St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1897-02-13

do owe the money, of course. And
was going to pay these seven accounts
this week. Still. to have the money de-
manded in such an inpudent way is in
tolerable. | shall certainly leave all
these tradesmen who have instructed
Perks
81 should. They deserve being made
to sit up. But, in any case, it will be
much more agreeable for you not to
have to act in the matter personally.
You leave it entirely in my hands"
This, after some denur, the vicar, at
length, agreed to do; Frank Persuading
him that it would be far more dignified
for him to have no personal communica-
ton whatever with Perks or with the
tradesmen. And SO the affair was
placed, unreservedly, in the young bar
rister's hands.
The vicar rubbed his glasses and
looked at The letter again. He felt that
his eyes must have deceived him. But
no. There the thing was in black and
white, unmistakably 5cfear and evident,
and as the vicar read it a second time,
he gave quite gratifed smile. But
still he was puzzled.
The letter was as follows:
2end The Broadway, Feb. IS, 1ss-.
Reverend Sir: In thanking you for your
most generous and honorable behavior.
take the opportunity Of apologizing, with
oil my heart, for what has occurred In
reference to my account. The truth is,
al bof by to
deceiving arts Of a cheat and swindler; and
need not say that / shall be only too
pleased to cooperate In any steps that may
be taken for his arrest and punishment.
Your grateful and obedient,
HEZEKIAH H0BP.
The vicar opened a second letter which
had arrived by the same post. It was
from Shanks, the butcher, and was even
more effusively apologetic than Hobbs.
1t also referred to your having acted
50 honorable and like the gentleman .
The vicar looked still blander and more
gratifed, but still decidedly puzzled.
There were five other letters from
local tradesmen, and all ran in much the
same strain, not one of them emitting
TO eulogise him for his honorable con-
duct. Never in his life before had the
reverend gentleman received seven such
hattering communications. He did not,
in the least, understand what they
meant; but still they put him in an ex-
cellent humor. Honorable? Certainly,
acting on his nephew's advice, he had
given him checks for distribution
among the seven tradesmen on the pre-
vious day; but, that was only a settle
ment-rather tardy one into the bar
gain-of his just debts. There was
nothing extraordinarily honorable 10
that. Still it is always nice to be .ac-
knowledged honorable, especially by
your enemies. And when the vicar had
finished reading the seventh letter he
was in very good temper indeed.
At that fortunate moment a knock
came at his study door, and Frank en-
tered. Seeing the expression on his
uncle's face, and augnring therefrom
the a1estresafts, he lost no time in MAX
ing his momentous confession about
Amy. The vicar exclaimed. He
hummed and hawed. But he was in a
heavenly temper; and he ended by CIV
ing his consent.
This is how Frank Miller had worked
his little scheme. Sidney Perks was the
solicitor whom he had come across in
town; and, in certain dealings with him,
Frank had learnt some facts about
Perks, by communicating which to the
proper authorities, he could have
brought him to the bar of the Old Bailey.
Perks had tried to obviate such a pos
sibility by promptly clearing out of
town. Curiously enough he had be-
taken himself to the very place of which
franks uncle was vicar.
Armed with these irresistible argu-
ments, Frank had, on the morning of
Valentines day, gone straight to Perks
office, and, under threat of setting the
police on to him Immediately, had made
two demands, to which, after some use
less demur, Perks was fain to consent.
The first demand was, that he should
write out and hand over to Frank re-
ceipts for the seven accounts. The sec
ond, that he should leave Winfield
within 12 hours. Upon these conditions,
he should be left to escape and lose HIM
self, unmolested. Frank was inexora-
Bile, and Perks was not in q position to
resist. So both demands were complied
with.
Franks next step, two days later,
was to go round and see the tradesmen,
informing them that the vicar had duly
paid their accounts to Perks, and pro-
ducing the receipts; he also advised
them lin q friendly way) to look sharp
after their money, as ugly rumors were
current about Perks, and he was said to
have bo1ted. = Those concerned
lost no time in hurrying round to Perks
office, where he was not; and thence to
his house, which (his servant told them)
he had quilted hurriedly two days be-
fore. where had he gene?'' "He
hadn't left no address," Then, indeed,
was bitter lamentation and outcry heard
among the swindied shopkeepers. Then
it was that the vicar (all unknown to
himselG had acted so honorable and
like gentleman" by writing the checks
for the seven accounts and handing
them to Frank TO distribute. This
astute young man had left the trades
men under the impression that, in order
to save them from loss, his uncle had
paid their accounts twice over; and hau
dcseanted, in rather strong terms, upon
this truly Christian return of good for
evil.
Frank did not aequeint his uncle with
these little mysteries until he was just
starting on his honeymoon. And as, by
thai time. the vicar had tasfed HE