Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-09-20

Monsieur Bichat was evidently confused,
and gave Paul giance that would have
como with effect from q brigand.
LET me see," said the gentleman.
But Monsieur Bichat was too cunning to
do that, and, after examining the paper,
said:
"WeI, now, Paul, you are right. What =
funny mistake to make!''
Then he went in and brought out the gen.
uine note, and began TO explain how the mis-
take had occurred.
'By the way" said the gentleman, taking
the note and examining it, you might make
the amount 500 francs. The three diamonds
l have deposited are worth ten times this
sum. Just look at them again"
Monsieur Bichat took the case out of his
desk and examined the jewels. The gentle
man took the case and held it to tho light.
Then he put it into his pocket, saying:
ION second thoughts, don't think will
borrow the money"
Then he tore up the note and went to the
door. He stood with his hand upon it, and
said:
THAT little trick to get two OF my notes
into your possession didn't work"
With that Monsieur Bichat turned upon
Paul like wild animal robbed OF its prey.
THAT is your fault, you accursed whelpr'
he exclaimed "Get out a. once and never
return. / have lost over three hundred
francs on this transaction, and / will keep
what you have deposited toward making my
loss good. Get outr'
And he seized the chair and rushed upon
Paul, who would have fought AMI taken the
consequence if Monsieur Richat had not ap-
peared from the inside room and made a
rush at him. Paul seized his hat and left
the place. He informed the police the next
day, but when he went to the number OF the
street, which he had carefully entered in his
book, there was no such persons as Monsieur
Bichat or Monsieur Richat, and when he
pointed out the right place and found the
very offices, an old lady was seated in the
back room directing circulars. and in the
front room an old gentleman was painting
Autographs.
Paul tried hard for several days to get
employment, and then, as his money was
nearly all gone, he determined to go back to
BourgogIe and see whether an old college
friend couldn't help him in some way. He
had money enough to carry him as far as
Dion, and then he would have to tramp it.
He reached Dion in the afternoon and
started at once for the country in the direc-
ton of Chalons.
When night overlook him he had Travelled
some distance. He was tired and saw no
place where he could procure shelter. Pres
emily he saw an old ruin on the opposite side
OF a stream. That would be better than
nothing, and he stripped and crossed the
water, which was not much above the waist
When he had dressed he went toward the
ruin. There was not much of it. 1t was
evidently the remains of an old abbey or
chateau, and carpenter had worked there
recently, for there was bench and shavings
lay upon the floor.
Paul made himself a bed on the bench and
soon fell asleep. He awoke suddenly, as he
supposed, about midnight He heard
voices in conversation. Turning his head
in the direction, he saw light and several
forms collected around il. He lay motion
less and watched. Presently he saw a man
climb to the top of the wall at the end of the
ruin. The lantern was handed to him and
he disappeared. In a few minutes he re-
turned and then he and three others, as
Paul could now distinguish, left the place.
Paul lay thinking what ne should do, and
fell asleep He awoke just as day was
breaking He arose and thought OF what he
had witnessed during the night He went
to the wall and examined ii. 1t was very
thick and substantial despite its evident
age. He climbed to the top with ease, and
saw what looked like chimney hole. He
lowered himself down gently and found
that he was on firm ground. He saw he
was in a cell about fifteen feet square.
The light was very dim, but as he grew
used to it he could distinguish things. On
the floor were saddlebaGs, pair OF STIR
rups, a large goblet, a small trunk and n
leathern bag. The bag was leaning against
the wall. Paul took hold of it and found it
was very heavy; he opened it without diff
ficulty. 1t was full of gold and silver coins
then in use in France.
Paul climbed from the cell with the bag
in his grasp. In the valise ne carried there
was room enough for the bag, and therein it
went. Then Paul started away along the
bank OF the river. When he came to a
bridge he crossed; there was u road, and
along it Paul went. AS he turncd a curve
in tho road he saw a man trudSing along
with pack and woman following.
When he overlook the woman he found
she was lovely girl OF not more than seven
teen. He bowed politely to her and wished
her good morning. He fain would have
W Alti SAuC, lOI SiiO " 10 S"CCS
to look at. Her garb was humble but clean,
and her air had d charm about it such as
Paul thought he had never seen in the bear
ing OF any woman.
When Paul overlook the man he spoke to
him in a friendly tone, and the peddler asked
whittier Paul was going.
ITO the nearest place where l can find q
breakfast" said Paul And you!''
g1T o,l L., r., ~
also," said the peddle-.
SO Paul walked on with the old man, and
then he hung behind and walked the rest of
the way to the nearest village with the ped
dler's daughter. Only she told Paul she was
not the peidler's daughter and Of no kin to
him, the fact being that the peddler had
married her widowed mother.
They came to village beticles. and had
breakfast Paul went into a retired place
and examined the contents of the leathern
bag. 1t contained over 5000 francs. The
money was not his, that was certain; but he
made up his mind to use it.
He was in love with Annette, the peddIer's
companion. and resolved not to leave her.
He removed the money from the bag and
put il in his own valiSe Some of it he tool,
out for immediate use He paid for the
breakfast like u lord, and brought away
meat and bread and wine from the inn suffi-
Gent 10 last the three whole day IL needs
We're. Then the peddler went around the
village to sell his wares, and Annette was to
DO the same with the small fancy articles
she carried.
After the peddler had started, however,
Paul persuaded the girl to stroll around
through tho woods with him, and. in order
to deceive the peidlcr, insisted on paying
Annette three francs for a bauble, so that
she might have some money to show the old
man as the result of her diligence. In the
woods Paul told her how he loved her, and