The Progress., 1888-10-13

"A mistake, sir. MY name IS Francois
Bichat, and never made . note In my life.
The man examined the note and Monsieur
iBichat and departed. This incident set
Paul to thinking. Something happened the
next day more singular still In answer to
an advertisement gentleman came to bor-
row six hundred francs on security He de-
posted some Jewels, and signed note for
the amount also. Paul drew up the note.
Monsieur Bichat said he would 60 inside for
the money. Presently he returned, holding
q paper In his hand all covered with ink
You will have to draw and sign another
note, said Monsieur .Bichat; tiny partner,
by accident, upset the ink over this onen IS
Paul saw at q glance that 1t was not the
note which he had drawn, as it was on blue
lined paper, Iwhile the paper which Monsieur
Biohat held in his hand was white.
THAT Is not the note,' said Paul, inno-
Gently .sit was on blue paper.n
Monsieur Bichat was evidently confused,
and gave Paul q glance that would have
come with effect from . brigand l
'sLet me see, = said the gentleman.
But Monsieur Bichat was too cunning to
do that, and, after examining the paper,
said:
.Well, now, Paul, you are right. What q
funny mistake to make2'' !.
Then he went In and brought out the gem
uine note, and began to explain how the mis-
take had occurred.
''By the way, y said the gentleman, taking.
the note and examining it. 'you might make
the amount 800 francs The three diamonds
I 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 1t to the light.
Then he put it into his pocket, saying:
ION second thoughts, don't think will
borrow the money! s..
Then he tore up the note and went to the
door. He stood with his hand upon 1t, and
said :}
That little trick to gettwo Of my notes
into your possession didn't work,
With that Monsieur Bichat turned upon
Paul like wild animal robbed Of its prey. 4
THAT is your fault you accursed whelp!''
he exclaimed s'Get out at once and never
return. I have lost over three hundred
francs on this transaction, and will keep
what you have deposited toward making my
loss good. Get out!''
And he seized the chair and rushed upon
Paul, who would have fought and 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, butwhen he went tolthe 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. I!
Paul tried hard for several days to- get,
employment, and then, as his money was
nearly all gone, he determined to go back to-
BOurgOgne and see whether an old college
friend couldn't help. him in some way. He
had money enough to carry him as far as
Dijon, and then he would have to tramp it.
He reached Dijon in the afternoon and
started at once for the country in the direc-
tion 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 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 q carpenter had worked there
recently, for therewas q bench and shavings
lay upon the floor.
Paul made himself bed on the bench and
soon fell asleep. He awoke suddenly, as he
supposed, about midnight He heard
in the direction, he saw light and several
forms collected around it. He lay motion
less and watched Presently he saw man
climb to the top of the wall at the end Of the
ruin. The lantern was handed to him and
he disappeared. In few minutes he re-
turned and then he and three others, as
Paul could now distinguish, left the place.
Paul lay thinking what he 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 it. It 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, large goblet, a small trunk and a
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
fculty. It 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 he 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 road, and
along it Paul went. AS he turned curve
in the road he saw a man trudging along
with a pack and a 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
walked by her side, for she was very sweet
to look at Her garb was humble but!olean,
and her air had 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 I can find a
breakfast = said Paul. And you?,'
81 and my daughter are looking for that,
also,'' said the peddler. ",
So Paul walked on with the old man. and
then he hung behind and walked the rest Of