The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-09-27

I have oepo.,tsd ars worth ton times this
sun. Just look at them again" IF.
Monsieur Bichat took the case out Of his
desk and examined the jewels. The GENTLE
man took the case and held it to the light.
Then he put it into his pocket, saying:
On second thoughts, 1 don't think viii
borrow the money" - "
Then he tore up the note and went to the
door. He stood with his hand upon it, and
said: a cE :.
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 whelp!'
he exclaimed "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!" a.,
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 q
rush at him. Paul seized his hat and left
the place. He informed the police the next
oay, 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
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 Dion in the afternoon and
started at once for the country in the direc-
ton Of Chalons.
When night overlook him no 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 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 it. He lay notion
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 q 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. 1t was very
thick and substantial, despite it's evident
age. He climbed to the top with ease, and
saw what looked like a chimney hole. He
lowered himself down gently and found
that he was on firm ground. He saw he
was in 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, 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 aud 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 il
went. Then Paul started away along the
bank Of the river. When no came to a
bridge he crossed; there was road, and
along it Paul went. AS he turned curve
| In the road he saw man trudging along
| with pack and woman following.
| When he overlook tho 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 clean
and her air had charm about it such az
Paul thought he had never seen in the bear
ing of any woman.
When Paul overlook the man he spoke tc
him in friendly tone, and the peddler asked
whittier Paul was going.
| ITO the nearest place where can find 8
breakfast" said Paul. "And you?''
~ 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
the way to the nearest village with the ped
dler's daughter. Only she told Paul she was
not the peddler's daughter and of no kin tt
|
married her widowed mother.
They came to village betimes, and had
breakfast. Paul went into 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 peddler's
companion, and resolved not to leave her
He removed the money from the bag an6
put it in his own valise. Some of it he took
out for immediate use. He paid for the
breakfast like lord, and brought ava,
meat and bread and wine from the inn suffi
Gent to last the three whole day if need:
were. Then the peddler went around the
village to sell his wares, and Annette was tt
do the same with the small fancy article:
she carried.
After the peddler had started, however
Paul persuaded the girl to stroll arount
through the woods with him, and in ortlel
to deceive the peddler, insisted on paying
Annette three francs for bauble, so tina
she might have some money to show the ole
man as the result of her diligence In the
woods Paul told her how he loved her, and
him.
II am rich," said he; and he showed he
the gold and silver in the valise.
AS for the girl, she was as much in Low,
with Paul as he with her. So they agreed
that they would wait for the peddler at the
other end of the village, as they had agreed
and when he stopped atnoon to eat and smok,
and take nap they would go off into tn,
world together. When the peddler joire(
them and Annette handed him the three
fvo ma ho UNA miohti1v nloooo1 covipo- N,