, 1886-02-12
pack out as quick as dat with a snap of

and I'm travelling more for orders for q
large firm in New York than to peddle
goods. Ny name is Charles Gordon, and
I'm from Rhode ISLAND. I've heard OF
you, Mr.. Lafont,p laughing merrily, land
/ was warned never 10 put my foot on
YOU premises"
Lafont smiled grimly. I
"You did hear de truth, Monsieur Cor
ton, but Christmas only comes once q
year. Jeanne, give the monsieur some
supper. Alphonse will tend to your
pony" The supper was good and boun-
uful, and the young stranger talked a
great deal to his host, and talked well,
too. As for Monsieur Pierre himself, ig-
norant and narrow-minded as he might
be, his exceptional shrewdness was notice
able in every word, and for THAI evening,
Mt least, he played the "bon camaradeh to
the despised peddler.
When Mr.. Gordon rose the next morn
ing, however, he found his hosts mood
had altered strangely during the night.
The effects of the Christmas cheer were
over, and he was evidently r%epenting his
broken resolution. Breakfast passed in
sullen silence, and all Mr. Gordon's at
tempts at conversation were met by n
kidd of q growl. He hastily made his
preparations for departure, and then
aAokCA DAn III lOoA AAo RAA~
"You will pay me ten dollar, sar," he
said.
@Ten d~ollarsi" exclaimed the ~astonished
young man. SYou surely don't intend
charging hat amount for one nights
board m lodgingi'
~ say ten dollar, sar. You pay me not
for de supper nor de bed. Nonl onl Old
Pierre Lafont charge no man for to eat or
TO sleep. You pay mt ten dollar for break
ing my vord and taking you in my house.
Ven you tell de oder canaille peddlers, do
big money you las to pay, dey will let my
house alone. Aha" with n triumphant
grin, de ten dollar will be better dan ten
shotguns to keep dem away"
Mr.. Gordon was indignant, but he was
cool enough to see that indignation would
be wasted on the stubborn old fellow be-
fore hlm. lie felt that II he resisted, Al
phonse, who was leaning lazily on the
gate post, could bring a deal OF reserved
force TO his forcible ejectment, and like :
sensible man, he counted out $40 in Mon
sieur Lafont's hand.
ats n regular swindle, I must say, Mr..
Lafont,' he said, land Pm paying a high
price for our broken word"
They were alone in the Don Alphonse
was whistling at a gate post in the yard,
and Mime. Lafont ana her housemaid were
busy in another part of the house. AS
Mr.. Gordon was turning away his eyes
tell upon n clock on the mantel-one of
those old-fashioned concerns where the
pendulum swings up and down in full
view. A sudden idea struck him-what
he called an ins~piration-and he turned to
his grim host with n smile.
well, | won't bear malice against you
Mr.. Lafont, though you've been pretty
hard on me. That's n queer clock You
have there''
Anal Ino buy him from n Yankee
peddler, - old Pierre cried, with n triumph
ant laugh. ale one magnifique clock
keep good time for twenty year.
Gordon stood absorbed in contempla-
ton Of the "magnifiquer clock.
ado you ever bety" he asked suddenly.
Now betting was the old fellows one
weakness, and Mr.. Gordon had heard OF
1t. He seldom refused n bet, and being
cautious, was usually successful. When
he lost no one ever heard of il.
Monsieur, you ask If l bet" he cried.
"N es, sar, and dey ear tell you old Pierre
nevaire lose he bet"
well, l lose oftener han l win, but )
will bet. for all that, whenever / have q
chance. Now I'd like to make a bet with
you before we part. bet $50 you can't
stand before that clock for half an hour
moving your arm up and down with the
motion Of the pendulum, and saying
Here she goes up here h goes down,
with every movement
"But, den, you has fifty dollar to trov
awayi1 cried old Pierre, astounded. Il,
can win your fifty dollar, as easy as dat,
swapping his fingers derisively- Monsieur
are you crazee or Won foolS"
"Neither, l think; but you must remem'
Der that II you miss one movement Of the
pendulum or miss saying the words, yor
lose. Nor must you utter another sylln
BILE but those | have told you"
"Ah, mon Dieu, but 1t is of de simplest,
the old mar chuckled, going TO n box il
the corner of the room, which he un
locked and took out some bank notes
Here, l put my fifty dollar on de corner
Of de mantel, and you put yours. II you
vas not a peddler l would not make n be
like dat, but val for your feefty dollar.
am ready. Gift de signal"
Mr.. Gordon looked Mt the old man
short, fat, red-faeed, and fairly trembling
with eagerness to clutch the peddler'i
shekels- He stood before the clock, hi
short legs far apart, and waiting impat
iently for the signal. Gordon, n few step
behind him, with his watch open in hii
hand. gave IL.
"Here she go mp. here she go down." HI
cried excitedly. and for Ave minutes moth
ing was heard but the rythmicai swing o.
the pendulum and the monotonous chant
Then anne an interruption in the person
OF Mime. Lafont.
"Pierre' PierreF' she cried. looking il
the door Here's Jean Baptiste Levoi,
at the gate. He hasn't time to get dow
from his pony, but he say thou must
come out He wants to buy the big bay
horse. and he's brought the money. But
Pierre, what art thou doing with thin,
arms and what art thou saying theres'
She came hastily into the room. .
"Here she go up, here she go down."
and old Pierre's red lace became NOR,
apoplectic than ever.
"Grand Dieul but what, then, is thu
mntterf"
n hoarse voice.
"Sainte Mariel art thou madfr Sh,
turned her terrified eyes on Gordon, who
with n plying iook, tapped his forehead
Mime. Lafont understood him, nnt
shrieked aloud.
"Ho Is h crazy, my poor PierreT Sh'
burst into tears and wrung her hands
"Oh, I told you money would drive yor
mad. Alphonsei Alphonsel Look, MOI
garcon, at your poor papa. He is mad.
She fell on her knees and olasped her hus
bands stout legs.
"Here she go up, here she go down II
almost n shrek; and Gordon began 10 feai
an attack of apopleXy. the old maj DO
came So purple.
"Hear the horrible words, shrieket
Nine. I.afont ~ sec his poor arms. oh
Alponse, he rs dangerous You and .JeaI
] .-.. IL. - --N I'll 4.