116 THE APRIL FOOL.

 

“That will do just as well, doctor. Bring
over your testimonials as soon as possible.
Not so much of an April fool, after all, I
begin to think. Unless I am very greatly
mistaken, you have heard something to your
advantage.” |

All came out to the satisfaction of both
Doctor Grimes and the kind-hearted Mr.
L——. In less than a month, the former
was in comfortable quarters at Hospi-
tal, and in the receipt of twelve hundred dol-
lars per annum. This was exclusive of rent
for his sister’s family—now his own—and
table expenses. Moreover, for certain du-
ties required of her in the hospital, his sister
received three hundred dollars additional.

So it turned out that Dr. Grimes, so far
from being made an April fool, was bene-
fited by the wonderfully “smart” trick of
Mr. Bunting. But of the particular result
of his extra work, the village-jester re-
mained ignorant. Being on the lookout,
‘he was “tickled to death’ when he saw the
doctor start off post haste for New York;