THE WEST SHORE.
183
8AM MULTIPLE'S SCHEME.
1 ,10K a town house the Multiples were content with a
J. modest flat in the neighborhood of Victoria street
Sam had purchased a fine place in the country, but he
and his wife liked to come up to town occasionally for a
little mild dissipation and relaxation from the restraints
of country society. Mrs. Multiple had once been a woll
known and popular actress, and Sam himself had an
undercurrent of the Bohemian in his nature; so that they
were both delighted to escape periodically from the im
posing grandeur of their country Boat In a Biiit of Bix
or eight rooms, with half that numler of servants to wait
upon them, they were able to enjoy to their hearts' con
tent the pleasures and attractions of the metropolis, freed
from domestic cares and worries. Mrs. Multiple revisited
the Bcenes of her former triumphs, and, bo far as her
husband permitted, renewed acquaintance with old the
atrical friends, while Sam made mysterious excursions
into the city, from which he invariably returned looking
more radiant and prosperous than ever.
One morning Mrs. Multiple, who had gone out alone
to do some shopping before lunch, came in looking bo
pale and agitated that her husband immediately inquired
what had happened.
"I have been followed again by that horrible man
who had the impudence to speak to me yesterday," she
said, with a nervous laugh.
" You don't say so 1 " exclaimed Sam, indignantly, as
he started to his feet
" He followed me all the way down the street, almost
to the door," Mrs. Multiple said. " Don't do anything
rash, Sam," she cried, as her husband rushed to the
window.
"Is that the man? Look, Loo, quick 1" exclaimed
Sam Multiple, excitedly.
" Yes. There 1 he saw you, Sam, and is jumping into
a cab," snid Mrs. Multiple, peeping through the lace cur
tains. " I know him," growled Sam, as he watched the cab
drive off. " You are highly honored, my love. That is
the Hon. Martin Choke, brother of Lord Jugular, and
related to half the swells in the peerage."
"Then he ought to be all the more ashamed of him
self," said Mrs. Multiple, untying her bonnet strings with
an angry jerk. " I am not a nervous person, but he quite
frightened me."
" He is one of those depraved and vicious old men
tor he must be getting on to sixty, though he is excellently
made up who are a disgrace to civilization," said Snm,
who was evidently more seriously annoyed and indignant
than he cared to confess. "He goes about insulting
helpless ladies and girls with his odious attentions, and
renders the streets of London absolutely unsafe in broad
daylight"
" Somebody ought really to give him in charge," re
marked Mrs. Multiple. "I felt strongly tempted to do
so myself."
"Why didn't you?" inquired Sam, putting up his
eye-glass.
"Oil, well 1 I didn't like to mnlte a funa, ami,
think of the scandal and unpleasantness," replied Mrs.
Multiple.
"Yea, I know! The scoundrel guesses all that Be
sides, no grt harm would happen to him even if he
were chargod. The influence of his titled frionds and
relatives would be brought to boar upon the magistrate,
tho proceedings would lo treated as a juke, a garbled
report if any would apoar in the papers, and the
only person who would suitor would lm his unfortunate
victim, by having her name brought More the public in
connoction with an unpleasant nITair. No, it doesn't pay
to prosecute in those cases," added Ham, shaking hia
head
"I wonder he has never boon thrashed 1" exclaimed
little Mrs. Multiple," full of virtuous indignation.
"So he has; but you see, ho is getting an old man,
A sexagenarian is tolerably safo from personal violonoo,"
said Sam, moodily.
" Then it seems he can pursue his disgraceful conduct
with impunity," exclaimed Mrs. Multiple
" So he has found, I expect But this time, Loo, I
fancy he has caught a Tartar. If we don't coutrivo to
give him a lesson between us I will eat my hat" said
Sam, brisking up.
"Is it worth while, Sam? I am quite copablo of
taking care of mysolf," said Mrs. Multiplo, suddonly
mistrusting her husband's intentions.
"Yes, it is worth while," replied Ham, looking un
usually grave. "It is a duty which every man and
woman owes to society, or rather to tho community, to
help to scotch and stamp out these cowardly posts. Now,
Loo, I've an idoa, and you mustn't refuse me your assist
ance. We shall both of us have to do a little bit of act
ing, but that will remind you of old times."
Sam Multiplo lighted a cigarctto and proceeded to
unfold the plan which he had concocted for tho Hon,
Martin Choke's edification. Mrs. Multiplo was stnrtlod
at first but her husband soon ovorcamn her objections,
andjimbued her with his enterprising spirit
The next day Mrs. Multiplo rotated her shopping
expedition, and returned home with her elderly admirer
in tow. The Hon. Martin Choke might well have boon
suspicious of the lady's sudden graciousness. Instead of
shunning him as heretofore, she had permitted him to
speak to her, and had even invited him to lunch in her
husband's absence. But when a man is strongly con
vinced of his powers of fascination ho does not easily
divine he is being trifled witlu It did not seem to enter
Mr. Choke's head that Mrs. Multiple was acting a part,
and ho followed her with a smiling, solf-s:ttisfied and
complucont mien.
Mr. Multiplo led tho way into the snug apartment
where she ami Ham had conspired together th day
liefore, and invito! her gallant to l seated. Her mariner
was so jKirfwtly easy and natural that Mr. Choke was
more than ever impressed that ho had made a conquest;
but almost before he had time to open a conversation, a
thundering knock wu heard at the street door