The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-03-12

just as harmless as IL has been, an
Just as beautiful"
81 do not fear It," replied Irene
shrinking from it, nevertheless.
am not that foolish. But / dislike Il
Its innocent charm Is lost to me fOr
ever"
After weighing the matter In hi
mind until the specified week hat
nearly elapsed, Henri suddenly an,
sagely concluded to acquaint the Pre-
feet of Police with the story I'm all 10
bearings, real and suppositOry. Tha
astute functiOnary proved to be al
intelligent and patient listener, an(
was only too glad to detail two sub
Ordinates to further a scheme tha
promised to result In the capture o
the criminal who had succeeded II
eluding the pursuit of justice. Early
in the morning, a week subsequent tO
that on which the supposed criminal
had called, Henri sent Irene into the
city on visit to some friends, with
the explicit understanding that she
was not to return until he came fol
her. Following close on her depar.
ture came the arrival of two gen.
darmes, who were forthwith secreted
In her but recently vacated bedroom,
thereafter to make their re-entree in
the presence OF the expected stran-
ger, or not, as he might or might not
criminate himself in the interview
with Henri.
All the preliminary arrangements
being made, our artist detective took
station ut the window, and behind
his closed blinds became a silent and
intense watcher. He was a brave and
resOlute man; but, nevertheless, an
occasional misgiving fitted across his
mind. The business before him was
of an extremely hazardous nature.
Should the supposed criminal prove
to be a real criminal, his capture
would be likely to be preluded by u
desperate encounter. If fatal, fatal
to whom? Henri thought of this,
then of Irene, and closed his eyes.
Then he thought of the gendarmes in
the next room, set his jaw, and, i'm a
spirit of grim defiance, put all FORE
bOdings from him. Morning, noon,
afternoon and evening glided by with
no result. Henri yawned with impa-
tient Encouragement. His allies
took to the bedroom floor and cards
early in the forenoon. Hitherto tho
of the chase had been
strong enough to sustain Henri's in
terest. But now, would the expected
not come at all? A brief consultation
with tho officers, who adhered to the
opinion that he would come, and was
much more likely to make his ap-
pearance within the next three hours
than at any time previous during the
day, especially If he was a rogue, and
not lacking in the usual cunning,
braced Henri somewhat. Lighting
q lamp for the quOndam gamesters,
and another for himself, he camped
ON the lounge. He had got but COM
fortably seated, however, before a
rap on the street door brought him to
his feet. Schooling himself to meet
the probable crisis with quiet delib-
he leisurely proceeded to the
door and opened it. From Irene's
graphic description he had no diff
Guilty in recognizing his visitor. The
expected man of the cross stood be-
fore him. His heart gave tremen-
dOus thump against his breast but
his voice was steady and quiet us he
the stranger with, "GOOd
evening, sir"
"GOod evening, sir" responded
the visitor, scrutiniziDg Henri close
ly. Z" Is the madame at home %"
"My wife Is the lady to whom you
refer, I presume," said Henri. "She
is absent on visit. Can serve you
in anything? Will you not step In,
sir" Henri threw the door wide
open, that the man might see the
room was vacant, and hence might
imagine him to be alone.
Ah! you are the husband of the
lady," remarked the stranger, who,
after peering I'm, walked in.
81 have the honor. Pray be seated. !"
will trepass upon your hospital
ity but for few moments"
No trespass, / assure you. Sill
tude is not the best of companions" :"
Without removing his hat, the
stranger took the prOffered chair.
" / can tarry but short time," he
said. Probably your wife has in
formed you of an offer she received a
week ago, for small, fancitul corne-
liam cross that was i'm her posses
sion ~
"Yes; she did mention the matter
to me, and we both wondered mt the
strange fancy of the man, and the eX-
cessive price he offered"
Well" replied the stranger, with
a forced laugh, "the fancy cannot
matter to you; and as for the price,
IL you get it that ought to satisfy you
ON that point. / am the man; and ]
the Offer"
"Ah! No, certainly not, the fancy
does not concern us, of course not"
md Henri eyed the stranger keenly.
'' But you know that unusual occur
rences will set the least curious of
mOrtals to surmising."
"Of course, Of course" said the
stranger, with strong symptoms Of
people cannot help
that's what brains were
made for. But to the point; If you
still possess the cross, and will ex-
change it for the sum offered, that
sum Is yours. Your answer? You
will excuse my seeming abruptness |;
am pressed for time, and cannot
daily" -.
"f hold you perfectly excusable,"
said Henri, drawing the coveted cross
from his pocket, and noting the eager
of the strangers eyes, as his
gaze fell upon It. Deciding to thrust
the probe home at once, be deliber-
ately added: "Another reason, 9th
er than want of time, may exist to
occasion your abruptness, my friend !;
want of confidence"
"What, sir ~ ejacuated the man,
up in threatening way.
/" What do you mean by that re-
mark ?'
Listen, and 1 will tell YOU" re-
piled Henri, fully convinced that he
was on the right track, as his visitor
indecisively sat down again. lis
ten, and will tell you what / mean.
This cross, for which you have taken