinger from Ohio-a particular
friend of his, whom he had not met
with in a long time.
"As an old friend of her fathers, l
hope Miss Philpot will reserve me a
few of the dances on her tablet" says L
to the young lady.
GAS many as you like said she,
affably, and L marked as many as 1
dared.
She was called away just then by a
lot of fresh arrivals; but / managed
soon to make my way through the
crowd into the ballroom. / knew she
would not attempt to leave the house
before supper, so there was nothing
to worry myself about. You know it
isn't often that poor detective gets
chance to mingle with the fashionable
swells as an equal, and L wanted to
make the most of it.
Whenever 1 thought of Pillkins-
and it was often enough to keep me in
good humor- could not help but
laugh in my sleeve at the trick we