The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1895-11-28
A PAL IN PETT,C0AT.
by HanweII Briggs.
az

he had several admirers among the
fair sex. who, evidently, had beer
won by his good looks and easy man
ners. He loved two of them, not
wisely, but so well that, without in
forming his first wife. he became en-
Enthusiastically bound to the second.
The first one, on learning Of his sec
ond marriage, had him arrested for
bigamy.
l was a reporter at the time for one
| Of the New York dailies. and the city
editor sem me to interview him. Then
l learned, from his own lips, the fol-
low ing narrative, which shows that at
one time he considered housebreak-
ing a pastlme:
Zone of the daintiest girls I ever
set my eyes upon said Jasper Now
len, confdentially, 81 became &C.
quainted with in a very strange way,
while bent upon a little stroke of bust
ness.
"There had been a wedding in high
life. Bride and groom belonged to the
Four Hundred; they had lots of gen.
erous friends and they had come
down handsomely in the way of we'd
ding gifts, and the descriptions Of the
diamonds, necklaces, bracelets, In the
newspapers, made my eyes CLEAN
and fingers systematically clutch, as
if the presents were already within
reach of my hand.
The home of the bridal couple was
out in the suburbs of New Haven. 1t
had been fitted up especially for the
bride, and the happy pair were to re-
turn there after their six weeks we'd
ding trip. and give a grand reception
to their friends.
'Of course" says I to myself, 'the
wedding gifts will be on exhibition
again, just to make the people who
gave them feel that they are appreci-
ated. Now, wouldn't it be a big
chance for me, a few days after the
reception, when the guests have all
departed and the couple are settled
down to home life, with the usual &C
compartments Of love and kisses, to
just pay them a midnight visit, and
select some Of these presents for my
own use?
"The idea seemed a very sensible
one, and l at once began prepara-
tons for my expedition. I resolved to
do the job alone, and therefore avoid
the disagreeable necessity of sharing
my plumber with a confederate.
II dressed myself with good taste,
and looked like a respectable drum
Inc for a mercantile house. 1 had a
fair-sized h~and-satchel with me, con-
tanning 4 few articles very essential
in my line of business. This I left at
my room in the New Haven hotel. and
then 1 sauntered out to view the scene
of my proposed expedition and plan
my method of entrance.
Late in the afternoon I was saunter-
ing down the road. pretty close to the
grounds Of Elm Villa, as the residence
of Mr.. and Mrs. Gerald Winthrop was
called. Walking in front Of me was a
shapely girl in blue serge, carrying a
little handbag.
at stl uck me that she might be one
Of the domestics attached to the
household of the young bride and
groom. and an idea entered my pro-
life brain.
81 rapidly overlook her, saw that
she was rather pleasant looking, and,
as I. took off my hat, very politely,
said to her:
"'Pardon me, miss says I, but
might you be one of the maids at Elm
villa?
"'Well, she says, Il might
"'Oh" l says. Pleasant weather
we're having, aren't we|
"She said it was very pleasant
weather, indeed. She said this she
said in a very particularly affable
way) she was afraid we should have
rain before night.
"'Been here lon?' I inquired.
mo, she hadn't beer there long. she
said. Only three weeks.
Like the place?
"She said she didn't mind 1t. ]
asked her a few questions about the
people. She said she could get on all
right with Mr.. Winthrop, and she was
on very good terms with Mrs. Win
tbrop, but she wouldn't give a dime a
dozen for the servants. For one thing
she didn't believe they kept a proper
lookout at the place. While they We're
wasting their time in flirting and CAD
ding, a burglar could get N at almost
any moment.
"'Oh, we'll. miss, after ALL l says
we're none of us perfect, you know
We all have our little failings.'
Il put OH my best smile and made
up my mind to have a dash for it.
asked her whether there was any
chance of having a look in and a bit
of supper in the evening. She looked
at me very straight. Then she said ;
thing that knocked me silly:
81 say, mister she says, where de
I come in? How much am | going t.
make out of this little game"
Il was so %astonished that / quite
blushed, l did. really.
"'Well,' | says, if you are going t.
put it that way. | suppose I'd bette
speak out straight. I'll give you TWEEN
ty dollars now, and I'll give you an
other twenty after it's over
"'Make it thirty now and thirt,
after she said, and you'll find my ait
will make it plain sailing for you
Il started to argue the matter, ant
she turned on her heel.
"'Oh, don't go away mad, my dear,
| says. Don't lose your temper
You've got Il good-hearted face
You're not going to be hard on
poor chap, are you, now? Give me
kiss. and I'll give you twenty-tive.'
!, "She fired up.
"'You don't have no kiss, mister
she says, and if you want me to hel
you, you must hand over the money
You can't do better, anyway
81 tell you, she fairly knocked m
, over. | assure you to look at her yo
/, would think she was as quiet 4 Gil
as ever wore shoes. She kept her eye
|, bright, black eyes she had-fixed o
my face, and seemed almost to enjo
the corner shed got me in,