Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-10-31


man took the case and held II to the light.
Thsn he put ID 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 1t, and
said:
THAT little trick 10 get two of my notes
into your possession didn't work"
With that Monsieur Bichat turned upon
Paul like a wild animal robbed Of Its prey.
THAT Is your fault, you accursed whelpp
he exclaimed "Get out at once and never
return. / have lost over three hundred
francs on this transaction, and will keeT
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 II Monsieur Richat had not ap
peared from the inside room and made q
rush at him. Paul seized his hat and lief,
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
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
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-
tion Of Chalons.
When night overlook him he had Travelled
some distance He was tired and saw nc
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, IL 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 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 a light and several
forms collected around IL. 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 a 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 IL. IL was very
thick and substantial despite its evident
age. He climbed TO the top with ease, apd
saw what looked like chimney hole BE
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 IL no could distinguish things On
the floor were saddlebags, a pair Of STIR
rups, large goblet, small trunk and O
leathern bag. The bag was leaning against
the wall. Paul took hold of it and found il
was very heavy; he opened it without diff
fculty. 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 he carried there
was room enough for the bag, and therein il
went. Then Paul started away along the
bank Of the river. When he came to q
bridge he crossed; there was road, and
along It Paul went. AS he turned a curve
In the road he saw a man trudging 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
walked by her side, for she was very sweet
to look at. Her garb was humble but clean,
and her air had a 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 friendly tone, and the peddler asked
whittier Paul was going.
ITO the nearest place where can find a
breakfast" said Paul. "And your
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
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 to
him, the fact being that the peddler had
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. II contained over 1900 francs. The
money was not his, that was certain; but he
made up his mind to use it.
BE was In love with Annette, the peddler's
companion, and resolved not to leave her.
He removed the money from the bag and
put II In his own valise. Some of it he took
out for Immediate use. He paid for the
breakfast like a lord, and brought away
meat and bread and wine from the inn suffi-
Gent to last the three whole day II needs
were Then the peddlcr went around the
village to sell his wares, and Annette was TO
do the same with the small fancy articles
she carried.
After the poddler had started however,
Paul persuaded the girl TO stroll around
through the woods with him, and in order
to deceive the peddler, 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
asked her to quit the peddler and go with
him.
81 am rich," said he; and he showed her
the gold and silver in the valise.
As for the girl, she was as much in love
with Paul as he with her. SO they agreed
that they would wait for the peddler at the
other end Of the village, rs they had agreed
and when he stopped at noon TO eat and smoke
and take a nap they would go off into the
world together. When the peddler Joined
them and Annette handed him tho three
francs he was nightly pleased, saying tina,
she had done better than he by over franc
At noon they came to sweet, shady spot
back from the road, and thither they wen,
to eat their midday repast. Paul piled the
old man with wine, and when he had
taken and drank his fill and smoked his pipe
he found a snug spot and lay down anc
slept. Just as the pair were about TO glide
away and leave the peddler in the lurch hi
awoke, swearing at the gnats which had
disturbed him. Paul sat down beside him
and chatted and took out his leathern baf
and said:
"see, here is a present for you. You may
find it useful, or sell IL, II you meet with {
good customer"
The peddler didn't much fancy the gift
but on opening IL he found gold coin stick
ing In the corner, and that induced him Il
take the bag, with many thanks. Then he lay
down once more, and was soon snoring. Pau