Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-08-09

sage for the doctor but to 60 himself
Calling cab, he was driven to Rue Ro-
dier, but though be visited every house
in that short street, he found no such
person as DR.. Rechicourt. He found an
other physician, however, who informed
him that the list of practitioners in Paris
did not contain the name Of Rechicourt.
Mercier's mind misgave him for q mo-
ment Then he said: ~, = r..-r.. ..
"Have not his money here and may
not his memory have served him amiss?
l will take this doctor with me and hast
en- to the mans help"
The physician, nothing 10th to receive
a good fee, drove with Mercier to the
Rue st. Marc When the, miserg found
the front door open he would have fallen
if the doctor had not put out his arm to
support him. After a moment he gained
courage and went in with the physician
One after another he found his desks,
bureaus and closets demolished, and sy-
erything of value, gone, except few
bonds Of doubtful value. Then sus-
picion seized him. Hastily procuring
from his pocket powerful lens, he ex-
amined one of the thousand franc notes
in the wallet. 1t was an admirable for
gerry. -. - :. :
fully imposed on and robbed of all l had
in the world" .,,t s,L. H.. .,.....,
The physician suggested that the po-
lice should be notified, but the miser OBJ
jected unceremoniously hustled the doe
tor out of the house. A few minutes af
terwards he followed him in half-dazed
condition and tottsred rather than walk
ed to the residence of Lagrais, on the
Rue de Maubeuge Reaching il he rang
the bell and waited. There was no re.
4 sponse, and he rang again Presently
there was a sound ofthe drawing Of bolts
/ and the door was opened about three
inches, as far as q check chain inside
would allow. ~ coz - "a.
"Who's there?" asked sruff voice!Ua
81 am a stranger to you," was the an
swer, "and want to see you on business
which will not admit Of delay, -
After, some littler time thedoor,was
loGened and Nercisr WAS admitted. b,
"You are Monster Lagrais?" he asked
a gazing at the tall, powerful man before
him, utterly unlike the person who had
enjoyed his hospitality under the name
of that parsonage a short time before.
THAT is my. NAME was the reply
Z "What is your business? And Lagrais
scanned the weh-dresscd old gentleman
before him. with some curiosity, .1-s
"Let us retire to your pfiice,D said Mer
4 cier, aand 1 will explain my visit"
i Lagrais, having fastened the door, led
the way to a small room in the rear, dim
ly lighted, and bade his visitor be seat
j aMy name,n said Mercier, "is ofno i'm
d portance. There Is q charming actress
with whom 1 am entranced, and thil
might decides my fate. i have promises
; lheI an elegant set Of brilliants, and If
u Keep my word she is mine. Bnt I wan
Il them at reasonable price, and know
you have often great bargains in tina
line"
"How high will you go?" asked La
, Drais. s.-i,' ~ -
"Well, not too high," was the reply
"say 10000 francs"
Opening a bureau, Lagrais produced
, several splendid sets Of jewelyy, all o
y which he ayerred, had belongedto cele
, brated beauties of the second Empire.
Mercier looked over them with greed
d ewes and selected set of great beauty.
allow much?" he asked.
/ 'The lowest for those" replied Lagrai
4 'sis $4,000 trancs' NHH -l ,lil.ll
ut sready money, cash down." sal
Mercier, neryOusly.
"Let me see it." said Lagrais.
Ella ThereupOn Mefeier Produced the wa
= let containing the 10000 francs in couI
!. lterfeit money. HE handler it to Lagra
and watched with a fluttering hea
while Lagrais counted over the bills an
,si examined them one by one. y HIS :
q And you wish this set?" he asked
ter a moments thought.
e '.That suits me exactly" Mercier sai
3 eagerly.
D. SThey are yours" Lagrais said, and r
:. placing them In the casket be handed
! to Mercier, adding, with gHn; 81 wiz
10 YOU success with your acquisition"
Then Mercier chuckled, aud WEI
A forth with the casket under the folds
AZ his coat.
- r"The-old fool" Iagrsis said, as he Gle
Il lfQ tncfuooh, IA 'HuS w
III "Not so much fool as you take Z
:, for.n Mercier mumbled to himself, as
~ descended the steps and hurried off.
lill The next day Mercier visited the Off
er of jacques Dermy and related what b
occurred to him the previous evening.
ht "Ah / my friend, said Dermy. ~
"a. remember what told you only thr
III short months ago-that If you persist
al, in keeping money and valuables at yc
house You would be robbed? And
;er the thief passed himself off as Lagra
: Ha ha ha /. And do you lrememl
having said / stood a much greater n
IN, of being robbed or cheated than your
er, "Yes, 1 remember it," was the answ
he "but have one consolation.'HIi Nil
"What is that?" asked Dermy.
re- az got rid of the counterfeit 20,
icy francs" Mercier said.
he ffnow did you do that?" asked Derr
e' withhterfst.
- you will promise to be close as de!
eu- i'll tell ycu hnd|neyer breathe h~,h
ger cier asked.
e. aUpqn hopo1,Tg replied permy' asst
'ok aWeli, then, IwiH tell you," said N
cier. "0f course, l never suspected
yan 6ne moment that Lagrais himself
sJust S-of coa{se not-ha, ha, La
nc know Lagrais well, He's as straight