Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-04-24
DICKIE'S ENTRAPMENT.

WHAT'S what ana who's who, as you
can't help doing if you read the news
papers. Well. then. you know Dickie
Spconer, though perhaps not by that
name. for, though he is one of the
hcgviest of Philadelphia's heaviest
swells and cuts Appointment figure at
all the grandest assemblies and most
exclusive parties he is after ALL
very modest little chap at heart, and |
would not dare to call his real name
right out loud in meeting for fear he
would never recover from the shock.
Butyou will know who | mean so it's
all right andi you are afflicted with
chronic obtuseness and can't guess,
just drop me n line. inclosing "a stamp,
and IN tell you in the strictest conf
dence.
Dickie's blood being of the real GER
ulean tint, he could not be anything bat
AN honorable gentleman; but he had
his faults, and one Of these is that a
"a bumper of champagne presented by
"a small white hand is simply irresisti-
bic to him. Now Penelope Hunt knew
this and availed herself very cleverly
of Dickic's weakness. She had been
trailing him for years. but for all he
played about the traps she set he never
quite thrust his head in, and at last
Penelope and her mamma ~ mighty
"a Nimrod as there is before the Lord,
decided upon "a suberb coup d'etat.
which was to force the gay and thought
less Spooner into the spiders little par
lor, whether he liked it or not. They
had him up TO dinner one night. when
no other guests were there To prove
buiwark and between them piled him
pretty steadily with Mumm's extra dry.
The polite Dickie protested feebly, bat
his "Ah, really. really now, you are
very kind indeed, but think | will
take no more" was needed about as
much. or as little rather, as the re-
nowned fy's buzzing was by the very
pressing spider just one more with
me. Mr.. Spooner. the fair Penelope
would cry, and silly Dickie would drink
the one more glass. and the one more,
= till he was very. very mellow and an
easy prey for his Delilah.
She took him into pretty little
room. all perfume. flowers. and easy
chairs, and with the light judiciously
subdued TO hide the powder and the
the other business on her face; wrought
on the fellows feelings by talking the
usual stuff about her lonely misunder-
stood life. her warnings for love and
sympathy in the midst of the worlds
hollow gayety, and so on ad nauseam.
till Dickie unusually soft-hearted- 49,
the wine was stia in his veins--was
L. IF
from this proposed Penelope turned
shy, and faltered n yes just audible.
but still audible, and overwhelmed ut
her own boldness ran to the door and
called her mamma. who came and gave
her blessing.
Dickie, nearly sohered by his folly,
got away as soon a. possible and went
home 10 sleep his headache off. When
he awoke the memory of his capture
swept over him like wave, and he
sank Frustrated in utter misery, till
Randall DcvereuX came 10 look him up
when the wretchcd spooner poured
forth his tale of woe and madness To-
his friend. Well Dickie. | always
said you were q fool" said DeveveuX
-eandidly. ''but you have reached
heights | never dreamed Of you scaling.
However, cheer up! Behold. Il De
vcreux 10 the rescue. Ii is n scrape
too horrible 60 leave you in another
day, for the hunt has tracked you with
a determined Cruelty that arouses
Indignation ia vthe most callous heart,
and mine for you, my gentle lad, is
putty. must balk her Of her prey;
b,,t bo,r Ia, lnuyc 10 ,uorly
mighty brain. and in the cause of
friendship strain even thy prodigious
strength and tell me how"
Dio6ie gIpaned desperately Look
here, iDevereux! Oi course | know
Penelope Hunt has meant TO marry
me for some time. and that she has
been rather INSCRIPTIONS in carrying
her point. but she's a woman and I'm
hanged II I'm going t0,do anything dis
honorable IN the matter. No. not if
do have To marry her. ',Pshaw. my
dear boy. Who wants you to write her
note saying you've changed your
mind and really can't come TO taw!
Give me u imSment and I'll show you
better and quite as efIectual pkan. |
know "a we'll as you that ''Brutus is an
honorable man"
Damon strobe once or txice up and
down the pretty bedroom. while
Pythias watched him anxiously. when
springing at Sponer Deyereux tore
bis dressing gown from his shoulders
hustled him into bed. and pil;ng the
covers on him laid q wet handkerchief
On his brow. What on earth?"
gaspcd Dickie.
Hush. hush. my poor chap you are
very Ill. Lie still and don't let soul
disturb you. I'll instruct your man
about 1t while / go Tor doctor"
Devereux was off ere the confused pa !.
tient could protest and returned in
few minutes with young DR. lancet, to
whom. u jolly good fellow ane an inti-