Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-05-25

"Eh? But he'll kick me out"
'I'll stand pony
ssTwo, said Peter, firmly.
"Well, two. but be quick =
Then Peter spoke up like a man and
accepted the blame Of ITO Lalage.' :
''But your initials aren't A. p, OBJ
jected Mr.. Pottles.
''To avoid suspicion I reversed the
order. Mine are P A.
"James. said Mr. Pottles to the foot
man, tpack Mr.. Allison S bag
But Dora gave Peter the kindest and
most admiring glance as she murmured
softly to Adrian, 'tThey re lovely Oh,
don't you wish you could write verses,
Mr. Pottles?'
Adrian started. He had not bargain
ed for this. but Peter had overheard and
interposed
81 am more than consoled by your
approval Miss Chatterton. Mr.. Pottles
called to Adrian. and he had to go in,
leaving Dora and Peter in close CONVEX
sation, and TO assure his uncle solemnly
that he had been entirely disappointed
and deceived in Peter, and. worse STILL
in Dora, and that he never wished to
see either of them again. Mr.. Pottles
shook him by the hand and forgave him
Adrian passed wretched week. In
several newspapers he saw it openly
stated that Peter now admitted he was
the author Of ITO Lalage. Peter
wrote that the $50 were most convent
ent and that he bad had a most charm
ing letter from Dora, and that all the
literary world was paying him most
fiattering attentions. Adrian ground
his teeth. but he had to write back,
thanking Peter for all his kindness.
Meanwhile Mr.. Pottles grew restless
Every paper he took up was full of the
praises of ITO Lalage." The author
was becoming famous, and Mr.. Pottles
began to doubt whether he had done
well to drive him forth with contumely
.Adrian. he said suddenly one
morning, II don know that did jus
tice to young Allison. shall have an
other look at that book l shall order it
at Smiths. .
IL happen to have copy, said
Adrian timidy.
sect it, said Mr.. Pottles. Mr.. Pot
ties read it-first with a deep frown,
than with a judicial air, then with a
smile, lastly with a chuckle.
.'Ask him to dinner, he said. s'Oh,
and, Adrian, Wen have the Chatter
tons. l wish you could do something to
get your name up. my boy.
"You like it, uncle?'
Eyes, and like the manly way he
owned to it, If he had preyaricated
about it, I'd never have forgiven him. /"
After this Adrian did not care to
confess. 1t was too bad Here were
both his uncle and Dora admiring Peter
for his poems and crediting Peter with
candor and courage. He was to lose
both fame and Dora 1t was certainly
too much. A sudden thought struck
him. He went to town, called ON Peter,
and, as the police reports say, ''made a
communication to him.
'sIt makes me look like scoundrel,
objected Peter.
'sTwo hundred at six months, sug-
gested Adrian
''And she is nice girl No, I'm
dashed"
"a monkey at threel' cried Adrian.
'sDoneH' said Peter.
1t was sad tale Of depravity on one
side and self sacrificing friendship on
the other, that Mr.. Pottles and Dora
Chatterton listened to that evening.
'sHe had made, said Adrian sadly,
''a deliberate attempt to rob me of my
fame before, and he repeated it. And
yet, uncle, an old friend-b boyhood 5
companion how could l betray him?
1t was weak, but could not. stood
by and let him deceive you. .
"You re noble fellow, said Mr..
Po4tles, in tones of emotion
.Indeed, yes, said Dora, with an
adoring glance.
.'There, let us say no more about it, /"
pursued Adrian magnanimously II
have my reward, and he returned
Dora glance behind Mr.. Pottles broad
back.
The next time he met Peter he said
81 am really immensely indebted to
you, old fellow My uncle has come
down handsome. and if the monkey
now would be cow
''By gad, yesl' said Peter. He took
it in crisp notes and carefully pocketed
them.
"And is Miss Dora kind?'' he asked.
''She's an angel.
"And you are generally prosperousY n
Thanks to you, my dear old friend. "
"Then, said Peter. producing a
piece CT paper from his pocket, ''you
might persuade your publishers to with
draw this beastly thing. 1t was writ.
and it claimed an injunction to restrain
Peter from claiming the authorship of
ITO Lalage'
.sThen you We been publicly claiming
it9''
81 had to keep up the illusion. Adri-
an. Do me Justice. :
But" said Adrian. chow, Peter
how does it happen that the writ is
dated the day before we went to Clap
ham ~
He paused Peter grinned uneasily.
A light broke in on Adrian
"Why." he exclaimed, you're the
villain who
Exactly. Wonderfully provident of
me. wasn't it2 What, you're not go
ing7"
s'Never let me see your face again, .
said Adrian. 81 have done With you. .
He rushed out. Peter whistled gently
and said to himself, 'Not bad deal
He must stop the action or the old man
will twig
Then he whistled again and added,
'.Glad ] got it in notes. He'd have stop
ped check. A third time he whistled
and chuckled and said, .Now. wonder
if old Adrian Il make five hundred and
fifty out of it Not bad deal. Peter,
my boy.
A Professional Opinion.
''That young Pellet has altogether
too exalted anopinion of his profession.
When old Borax was out of town, the
Gridleys called Pellet Jane Gridley
asked him If he thought he could pull