Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-24
Mr.. PETITIONERS SUSPICIOUS
He Was Apprehensive That the Young
Men We're Going Astray.
He Had a struggle to Determine His
Duty and TheAc He Made an
Important: b,.covery.

-e-
From the Chicago Times Herald.
Mr.. F. F. Pettibone tells of an interesting
experience he had at Oconomowoc last
week. He was visiting Mr.. Ferd w. Peck.
| Both Messrs. Pettibone and Peck are ia
NOUS yachtsmen; Pettibone is commodore
| of the Chicago Yacht Club and Peck has
exclusive control of the temporal and spir-
| itual affairs of the Oconomowoc Maryland
| a rafting good navy it Is, too, despite the
| Misrepresentation of Oconomowoc's loath-
some rival, Waukesha. 1t is easy enough,
| therefore, to understand that between
! Messrs. Pettibone and Peck this bond of
sympathy serves to attract the two COM
modores the one to the other. There was
| to be a yacht race at Commonwealth this
| has nothing to do with this particular
! story.
After the ball at Draper Hall lat which
! ball the gallant Chicago commodore danced
with innumerable pretty girls) and after a
! long talk with Mr.. Peck on the side porch
| Upon the subject of jibs, spankers topsails
and the like, 1t was suggested that. as Mr.
Pettibone had had pretty long and pref
! ty hard day Of it, he might like to go to
| bed So the distinguished guest was shown
I'D to that one Of the front spare rooms
which is called 1.-The commodore's room
| This apartment is one Of the most attract
| i've in Mr. Peck's palatial home. The fea-
| ture which particularly pleased the chicago
commodore was that of number of marine
and naval views which were hung upon the
walls of the room: IT made the brave oio
salts heart beat high with enthusiasm to
see depicted upon canvas such memorable
! and thrilling scenes as washington cross
| ing the Delaware" Pharaoh and His Army
| Enyulfed," 1.-THE Launching of the Tar
I n al
gut In the Rigging" Sunrise on Fowler
| Lake" High Tide at Nagowicka, ETC.
! etc. Mr.. Pettibore became so mucn inter-
ested in studying these pieces or historic
art that it must have been 2 o'clock In the
| morning when he turned out the gas ana
erawled into bed. Hardly. however, was ne
! between the sheets when ne distinctly neara
| subdued voices outside and beneath his
| window.
Prepared for Burglars.
| Don't talk so loud or you'll wake up
| metody," said one of the voices.
"Shiver my timbers If they amt bur-
| glarsp' thought Mr.. Pettibone, and he got
! out of bed and stole nolselessly to the win
| dow. On his way there he incidentally
! picked up the bootjack, intending to brain
| the first burglar who sought to effect an
| entrance at the window. 1t was a caini'
clear Saturday night, an appropriate male
| to a busy and beautiful week. The moon
| had lust risen The wind dancing over the
ripping waters brought echoes of the sub
! dued music of crickets and katydids on the
John Severance place: IKE a transht tha
lis mind not been preoccupied by thoughts
OF midnight plunaereEs MI Mr. pet III bone
| eyes linger on the panorama of loneliness
| that presented itself as he reached the win
| dowsill-a scene that might have peen mis-
| taken for soft Italian Landscape but Ior
| no1n INN ri q
! parrot on Clarence Pecks porch next door.
"when will she be here?" asked a second
| voice. nj 2
II was then that Mr.. Pettibone discovered
| that his supposed burglars were not bur-
| glars at ALL but were Ferd Peck. 1r.. ana
| young Harry Higinbotham. 1t was a great
| reuet to Mr.. Pettihone, for the bootjack
| was heavy
! I'D to-" thought Mr.. Pettieone.
| well, If the train is due them Young
| H,rtnbotham went on to say, I'VE ought to
I'VE mustn't make any noise" said young
Ferd. Il don't want ANYBODY 10 A'io"
| anything about 1t. ~,
where are you going to take her?'
| asked young Higinbothsm.
| "Out into the beat house.. said young
| Ferd 'That's the best place to keep her
| till morning. She's peauty! iou soy 81
! too when you see her.
He Was Disturbed In Mind.
.what dreadful young men! thought
Mr. Pettibone. He heard no more. for the
| two bonefufs of the Peck and the aiS1n-
botham families stole off the lawn ana ois-
| appeared down the street.
| or course (eood man that he waso Mr.
| Pettibone was vastly disturbed. he had
been boy himself. but never-no never IN
| oil those halcyon days when the Impulses
of his youth were at their height. never
| had he thought or dreamed OIL sueh an
| escapade as this one IN WHICH ehese '"o
] mere boys were involved. ,...
| "Dear me! dear mel" sighed Mr.. Petit
hone. as he returned bedward. Il wonder
| IL 1 ought to wake up the oid toi rs,,' ANU ha
| toll them about it. No, I would hardly De
! justified in an interference Of that K'no
Dear me! dear me! What are our boys
| coming to- anyhow?
In o os5y saor fe asleep sleep HIS
| we're very distressful: he dreamed all nlght
| that he was trying to rescue Two young
! men who We're going at fuii TIT oo"n tle
| downward path. The closer he got TO them
| the farther they got away from him. This
| Is Invariably the way with dreams Wheh
| enc is sorey vexed in spirit MT. Ie.u-
bone awoke early and regardless or the
| fact that it was Sunday he arose, dressed
| and went down stairs He was nervous
| and agttated; he was still In doubt Wnetner
he ought to divulge his awful secret 10
| the parents of the Maynard youth. AS ne
| descended the stairs he heard voices on the
back porch. Did his ears deceive him. I'm?
| No; 1t was indeed Mr.. Peck's voice, ana
| Mr' Peck was conversing with the two
youthful participants in the last nights
escapade.
"she is a daisy. and no mistake" Mr.
Peck was saying. when did she get in!'
'She came in on the 2:30 train last
| night" said young Higinbotham. II want
| ed to take her to Draper Hall, but Ferd IN
sisted upon keeping her in the boat house
| all night
That was the hest plan.'' said Mr.. Peck
| approvingly; otherwise you couldn't nave
| kept the matter quiet"
| Mr.. Pettibone GrOaned.
| A cold sweat broke out all over Mr.. Pet
| tibone.
"can it be possible" he thought, that
this parent is privyt to this scandalous at
| fair?" / 81
Mr.. Peck went on to say: BE very care
full and don't say Anything about It to your
mother when she comes, down. We must
not let soul know she il on the premises.
| After breakfast you carssturn her over to
| Spauldng.'
| he