The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-01-07
A Boomerang.

Jim Atterbury asking an invitation 70
his especial friend, the Hon. Donal,
Chesterton, a younger son or some
thing OF a British lord. Please sen,
him bid"
Donald Chestertonl / never heart
Mr.. Atterbury speak OF having friends
among the British arlstocracy."
The function referred to was a larg,
dinner and cotillon to be given by
Mrs. Weston. Atterbury was Mr.. Yves
toms bosom friend and was privileged
to ask OF the Westons for what he
chose. The Invitation was sent, and
when the evening came round After
bury brought his friend to the dinner
Chesterton had mild blue eyes, soft
naxen hair parted In the middle and q
cameo cut smooth shaved face. He
wore the usual British monocle.
MY friend Chesterton,D said After.
bury, Introducing him and at the same
time slapping him on the back famfl.
iarly. doesn't consider himself la.
dies man. He loves to roam. now
hunting In Chicago-beg pardon, |
mean Africa--and now doing battle
with the clubbers OF Philadelphia i
mean the pirates Of the Malay archi-
pelago."
whats the matter with your
tongue. JimT asked Weston. did
you drop In at the club for refresh
ment on your way over?"
Nothing the matter, / assure you.
only wish to say that, Chesterton
being more at home in the open than
shut up. even In fine house, Mrs.
Weston had better take him under her
wing at dinner. He doesn't dy for
young ladies'
There was considerable disappoint-
ment among the women guests that
the Hon. Mr.. Chesterton should have
been retained by the hostess. But that
lady gave cut that, like many men of
the British nobility, the young man
was sportsman and a mans man
rather than a woman's man. He said
little and seemed to be keeping his
eye on his introdueer as though he
didn't feel at ease on American ground
and among American customs.
Wake up, Chesterton," said After
bury from across the table. ave
Americans, of course, are Americans,
but were not so dreadfully different
from your London smart set"
Chesterton forced smile, but looked
as If he would prefer shooting lions
to being cggled by women. When
the dinner was over and the guests
were forming for the cotilion After
bury took pity on his protege.
"Chesterton,r he said to Mrs. Wes-
ton. "hates the cotillon. You see, when
at home he's obliged to do things he
doesn't like. He's danced so much
at balls In London that he doesn't
want any Of it In America. I'm going
to take him up into the den and let
him smoke"
The two men went upstairs. Later
Atterbury went down and asked IL
Chesterton was dancing. Chesterton,
he was told, had not come down. At
terbury said Chesterton had left him
for a moment some time before and
had not returned. The missing man
was not to be found. Attarbury SEEM
ed worried. He finally told Mrs. Wes-
ton that Chesterton, bored as he was
By social functions, had probably TAX
en- French Leave When the guests
were gone Atterbury took Weston
aside and said:
EDO you remember our talk some |
months ago about the effect OF dress
on peoples appearanceT'
EYES,
"And 7 bet you q hundred dollars
that before the winter was over Id |
palm or on you jail bird?'
YES"
s'Well, I've done It,.
"How? When?,
sThis fellow Chesterton is no British
swell at all. His mug is in the rogues'
gallery. brought him here expecting
to keep an eye on him. Somehow or
another he managed to give me the
slip and
'sTom," called Mrs Weston, "come
up here at once. We've been robbed
The two men looked at each other.
Atterbury turned pale Weston's face
changed from interest In the story to
interest III what Mrs Weston was
saying, then he ran upstairs.
When he came down he found his
friend walking the floor, You've won
your bet, old man, but at considerable
cost. All the jewelry that was In
box on my wife's bureau drawer has
disappeared. 1t couldn't be replaced
for $1,000"
There was constrained pause.
WELL" said Atterbury as soon as he
could recover from the shock, well
telephone the police. I'll mail you a
check tonight for $4,000. If the stuff is
found you can return the amount"
The police were telephoned and soon
got on the track Of the Hon. Mr.. Ches-
terton, alias Foxy Pete, alias Zeb Nip
per and a number of other aliases
he was eventually caught and the
Iewelry restored. Mr.. and Mrs. Wes-
ton went to see him in prison garb
and for some time would not believe
that be was the same man who locked
10 aristocratie in Atterbury's cast on
evening dress.
Weston offered to pay the bet, but
Atterbury declined 10 receive it, and
when bis friend renewed the offer At
terbury told him II he ever spoke Of 1t
again be would cut his Acquaintance.
Mrs. Weston had many inquiries con-
serning the handsome Britisher, to oil