Year: 1875




oney on him. but also that which


had in trust. have lost all, and have


had to fly to avoid the police"


The frightful news so overcome me
that I could only wiring my hands and
exclaim. "Oh, what is to be done
what is to be done ?"


"This is what must be DONE" said
Jim, in a hurried whisper 'fyou must
take my clothes and my name, and
/ VIII take yours IN exchange F; you must
go down to Acton to my rooms, and
will carry on your business here. Do
you see %


eyes. I see but the police may
arrest me by mistake"


"Of course they will that's the
beauty of the thing. I expect to make
hatful of money over the next race.
and when have done that will show
up, declare that the whole affair has
been mistake, either pay the 81, 600,
or buy the horses you will be released,
and can bring an action for damages for
false imprisonment"


"Yes, that's all very well, Jim but
suppose you should not win this
money I"


Nonsense, my dear fellow I must
win it. It's as safe as the bank"


Yes, but 50 was Vanderdecken."


"Oh, bother Vanderdecken I tell
you I must win besides, should I fail.
I bolt over to France then you prove
your identity, they must release you,
ana there you are.


'Yes but in the meantime I shall
be in prison"


Not necessarily; you must keep
close. and then perhaps they may not
find you. Will give you a letter to my
friend, Bob KiFby,-you are sure to find
him at the Bit and Bride, and he
will tell you what to do. You must
not write to me here. Bob will do all
the writing, and let you know how
things are going. Now come and let
us change clothes there is not a mo-
ment TO lose, or you will be late for the
train"


''But my business ?" I gasped, for
did not like the job at all.


"Oh I can take care of that you
know understand the trade"


"But the butcher ?"


"I must put up with him, I suppose"
said jim, looking rather blue. "Of
course it is not pleasant, but nothing is
In this world, and as you have stood his
insults for so long a time, I suppose I
shall be able to bear it for little while
There is the letter; now off with your
clothes and put on mine"


How. Jim did it I can't say, but in
less than a quarter Of an hour was
dressed in his clothes and turned out of
my own house.


I cr9pt along the road trembling at
the sight of policeman, and wondering
at the little notice they took of me. 4
reached the train in safety, and arrived
in Acton without being arrested.


I found the ''Bit and Bride" and
Bob KIRBY, to whom I delivered the
letter. He read it, and at once took
me to Jim rooms, advising me not to
stir therefrom if I valued my liberty,
Need say that felt very nncomfort-
able, aud obeyed his orders to the
letter."


On the second night after my arrival
in Acton Mr.. Kirby came to my rooms
and told me 1 must prepare to start for
London at once.


''You must take care you are not
seem" he continued, "for If you are
caught now things would be very awk-
ward. Tell Jim he must come down
here at once he had better walk down
for the trains may be watched. If he
can get down without being seen all will
be well but if not, fear they will try
to make q case of conspiracy"


Oh, how bitterly I repented having
consented to leave my butter-shopl for,
all things considered, the police were
TO me worse than the butcher. By
keeping myself a strict prisoner in my
own house, I could avoid the butcher =; !
but there was no safety from the police. |


With beating heart crept up to my
own shop, and knocked gently at the |
door, which was opened by him, to |
whom I delivered my dreadful message. |


"I must be off at once, Dick" he |
said, " we must change clothes directly |
You will be all right, for I have made |
every one believe that I was you.
make a capital tradesman after all. |
I've sent your business up wonder |
fully"


"I'm very glaI to hear it, Jim; Tn /
sure it needed it. But how about the
?"


"Oh, he's been a great nuisance, GER
tainly ; but look here, Dick don't you
be half so easy with him. I don't be-
lieve he has half the pluck he pretends
to have"


"I dol know it !" was my rueful
answer but if the business is i'm
proving I shall try to put up with the
annoyance"


"That's right, Dick And now,
good-by I'm much obliged to you for
what you have done. II any of the
girls say you made love to them. You
viii know that am the culprit-onIv
don't you say so but keep the fun up.
It's not disagreeable work, I can assure
you. Ha ha ha nobody would be-
lieve you if you were to swear it was
me ! So good-by, and take care of
yourself !"


With hearty laugh Jim went on his
road; and I, with q sad heart, sought
nay bed.


arose very early the next morning
and took down the shutters, so as to
avoid meeting that horrid butcher, A
few minutes afterward a very pretty
girl came huttering into the shop, and /
with many a pretty smile and simper,
purchased half a pound of my best
fresh butter.


"Why, how dull you are this morn
ing, Mr.. Perkins, she exclaimed with
q pretty, sly glance.


"Duil? I replied, in a dreamy
manner.


"Oh, nonsense p she cried SIT is
no good putting on that modest air, af.
ter the way you behaved yesterday.
Do you know, when you first came
here We ali thOuGbk Won s51eh a rraah (