Part 47 (1/2)

”Father, you too? Give me a chance, and when the opportunity arrives, I shall propose,” returned Jasper.

”You should not lose a minute's time,” said the mother, with faith.

”That man Monroe is out of the way now, and the other young man is too poor for her to take in place of you. See your sisters! Both already engaged, and soon to be married, yet both of them younger than you. You are too slow in pursuit of such happiness. Why, you should have had it settled long ago. Had I had my way about it, it would all have been over with, and you two fixed comfortably in a house of your own, giving swell dinners, b.a.l.l.s and parties, eh, Jasper? Edith is a fine girl, and I know she will be a good keeper of a house for you.”

”She is going to the mountains soon, mother, I am informed,” said he, with design; ”and I have half a notion to go up there for awhile to get away from my a.s.sociates.”

”That's the thing! that's the thing!” exclaimed the father, delighted at the prospect of getting the two together at some summer place. ”Go it, boy! go it, and push your suit.”

”How nice it would be, Jasper,” said Susanna, with glee, ”for you to get away from the city for a time.”

”It would do you worlds of good, brother,” a.s.sented Marjorie, ”to get away from the smoke awhile.”

”You know, Jasper, we had planned to go to Paris for the summer and take you along; but we can spare your company this time,” said the doting mother, ”if it will give you the opportunity to make good.”

This inane conversation anent Jasper's future was broken up by a messenger appearing at the door, with a very urgent note from Peter Dieman, requesting Jacob Cobb to come to his mansion without delay.

Jacob responded without delay, and was soon sitting by the throne of that spectacular king, who still was wearing his mandarin robe, fez-like cap, and smoking another vile cigar.

”Have you heard the latest, Jacob?” asked Peter, when Jacob was seated comfortably blowing up clouds of white vapor in corresponding rings with Peter's smoke-stack.

”No,” answered Jacob, with no uncommon concern.

”Well, be prepared to hear the worst--Jim Dalls is back from Europe, and is going to squeal on us,” said Peter, with as little concern as Cobb at first appeared to show.

”No!” exclaimed Jacob, with a cloud on his face that was sufficient almost to obscure the smoke from his cigar.

”It is true,” said Peter, still unconcerned. ”He was here this evening.”

”What brought him back?” said Jacob.

”Run out of funds, he said,” said Peter, blowing smoke with much complacency.

”Couldn't you send him any more?” asked Jacob.

”I sent for him,” said Peter, now looking at Jacob with an air of supercilious gravity.

”G.o.d man! what do you mean? Do you mean to ruin us all?” shouted Jacob, excitedly.

”Be calm, Jacob; be calm, and save your nerves for what is coming,” said Peter, gently. ”He came by my request, and is to make a confession before the grand jury--at my request, too. So if you want to save your old bacon, pull down your shaky house of graft and hit the trail for Europe; for you will be the first one caught in the net, Jacob.”

”Oh, Lord man! What do you mean? This is awful! This is horrid! This is terrible! Exposed by my chief deputy like that! I'll never forgive you, Peter! Never! And when it blows over, I shall return and cook you a dish that you won't relis.h.!.+” cried Jacob, now in a frenzy of excitement.

”Why, I am safe from harm,” said Peter, calmly.

”What did you do it for?” asked Jacob, in great anger.

”To be plain to you, sir, I may state that that's my business,” said Peter, cooly.

”Then, we part enemies?” asked Jacob, with a daggerous look.