The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-10-08
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the more reason Iifat SnONliu not IOSS
an instant,'' he added, rising again.
.sFifty-hye thousand poundsr re-
piled Fix, who forced Passepartout to
sit down again, after having ordered a
decanter of brandy. and if succeed,
I get reward of two thousand pounds
Do You wish five hundred of them on
condition that you help me?"
Help your cried fassepartout,
whose eyes were open very wide.
"Yes, help me to detain MIR. Fogg
in Hong Kong for few dats.'
" Phew!' said fassepartont, "what
are you sayingp How, net satisfied with
having my master followed. with sus-
pectino his faithfulness. do these gen.
tlemen wish TO throw new obstacles in
his wayp | am ashamed for them"
All what do you mean by that?"
asked Fix.
u mean that it is simple indelicacy.
1t is about the same as stripping Mon
sieur Fogg and putting his money in
their pockets"
"Ah! that is the very. thing we are
coming tor
But it is a trapr' cried Passepatout
who was getting lively under the in
f1uence of the brandy with which Fix
was plying him-"a real trap! Gen
tlemenl Colleagues!'
Fix began to DO puzzled.
Colleaeuesn' cried Passepartout,
members of the Reform Club You
must know, Monsieur Fix, that my
master is an honest man, and that,
when he has made a bet, he intends to
win it fairly"
''But who do voa think l amp
asked Fix, fastening his look upon
Passepartout.
s'farbleu! an agent of the members
of the Reform Club, with the mission to
interfere with my masters journey,
which is singularly humiliating. So,
although it has been some time already
since guessed your business. / have
taken good care not to disclose it to
Monsieur Fogg."
.'He knows not hing?" asked Fix,
quickly,
emptying his glass once more.
The agent passed his hand over his
forehead. He hesitated before contnu-
/ ing the conversation. What ought he
to dop The error of Passepartout
seemed sincere. but if rendered his plan
more difficult. Il was evident that this
young man was speaking with perfect
good faith, and that he was not his
masters accomplicc which Fix had
feared.
"Men.n he said to himself, ''since
he is not his .accomplice, he will aid
me-"
The detective had the advantage a
second time. Beside, he had no more
time to wait At any cost Fogg must
be arrested at Hong Kong.
Listen" said Fix. in an abrupt
tone, listen carefully to me. l am not
what you think, that is, an agent of the
members of the Reform Club"
'Bahr' said Passepartout, boxing at
him in jocose way.
II am police detective, charged
with n mission by the Metropolitan
Government
"You-a detecti7ep'
'Yes, and will prove. it." replied
Fix. Here is my commission"
! And the agent, taking a paper from
his pocketb0ok, showed his coinpanion
a commission signed by the Commits
sioner of the Central Police. Passepar-
tout stunned, unable to articalate a
word, looked at Fix.
1.-THE bet of Mr.. Fogg," csntiaued
Fix. lis only pretext of which you
are the dupes, you and his colleagues
of the Reform Club, for he had an in
terest in assuring himself of your I'M
conscious completely"
. But why?' cried Passepartout.
Listen. The 2Sth of September,
ultimo. robbery of fifty-five thousand
pounds was committed at the Bank Of
England by an individual whose de
seription they were able to obtain
Now, look at this description, and it il
feature for feature that of Mr.. Fogg.
Humbugn' cried Passepartout
striking the table with his clenched fist
my master is the most honest man il
the worldr'
s'How do you knowp" replied Fix
"You are not even acquainted with
him. You entered his service the day
of his departure, and he left .Frecipi
lately Under senseless pretext, with
out trunks, and carrying with him 1
large sum in bank notes! And tyol
dare to maintain that he is an homes
manP'
''Yes. yesf' repeated the poor fellow
mechanically.
"De you wish, then, to be arrested
as his accompliceP"
Passepartout dropped his head in hi
hands. He could no longer be recog
. nized He did not look at the detect
} i've, Phileas Fogg, the deliyerer o
| Aouda, the brave and generous man,
robber! And yet how many presump
, lions there were against rim. NPasse
partout tried to force back the suspi
cions which would slip into his mind
. He would never believe in his master
guilt.
ITO conclude, what do you want O
r meP' said he to the detective, by
strong effort.
''See here" replied Fix, Il hav
tracked MIR. Fogg to this point, but
/ have not yet received the warrant O
arrest for which / asked from London
D You must help me, then. to keep him il
Hong Kong
III Help your
I @And will share with YOU the re
D ward of two thousand pounds promises
by the Bank of Englandr'
- NeYerI' replied Passepartont, VIII
j wanted TO rise and fell back, feeling hi
reason and his strength at once escap
{ ing him,
'.Monsieur Fix, he said, stammering
''eyen if everything you have told m
should be true if my master should b
2 the robber whom you seek which
deny-l have been-I am in his servic
i Il have seen him kind and generous
. betray him Aneyer- no, not for all Tia
gold in the world am from vilIag
where they don't eat that kind 9
breadr'
i, You refuseP''
k 81 refuse. .
Treat it as if 1 had said nothing,
replied Xix, and let's take drink.
E "All right, lets take drinkT'
J. no BE CONTINUED.