The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-09-24
The Strategy
OF Mitchell.
How He Eliminated a Curate
From a Love Affair.

If / had not been very good friends
with Perry, the carman, should nevel
have had this story.
Miss Mary Fernie was very nice girl
There can be no doubt about that. Stro
mer had no doubt about it, Mitchell haG
no doubt about it, and a great many 9th
err fellows who knew Miss Fernie had NJ
doubt about it. But Richard Stromel
and Hilton Mitchell were from the first
the only two in the running. Mr.. Fernit
tolerated them alone.
Mr.. Fernie was the obstacle. He haG
made money and therefore had a small
opinion of those who had yet to make
theirs This was the reason why Stromel
dreamed sometimes that he was rich, and
if a goldfeld had suddenly opened up in
the middle of Western road Mitchell
would have jumped into it. Other people
would have jumped into it, too, but he
would have been there first.
Mitchell was an average decent young
fellow in business on an unsatisfactory
salary. Stromer was an embryo curate
within a month of his twenty-second
birthday and final examination to pass
He wore spectaces and suffered when
he was excited Mr.. Fernie liked him
because he had an idea that a curate was
so much more gentlemanly than anybody
in business. Miss Fernie, if anything
favored Hilton Mitchell.
One evening Mitchell found that he
was beyond dispute the favored one.
don't know what he did when he discov-
cred that, but am inclined to think that
he kissed Miss Fernie A week after
ward he said to her:
81 hate rotting about like this. Your
father, of course, won't listen to me-"
"Well, why don't you do something's
said Miss Fernle.
Mitchell was properly astonished.
'Why, l do something every day." said
he.
"Silly boyp' said Miss Fernie. 'Why
don't you have some money left you OF
something of that sort?"
at does leave me-a great deal too
fast"
Don't be so absurd" said Miss Fernie
reprovingly.
81 might get rise in another year or
So" said Mitchell tentatively.
"You might be gray haired in a year. ="
Miss Fernie retorted
Mitchell began to work Systematically
for a rise. 1t came. On the same day
that he obtained it a letter came for
Stromer by the half past post Stro-
mer was just starting for the Friday
night meeting of the Church Literary So
ciety when he saw the letter in the hall.
1t was a notification from firm of So
licitors that an almost forgotten aunt had
died considerably and left him money.
Stromer had a big brown book in his
hand, Grants Ethics of Aristotle" from
which he intended to obtain references
for that evenings debate. He put the
book down and made queer little figure
as he danced up and down the hall, hold
ing the letter on high.
''Ill see Mr.. Fernie tonight after the
meeting" he said to himself. land I'll
show him this letter."
Mitchell was also at the meeting of the
literary society, and Stromer unburdened
himself of the wonderful news. Mitchell
hau also intended to see Mr.. Fernie that
night. and now he scented danger.
Coming for walk when this is over?"
he asked Stromer affably.
"Not l." replied Stromer, wagging his
head. give got some business to see
to-"
"Oh, you rotter." said Mitchell to him
self. $50 you're going to have shot,
are your
Aloud be said: Let that go till to-
morrow, man. You're not so busy as all
that. Drop in at the Y. NJ. with me for a
minute or two"
''No, thanks" said Stromer. cts i'm
portant business really"
Hilton Mitchell was in despair. If
Stromer got there first with his news,
Stromer would win as far as Mr.. Fernie
was concerned. He listened to Stromer
quoting Aristotle with a burning desire
to arise and STAY him.
When the meeting was over, Mitchell
fingered on various pretenses, keeping
an eye on his rival AT last they were
the only two left in the schooroom where
the meeting had been held. Stromer
was superintendent of the literary soci-
ETY. and the keeper of the keys.
Mitchell stood at the open door and
looked out on the narrow, brick paved
lane which leads up to the Sunday school.
He went few steps from the door, with
a sudden idea Of running as fast as posi-
bic to Mr.. Fernies house. But, then. he
might slip on the muddy pavement, or
lots of things might happen, and it would
be impossible to interview Mr. Fernie be-
tween intervals of catching his breath.
Besides, Stromer would be hard upon his
heels At that moment the great hulking
figure of Perry, the carman. blocked the
opening at the end of the lane, Stromcr
was still busy in the lighted room. put
ting books away.
Perry had got. as he called it, a slight
,f 81 ,, l,nlol f11aIlnf IDnprV hoa
served with the army in India, and he
tells me that is Indian for being little
drunk. 1t is not wise to argue with my
friend Perry, and I always take his
word.)
Conscious of bright light in his
vicinity, Perry lurched toward it. Mitch
ell ran forward to the end of the lane and
spoke to him, shaking him by the shout
der.
mind who you're shovin?' roared Per
ry.
Mitchell already had pushed him round
the corner, out of the shaft of light.
"Lemme co. said Perry. "I'Il bloom
in well show you who | am"
'Look here" said Mitchell persuasive
ly, "do you want a dolar?' and couple
of half dollars held between Mitchel's
fingers shone duly a foot away from the
eyes of Mr. Perry.
"Eh, what's that?" said Perry, clutch
ing at the coins. ''Lemme get at i'm"
"You shall have them" said Mitchell.
"There's somebody in the Sunday school
who has no right to be there-no right to
be there at ALL Understand"
"The robber!" calculated Mr.. Perry,
with solemn disgust. 1.-The bloomin rob
berw
81 want you to wait here till he locks
the door and comes out. Then take him
back down the lane and put him into the
room again.
mo burglary, now" replied Perry
vaguely. 81 amt goin to break no doors
open"
Hes got the key in his pocket" said
Mitchell. where's the harm? You just
fling him in and then shut the door. III
take care of the keys if you like"
"I'll do it." said Perry.
So it was that Stromer, coming to the
end of the lane, happy in the thought Of
telling his good news to Mr.. Fernie, was
astonished to find brawny hand tighten
suddenly round the collar of his coat.
He struggled bravely, but | have known
Perry to carry three hundredweight
case on his back for over 10 yards. One
hand held Stromer in the air, and the
other was stretched over his mouth