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