University of Virginia Library

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v

CONTENTS.

PAGE.

• CHAPTER I.
  Which tells about Sevenoaks, and how Miss Butterworth passed one of
  her evenings 1

• CHAPTER II.
  Mr. Belcher carries his point at the town-meeting, and the poor are knocked
  down to Thomas Buffum 21

• CHAPTER III.
  In which Jim Fenton is introduced to the reader and introduces himself to
  Miss Butterworth 34

• CHAPTER IV.
  In which Jim Fenton applies for lodgings at Tom Buffum's boarding-house,
  and finds his old friend 42

• CHAPTER V.
  In which Jim enlarges his accommodations and adopts a violent method
  of securing boarders 62

• CHAPTER VI.
  In which Sevenoaks experiences a great commotion, and comes to the
  conclusion that Benedict has met with foul play 74

• CHAPTER VII.
  In which Jim and Mike Conlin pass through a great trial and come out
  victorious 81

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• CHAPTER VIII.
  In which Mr. Belcher visits New York, and becomes the Proprietor of
  “Palgrave's Folly.” 99

• CHAPTER IX.
  Mrs. Talbot gives her little dinner party, and Mr. Belcher makes an
  exceedingly pleasant acquaintance 114

• CHAPTER X.
  Which tells how a lawyer spent his vacation in camp, and took home a
  specimen of game that he had never before found in the woods 122

• CHAPTER XI.
  Which records Mr. Belcher's connection with a great speculation and
  brings to a close his residence in Sevenoaks 139

• CHAPTER XII.
  In which Jim enlarges his plans for a house, and completes his plans for
  a house-keeper 155

• CHAPTER XIII.
  Which introduces several residents of Sevenoaks to the Metropolis and
  a new character to the reader 171

• CHAPTER XIV.
  Which tells of a great public meeting in Sevenoaks, the burning in effigy
  of Mr. Belcher, and that gentleman's interview with a reporter 193

• CHAPTER XV.
  Which tells about Mrs. Dillingham's Christmas and the New Year's Reception
  at the Palgrave Mansion 208

• CHAPTER XVI.
  Which gives an account of a voluntary and an involuntary visit of Sam
  Yates to Number Nine 223

• CHAPTER XVII.
  In which Jim constructs two happy-Davids, raises his hotel, and dismisses
  Sam Yates 236

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• CHAPTER XVIII.
  In which Mrs. Dillingham makes some important discoveries, but fails to
  reveal them to the reader 248

• CHAPTER XIX.
  In which Mr. Belcher becomes President of the Crooked Valley Railroad,
  with large “Terminal facilities,” and makes an adventure into a long-meditated
  crime 261

• CHAPTER XX.
  In which “the little woman” announces her engagement to Jim Fenton
  and receives the congratulations of her friends 276

• CHAPTER XXI.
  In which Jim gets the furniture into his house, and Mike Conlin gets another
  installment of advice into Jim 288

• CHAPTER XXII.
  In which Jim gets married, the new hotel receives its mistress, and Benedict
  confers a power of attorney 295

• CHAPTER XXIII.
  In which Mr. Belcher expresses his determination to become a “founder,”
  but drops his noun in fear of a little verb of the same name 311

• CHAPTER XXIV.
  Wherein the General leaps the bounds of law, finds himself in a new
  world, and becomes the victim of his friends without knowing it 331

• CHAPTER XXV.
  In which the General goes through a great many trials, and meets at last
  the one he has so long anticipated 349

• CHAPTER XXVI.
  In which the case of “Benedict vs. Belcher” finds itself in court, an interesting
  question of identity is settled, and a mysterious disappearance
  takes place 363

• CHAPTER XXVII.
  In which Phipps is not to be found, and the General is called upon to do
  his own lying 389

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• CHAPTER XXVIII.
  In which a heavenly witness appears who cannot be cross-examined, and
  before which the defense utterly breaks down 400

• CHAPTER XXIX.
  Wherein Mr. Belcher, having exhibited his dirty record, shows a clean
  pair of heels 414

• CHAPTER XXX.
  Which gives the history of an anniversary, presents a tableau, and drops
  the curtain 429