The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-02-24
A DOUBLE DEAL.

4 A DOUBLE DEAL.
When the old peddler came to the
door with those extremely pretty vases,
Mrs. Christy felt that they were the
very things that she wanted IN her
spare bedroom, and so, instead Of say
ing sNor' when he politely requested
her to see if she had any ''old clothes
to change for some splendid vases, she
allowed him to come in and cit down
while she went up stairs to rummage
and came down with some old garments
Of her husbands and a shawl OF her
own, which certainly she never should
wear again, unless it was at night, for
Ait was a fashion which went out before
she was married.
: It came to her mind that she was
foolish to leave a stranger alone SO long,
but the old man was sitting quietly
where she had left him, and looked SO
much like a benevolent old patriarch
that she was ashamed Of remembering
that the spoons were in the pantry and
the pantry unlocked. However, he was
quite worldly enough to drive a hard
bargain, and to the coat, vest and shawl
she had to add a gown that might very
well have been worn often again.
However, it was not ready money,
and she felt that the vases-good imita-
tions Of very costly es-w lovely.
She carried them into the spare ROOM,
and they made the mantelpiece quite a
different thing. Returning to the din
ing room, however, a shock awaited
her. Her husbands overcoat, which he
had unwisely left at home that day, be-
cause it was unusually warm, was gone
from it's peg on the hall rack, and,
opening the pantry door, she saw that
the spoons were gone with it. They
were only plated, but no ~ likes to
lose anything in that way. Besides. she
felt greatly to blame for it.
The old man had been gone a long
while, and, though she sent a messen-
ger for a police officer. he gave no hope
Of catching the thief or of getting the
things back.
Twas there nothing else gomez the
man asked.
Mrs. Christy looked about her and
discovered one thing more-a forged 81
note. She had it given to her by some
one a year before, and che found that
it was worthless and had written
across the back, ''This is a counter
felt" and added her name, and some
how she kept it in her w~orkbasket.
The old man had spied it with his
glistening black eyes and had helped
himself to it.
Eat all events, he can't pass it"
laughed Mrs. Christy. II feel a little
conscled when I remember how provok-
ed he will be"
.sHe'll pass it somehow" said the
policeman as he walked away, promis-
ing to report the case.
But Mrs. Christy, when she remem-
bered that the overcoat that had been
stolen was worth eS and the plated
spoons at least So, found it necessary
to go to her own room and have a good
cry. 1t was not SO much the value of
the lost articles as the feeling that it
was her fault, and that her husband
might possibly SO far forget himself as
to tell her SC. At all events, she would
lose a little of that fine character fol-
good sense with which, to her great
satisfaction, he had endowed her.
The day did not pass very pleasant.
". Callers came, and she could not helI
telling her story, but it was a joke to
the best in%tentioned among them, and
as the dinner hour approached she felt
very much indeed like running away.
However. Of course, she was obliged
to stay. Her daughters were paying q
visit to some cousin, and there wal nc
one else to preside at table. Besides,
she could only have put off the evil mo.
ment. She went up stairs and got out
some spoons che kept in reserve and
waited for the impending moment. Shs
hoped that her husband would, at least
be in good humor. and not-as wher
things went wrong with him-a littl.
Mr.. Christy, however, returned tina
evening In high good humor. Moreover
he had an overcoat upon his arm. Coult
II be that no had come back for it, aftel
al. and the theft had been limited I,
the spoons and the counterfeit banl
uotes
~ thought you went without you,
coat she said. with u little rejoicefu
leap OF the heart. ~ she seemed to recog
Mise the garment by its form and color
9ut Mr.. Christy laughed;
$50 ] did. no said, $50 ! did. No
this " = new coat. ! bought II for VIII
liam. Ny o William IL III tall N
IN and nearly ~ stout, and this al
n snuely--~nugly, ] came across 10 1,
3 eusss way, II u quits a bargain. Yos
60. u lpoks sntireiy nsw,"
"ysA q certainly doss. said Mrs
chBlsty. 'sand sxsctly iiks yours. too
= - - - A-.k3..AN