The Indianapolis journal., 1889-06-02
THE AMBER ScARF-PIN.


of the kind which Persian jewellers made
fashionable a few years ago, as fetisnes,
under the name of ''cri-cris."
About six months ago left England Tor
France in a singuiarly happy mood. had
Just become engaged to charming girl,
and the object of my visit to Pans was 10
purchase, as presents TO my lride, guam
fity of those articles so delightful to the
fair sex. which Paris alone produces. Ii L
nad contented myself with patronizing
British commerce. in the persons of the
west-end tradesmen, none of my subse-
ouent misfortunes would have happened.
But. doubtless. also another reason for my
visit TO Paris was that irresistible attrac-
tion which the French city exercises over
all who have passed even short time
within its walls, an attraction for which
no psycho logical reason can be assigned,
but yhich is felt by all. A great American
statesman once described Paris 70 me as
''the magnet of the world" Il come here
every year." he said Il am sure do not
know why."
This attraction had doubtless influenced
me when decided that my presents to
Clara must be bought IN Paris. ! had
lived in that city some years before, IN my
anything but good time. Ny principal
"reminiscences of the gay capital were of
financial difficulties, ofquarrels with trades
men and hotel-keepers, and of a number of
entirely undesirable acqualntances.
We had had an excellent crossing, and.
after hasty supper at Calais, / had got
into frst-elass carriage In the express TO
Paris. The only other occupant OF the
coupe was an English Jockey. who went TO
sleep as soon as be bad taken his seat.
had no such good fortune, as l am never
able to sleep while travelling by train, and
had to spend the weary hours as best
could with my. thoughts. Fortunately, at
AT Amiens a French gentleman entered
the train and seated himself directly oppo--
site me. He was in talkative humor. and
1T was not long before we were engaged In
conversation Five minutes later he had
introduced himself TO me as the Marquis de
Kergaradec, and it was not long before
was fully acquainted with his opinions on
General Boulanger, on Emile lola: Saran
Bernhardt, and the general variety OF Paris-
ian topics The Marquis was an old man.
elegantly dressed, and wearing. the red rib
bon of the Legion of Honor. He was going
20 Paris, he told me; to be present at the
Prlx du Jockey CluD-tne blue hlDpOn Oh
the French turf.
That is to say.n he corrected himself, Il
am not going to Paris at all, but shall get
out at Chantilly."
Il thought the express did not stop
there,n said.
when one is big shareholder" he
laughed, ell des accommodements with
the Northern Railway Company"
had laughed at his ready adaptation OF
Tartuffe's famous remark. and was about
10 say something IN rel0inder, wnen no
ticed that the Marquis's expression sud
denly changed, and saw that he was staring
at me in manner which was almost otfens-
i've. His eyes were fixed on my collar.
While / was wondering whether any
thing in my linen was exciting the curlOs-
ity and interest of this carefully attired old
gentleman. he bent forward and said, in
quiet and altered tone of voice: Il beg your
pardon, sir, but WHIST a curious scarf pin
that is that you are wearing. Would you
mind showing it to met" and added some
thing about being an amateur t;t OF ]eweiry. ]Se
took the pin out of my tie, and handed 1t to
him.
He examined it carefully, turning it round
and round. Then he stood up and held 1t
close to the carriage-lamp, muttering to him
self.
At last he handed it back to me with
curt Thank you" and changed his place to
the seat in the opposite corner of the car
riage, vis-a-vis to the sleeping Jockey,
1T is a curious pin. is it notv' said. po-
litely. though completely mystifed by his
change of manner.
But he made no answer. sitting still and
watching me.
made another attempt to bring him to
explain himself, but finding it impossible
to get word out of him, shrugged my
shoulders and settled down again to my
thoughts.
At Chantilly the train stopped and the
guard came to the door to inform the Mar
quis. with much respect, that he had reached
his destination.
gentleman. land shall 60 on to Paris i re-
member / have an engagement at the Jockey
club."
A minute later the train was dashing on
It's way again, and did not stop TILL we
reached Paris.
had no luggage beyond q hand-valise,
and so had not to wait at the station. 1
jumped into cab and drove off at once to
bed. / need hardly say had long since
forgotten all ab0ut my strange travelling
companion. However, half an hour later,
rs was leaving the bureau of the hotel,
where had registered my address to 60 up
gentleman again. going into the bureau.
He stared hard at me as passed, first at
my face and then at my pin. / thought it
strange he should have followed me, and
still. but had no inclination to trouble my
head as to the reasons Of his eccentricity,
and dismissed him once again from my
mind.
At 10 o'clock rose, dressed, and after the
inevitable cape au lait-that miserable sub
stitute for an English breakfast-went
down and out on to the boulevard to visit
the shops l had determined to patronlze;
noticed a somewhat disreputable, indi-
vidual. who seemed to be standing there on
sentry. noticed him again at the corner
of the Rue de Valmy. and a third time as
was crossing the Place Vendome. Just as
reached the arcade of the Rue de Cas-
tiglione the man came up to me, laid his
hand on my shoulder, and thrust paper
under my eyes.
Thinking it was some begging petition.
was feeling in my pocket for some coins,
when the man said:
1T is a warrant of arrest. / am ordered
To secure your person.
| took the paper from him and read it
carefully. II was a printed form, with
blanks filed in In writing. and was signed
with a perfectly illegible signature.
- I'VE, Juge dInstruction, attached to the
tribunal of Paris. command the agent of
public safety, Ambrose Bernard, to arrest
and 10 bring before us the sieur = my
name.i NPQRLoRTMn IN
Il am perfectly ignorant of Your laws
said. "and am certain don't know what
this means. Are you the Ambrose Bernard
here mentionedw
.I am"
And what am to DOR
ITO follow me.
Il thought it best to comply. If I had
known what awaited me, should certain
ly have knocked the man down and taken
TO my heels liz would have been much the
wIsest thing, however risky, to do. But
did not know then what it is to be an in
criminated person in France. NV con-
science was easy, and imagined that after