The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-28
. PINNED sv Special Arrangement 9Th The Aathor
"FATH Err. !"
By ANNIE EICHBERG.
TCopyrighted 1855, by the Author-An Rights
Reserved.]
A STORY.
pART H-CEAPTER IV.

hundred steps. Nlnolng IN and out OF the scat
folding, they could reach the point where they
could see the last stone swaying over the still
unfinished tower. This altitude was never again
to be reached by the most persistent tourist, for
after the 10Th of October it was rumored that
the scaffolding was to be removed, and the two
mighty spires were TO be seen free from that
network Of beams with Which they had been
surrounded. apparently since time mmemorai
In the old part of the city, not far from the
Rhine where the ancient houses have each a
different gable, where there are no sidewalks
bat a good deal of gutter between the cobble-
stones, there stood an Anticipated shop called
ITO the Golden Bell" 1t was aeurious, tumble
down place, opening directly on the street, with
a low studded, dark ground floor turned into
warerooms From these winding stairs, deep
worn by 400 years of passing, led to the misty
garFets, five stories overhead, and from ground
floor to gable this house was crammed with all
sorts of odds and ends, with which wary shop
keeper can tempt both the wise and the foolish
There was besides an art gallery in an L beyond,
where the most famous of the old masters
were represented, apparently in state of do
tage.
The gem OF the coliectioti--in size, at least
was trife by Rubens, which represented, in an
area twelve feet square, remarkably we'll
developed old patriarch receiving a volume from
couple of angels whose draperes needed wash
ing. That this production was authentic was
attested by barn door torn IN the skirt of the
patriarchs garment.
Two men stood in front Of this production,
while the third. Frenchman, ostensibly exam
ined the pictures on another wall OF the first
two one was the shop-keeper. The other was
Jack Wardlow.
Wardlow examined the patriarch with undis-
guised enjoyment.
''Rubens-ah, yes" he nlurmured "A little
thing done for an album. probably never meant
for exhibition He may have been right On
the whole, Rubens, it would have been better if
you had shut it up in drawer. 1t shows that
the great may have moments of-well-inlbecil-
ity. Next"
Wardlow moved TO the next picture and at q
quickly suppressed examination the shop-keeper
cooked up his head and Frenehnan glanced
over his shoulder
"valasquez," the shop keeper grunted in ex-
PLANTATION, "thrty six inches by twenty Ave.
which is cheap, very cheap; it's so big" aud
he nodded at the soi-disant Rubens.
Wardlow, with his hands elapsed behind his
back, studied the Velasquez, with his soul in his
gaze. A woman looked down ,inon him from
the canvas with dark brooding eyes that had a
strange, golden glimmer in their depths. A mass
of bronze hair carelessly parted by a gold SER
pent, crowned the low forehead and level brows,
while a robe of some lustrous gold brocade left
bare neck and throat that all but throbbed with
life and passion
Il see the picture is signed" Wardow said at
last to break the silence.
"They are all signed" the man Of trade re-
marked injured.
$40 be sure yes. OF course the signature is
a forgery" Wardlow unused, "yet I'll stake INV
knowledge, my whole future, that these shrewd
knaves have cheated themselves 1t is a Velas.
quez, my soul on i'll Only to look at that WON
an of flesh and blood If 1 had the money I'd
trust to instinct and buy it outright. o hang it.
I'm quite cleaned out"
he turned away and stared at the patriarch.
when of sudden, he threw back his head and
laughed.
by Jove, have it-father! He shall buy it.
It's worth $780, 900 at least All is fair in love.
Why not do him good turn9 Father is nat
urally ill-disposed to artists; would be more SYM
pathetic if were a gentleman pork packer from
Cincinnati. Now if help him to as neat a bar
gain as he ever made, at what will the old gen
tlemen's gratitude stop7 Nothing The waiter
at their hotel said they would be sure to be in
this afternoon. To see her again after three
whole weeksn
He turned to the shop-keeper "Look here |
shall come back tomorrow with friend to
whom | wish to show these two pictures and
automatically he also nodded at the patriarch,
He or may buy BOTH
No sooner was he gone than the Frenchman
approached the two pictures, turned away with
much scorn from the Rubens, and twisted his
mustache in meditation before Wardlow's fair
woman.
Not an artist this man, and hardly enthusiast
ie but he appeared lost in deep thought as he in
turn deserted the shop and left the owner of
these treasures TO a heavy doze in an arm chair
in which Martin Luther once sat, or-might have
sat
CHAPTER v
'"Fhe vonnp Mees is in parta;,1ra