The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-06-22
..well.'' said the old man. II mus,

have some money. and
The bookseller tossed the portfolio
contemporary to corner Of the co ne
ter. and handed him two silvcrdoilars.
They jingled in the trcmuious Old hand
like castanets rs the visitor went out.
with bent head. like one who had done
dishonorablc thing.
him. when TIE bookseller pounccd on
the portfol o like a tiger ON its pres.
..Egad"' he cried. "what luck. A
'Pucellc for quarter. and the plates
to illustrate ;t tor
He pacx-,, the r.nts carefully back
in their portfolio. wrapped the portfolio
in paper. and before he began his dim
ner at Delmonico had the cashier lock
the package in the safe. to make sure
nothing should happen TO it during the
progress of the feast.
Will, the recurrence of spring em-
broilered with The usual New York ac-
cessorics IF snow storms and May MORN
ings. the book seller started on his ''an-
nual trip 20 Europe As his circulars
put it. At the bottom of his trunk.
trebly wrapped in paper and oiled silk.
were book and some prints done up
in one package. On this package.
which had originally COS; the owner
two dollars aud twenty-five cents. there
was an insurance of two hundred and
fifty dollars.
Deep in the siums Of Belleville. a
haggard. unkempt man worAe in Il
dirty little room. with dirty bed in
one corner. at q bookbinder's bench.
There were tools Of the hookbinders
trade on a rickety table. There wa,
also an absinthc bott and \ tumblcr
half full of a grcen-yray compound
that bore strange resemblance to the
complexion Of the man himself. or
which his complexion strangely re-
semblcd. As he worked. the man sang.
in 4 croaking voice. one of those foul
songs common in the low concert halls
of Paris.
Sacred name of blue hog said
the bookbindcr. breaking off in his
chant. ''Why don't you come in.
IDIOT"
The door opened. and the person
who had knocked entered. The book
binder looked at him. and growled:
WELL YOU are back. as usual. CHI?
You come. like the cholera ut Marseil-
les. with summer. What is it now?"
His visitor was the New York book
seller. and he had 4 package under his
arm. He looked calmly around him.
with the expression of man not quite
a stranger to the place. and sat down
OH the only stool.
so you haven't drunk yourself
crazy yet" he remarked. pleasantly.
Upon my soul. Lurat. you must be
made of gutta-percha.
'Have you come all the way from
New York to tell me that" demanded
the bOok-binder. sourly.
NO such fool" replied the book
seller. '.Are YOU busy'"
IAN not always. when ! choose to
bc."
True enough. Well. do you choose
to be little busier?"
The bookseller had united his pack
age. and now spread out book and
some prints upon his knee.
Here is \ book said he. ''that
would be really fine in a fifty-frsnc
by Tout"
The book-binder. who had laid by his
work. took the prints and the volumes
up and examined them with a profess
sional interest even his sottishness
conld not overcome.
1T would look better. said he. Gin
a hundrcd-franc binding"
Seventy five. you mean." corrected
the bookseller.
NO; mean hundred"
Il think You mean eighty"
81 will mean hundred and fly
next time. replied the book-bindsr.
hOldin. the package out to him.
The bookseller motioned him to keep
il. and got mp.
"Do your best with it. Lurat." he
said. "and when shall l come for it,"
Lurat named date and the book
seller departed. The book-binder
him out with scornful fash
in his alcohol-retllened eye. and NUT.
tered to his back. vanishing down the
unc!ean stairs:
what a swindler! / wonder il
there arc any people in America but
and fools. An. i, is for such
scum that l am rascal. WHO might Re
an honest man."
He drowned the reflection with q |
Sulp of ahsinthc. and set to wOrk nurs- !
ing another tumbler full.
Ten days later. the bookseller was
writing letters in his room in the |
Hotel DIES Deux Mondes. when fat |
man. with a fiat. solid-looking package !
in his hand. was .ushercd in by . SER
want Of the house. The book seller |
greeted INN with curt nod. motioned /
the servant out. and bade his caller |
open the package. 1t contained box
Of polished wood. with brass mount
ings. and in the center of the Id IN
elaborate coat-ot-arms in brass.
'.iou are sure the arms are correct?"
asked the bookseller. pushing the satin
lining with his forefinger. and work.
ing the hinges t" ties; :hein-
The fat man pulled = little book from
his pocket. turned few leaves. and
pointed t" an engraving entitled ''.A,m>
Of Baron Rothschild. amateur and col
|ectOr." The bookseller nodded.
glanced AT the slip Of paper inclosed in
the hOx and 1.r upted mt Some small