Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-03-01
/. Advance. friend. and rtxa tan counter.

Advance. friend, and gtvs ths counter
sign, or I'll shoot you on the spot. My very
dear, much respected and clever brother
detective, allow me to inform you that
although have beaten you in every point,
here is a gentleman who has beaten me, and
consequently both of us.''
Mr.. Fairfax, allow me to present my
greatest rival, Jean Leroi-"
Monsieur Leroi, you must come with us
for a bite and glass of wine" said Fair
fax, shaking hands with the new conner.
Arm in arm the trio, Fairfax in the CEN
ter, sauntered down the avenue and en-
tered the cottage, where they were duly
presented to Miss Strong.
There was a brilliant, If small party at
Glen Goro that evening.
Louvait and Leroi could assume at viii
the role of a gentleman or a peasant with
such cleverness that the genuine members
of either class could with difficulty be per-
suaded that they beheld only veneering.
Each man of the company was seeking to
cover up his own individual disappointment
Each man had risked great deal in this
affair of the abduction. Each recognized in
the others men of unusual ability, of
extraordinary courage and determination;
and each was bent upon creating in the
others favorable opinion as regards him
self.
That little dining-room re-echoed with
such brilliant sallies of wit, such astonish-
ing anecdotes, such marvellously keen
opinions of men and matters in general, that
Miss Strong listened in pure delight and
wonder. She afterward declared that, al
though it had been her good fortune to
hear some Of the brightest wits and table
takers of the day, she had never before
listened to such a meteorically-b brilliant dis
play OF conversational ability.
After dinner the men fingered over
l1oi- nsrv THo., L.
vantage of a temporary lull in the CONVEX
sation to say:
''Mr. Louvait, you are anxious to hear
my story. l will tell you with pleasure,
but only on one condition. First, however,
let me inform you that the Princess Natalie
Radziwill is now on her way back to Europe
under the protection of the Lady Lydia
BroadacreSn
Louvait and I.eroi both stared at this
''She will prefer no charge whatsoever
against me. On the contrary, she and lady
Lydia both desire to keep the matter as
quiet and secret possible. have the
latter's own word for it. Furthermore, no
effort will be made even to discover who
were my coadjutors in the abduction. They
will endeavor, IN every way, to protect
from the law the owner of the yacht that
brought us hither-and you, gentlemen, of
course, know all about that-and also to
protect all others directly or indirectly con-
nected with the affair. You see it will be
futile to attempt anything farther.
evil you, gentlemen, give me your prom
Use that you will let the matter drop9''
For moment there was silence. Louvait
was the first to speak.
II will,'' said he, but only upon one con-
dition, as 1 consider il useless to pursue
the business farther. And then, again,
I'm anxious to learn if your story comedies
with my theory"
81 WILL Also Mr.. Fairfax, and for the same
reasons" added Leroi
''Whnt is your condition, Mr.. Louvaitl''
inquired the American.
THAT, if your story agrees with my
theory, of which have a copy in my pocket
if it agrees with my theory, you will prom
Use to write it out in full, secure the sigma
lures of all participants therein and APP
pend your own, together with that of the
proper magistrate, in order to attest the
genuineness of the document which you
must promise to send me. Is it not justice
that should desire to advance my reputa-
ton among those of my profession!"
At the close of Fairfax's recital, Louvait
vehemently struck the table with his fists
and calculated:
''Good! My theory to tt The theory
that precisely one month ago I sent to the
head of the police department.
'What!' interrupted Leroi, "you sent
your theory to Paris month ago! did
the same thing, but only just before left
France"
''Now," said Fairfax, 81 have told my
story. Let me hear yours" q
Whereupon both Louvait and Leroi mar
rated their adventures, their various haps
and mishaps. 1t was long after midnight
when the party broke up. Fairfax insisted
upon his guests sleeping at Glen Gore.
There was an early morning boat, upon
which, next day, Leroi and Louvait en-
barKed. At the wharf the o,achman hand
ed each man a note, just as the steamer was
about leaving. Being Interested in watch
ing the village and the bay, the two travel
ers did not open their envelopes until later
on. When they did so, eanh man found
therein a sum that more THAI compensated
him for his exertions and outlay, together
IL IA %S