The state journal., 1884-07-26
"The man, the bad man'' howled Per,

inc.
That | hear; but what wele you doing
to make any one so cruel?'
'Perine only looking at pretty bright
tlgures, mother; so pretty with the light
on them. 7,G39.''
What is she talking about said Mime.
Didler, puzzled. ''7, 639 p
She gathered at last that somewhere or
other this number with the light shining
| on it had attracted Perine's attention,
that she went to look and that man
pushed her away with blow and with
threats which had been strong enough to
send her terrified from the spot Evi-
IDENTIFY she scarcely felt secure in her
present quarters. and piteously implored
Marie not to suffer him to come. Marie
sOothed her and hoped that jeans com
passion might be as strong as her own.
Had she not been taken up with Perine
she would have more quickly caught the
impatient scratching like mouse in
the wainscoat with which he summoned
her.
He made signs that he must speak,
and with some difficulty she got Perine
into the landing, thrusting into her hands
the bread which would have been her
own portion. Then she locked her door
and went back to Jean, who was eagerly
waiting
Marie, | have thought, he began.
'What do you make out of all she
says!'
Next to nothing, said his wife, shrug-
ging her shoulders.
"No?' said Jean feverishly and little
contemporary. ''Supposing suggested
that she saw the figures on the lamp of a
cab, what then!'
"What then?' repeated she, puzzled.
''And box, and aman angry with her
| for looking. What then ?''
''Oh, don't understand said Marie,
shaking her head.
Heavens that any one should be so
dense! Have you forgotten the rob
bcry?'
I'm the Rue Vivennc-oh, do you
mean-dO you think it possible! Jean,
how clever you are! | wonder whether
shall | rrn to the place and see ?'
ITO the place, and, even if they were
still there, get yourself knocked on the
headr'
II should not mind" cried Marie
eagerly. Il should mind nothing with such
a hope before me.
NO. my good Marie" Jean returned
grandly; you have excellent intentions,
but it is we'll you have some to guide you
The first thing is to find commisSaire of
police.
The name seemed terrible; she turned
pale, but he hurried on, losing himself
again in his excitement, and with all his
| haggard features working.
Yes, yes; know what you will say,
but do you not understand that if this is
what | believe anything will be forgiven
to the man who can put the sergeant de
vile on the traCk?"
off. At any rate | will do what you
bid me, " the young wife said, trembling.
! 'There is bureau not so far away.
Only promise me you will be prudent,
for | must leave Pcrine here, though
will lock the door. Remember, NJ. Plon
has his own keys"
Nor would she relax one of her pre-
cautions in spite of his heated impatience.
But she bad spoken truly, for after
the daily fear of years, the personal dan
| ger of enCOuntering the robbers assur-
edly seemed nothing in comparison with
having to do with the police. She told
| Perinc where she was to sit, and tried to
| extract more coherent details, but only
as TO the figures was Perine clear. These
she repeated again and again, while
more than once Jeal's sharp whisper
reached his wife's ears. "Make haste,
make haste - and she signed caution in
| return.
Jean got up and shook himself and
| looked out at her, his head in whirl
He began to think that Marie was long
absent, and to lay the blame on the back
which was always ready to bear his bur
dcns.
She will not know where to 60, she
will stand gOssiping with any fool who
asks her a question, and in this time
would wager piece of twenty sous the
police or some other busybody will have
got on the track. What more likely ?
and there s an end to our luck. Why did
let her waste oil Of these moments ?
Why didn't | go myself? Women al
ways muddlc things. There would have
been a scene, beyond doubt. Holai-
thunder and lightning, who may that
be-" Jean planted himself in an atti
tudc and struck his chest violently.
In effect he stamped his foot with such
violence that Perine jumped up and,
looking round saw him vanishing behind
the curtains. She shricked with terror
THE man Oh. it's the man -
White as death, Jean rushed out and
tried to calm her.
"Hush, child, hush it's only me
"But Perine was past all control, she
screamed for "Mother - for m. Plon!"
until it seemed to Jean that not only the
house but the whole neghborhood would
presently be on him. He tried cOaxing,
he tried menace, but Perine shrieked the
more.
"Willyou hold your tongue - he cried,
with wild thought of strangling her
'1m friend, I'm not the man; | won't
touch you. Perinc, Perine, don't cry out
so; look at me p"
At this appeal she hid her eyes with
her hands.
THE man the man Mother Help"
Nevertheless, though it seemed to poor
Jean that the very streets must tingle
with her cries, it is possible, for the up
per stories Of the house had early risers
for their dWellers, that the deaf old
woman left on the fifth floor might have
heard nothing; but unfortunately NJ PlOn
had taken it into his head to make q visi-
tation to those uninhabited rooms of his
in which some one had housed his furni-
ture, and at this moment was On his way.
''H0la" cried the astonished landlord
''Que dtaJle! A man in Nine. Didier's
room What's the meaning of all this
Police -
If NJ. Plon had indeed had sufficient
calmncss to contemplate the figure before
him it is probable that in spite Of altcra-
ton he would have found something to
recognize. But he was in a state of per
turbed excitement which altogether con
fused his judgment, and only inclined
him to refuse all his prisoners sugges-
tiOns. He, therefore, set himself more
vigorously than ever to bawl for help,
and Perine seconded him with all her
might. The next moment Jean went
hack tO the fable seated himself 11nOn If