The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1896-02-29
A PAL In PETIT C)A1.
BY Hanwell briggs.
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Jasper Mowlen was a hard case, yet
he had several admirers among the
fair sex, who, evidently, had been
won by his good looks and easy man
ners He loved two Of them, not
wisely, but so we'll 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. .&a.-. -i-
sur was a reporter at the time for one
of the New York dailies, and the city
editor sent me to interview him. Then
l learned, from his own lips, the fol
lowing narrative, which shows that at
zone time he considered housebreak-
ing a pastilne: 81"
zone Of the daintiest girls I ever
+ set my eyes upon," said Jasper Now
len, cUnfdentially, II became ac-
uuainted with in very strange way,
while bent upon little stroke of bust
ness. , tg :.~. ~.
'"rhere 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 spasmodically clutch, as
if the presents were already within
Teach 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 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 ac-
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 I at once began prepara-
lions for my expedition. I resolved to
do the job alone, and therefore avoid
the disagreeable necessity Of sharing
my p]unGer with confederate. e
II dressed myself with good taste,
and looked like respectable drum
1ner for mercantile house: I had a
fair-sized hand-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 / 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.
ut stuck 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. -.-.r
II rapidly overlook her, saw that
she was rather pleasant looking, and,
as I took off my hat, very politely, I
said to her: -
Pardon me, MISS says I, but
might you be one of the maids at Elm
i Villa" p 4.
"'Well,' she says, 4 might
"sOh" I says. Pleasant weather
were having, aren't we?' 81
She said it was very pleasant
weather, indeed. She said 0his she
said in very particularly affable
way) she was afraid we should have
rain before night. r.
(, ''Been here lon? inquired.
No, she hadn't been there long, she
said. Only three weeks. i.
!" Like the placer
5s@ 2''She said she didn't mind 1t. I
p asked her 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
throp, but she wouldn't give dime
dozen for the servants. For one thing,
Z she didn't believe they kept proper
lookout at the place. While they were
wasting their time in flirting and CAD
1 ding, a burglar could get in at almost
II any moment
ooh, well, miss, after ALL I says,
B We're none Of us perfect, you know.
We all have our little failings..'
= put on my best smile and made
up my mind to have dash for it. Il
asked her whether there was any
chance of having look in and a bit
of supper in the evening. She looked
1T me very straight Then she said q
thing that knocked me silly:
81 say, mister she says, where do
come in ? How much am going to
A make out Of this little game?'
II was so astonished that / quite
blushed did, really.
s85S { We'll, '$I says, il you are going to
put it that way, suppose I'd better
speak out straight. I'll give you TWEEN
~ dollars now, and I'll give you an
other twenty after it's over. Is 81 s
Il Make it thirty now and thirty
after, she said, and you'll find my aid
will make it plain sailing for you.
.sI started to argue the matter, and
5 she turned on her heel.