Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-10-23

opera house, stopped to take out cigar,
and was accosted by stranger, who asked
the favor of light. He had the air of
perfect gentleman, and raising his hat
politely, he said
Count Calcatroni, if you think of going
to your home now advise you to change
your plans, or within fifteen minutes you
will he seated i'm a cab between two police
officers. You would do better to come and
spend the night with me. And, by the
way, where are the diamondsW
The count was astonished. After a
pause he said haughtily:
you carry the joke too far. Who are
your"
"a fairy, guardian angel, like the one
In The Black Domino" replied Coindart
"Your friend I.erouX has commissioned
me to watch over you. If you do not be-
lieve me walk little farther and you Will
see two men neal your house awaiting
your return"
81 will 20 with you," said Calcatroni,
"and explain matters on the way. 1t was
debt of honor. $1,000 francs lost at cards,
which | was Obliged to pay today. | have
pledged the diamonds for that amount,
but will soon return them; LerouX need
have no fear. Dear fellow, how kind he is
to his old chum! Express my gratitude to
him" a week later, when the banker re-
ceived the message, he said;
81 am willing to forgive him if he will
give me back the diamonds at once"
He can not do that. for he has pawned
them for l5,0DD francs, said Coindart, and
his nearer exclaimed;
"Pawned them--for fifteenth is impos-
sible."
They are worth moref"
Suppose the broker should sell them!"
cried LerouX wildly. ooh, Coindart,
beg you to find out his name for mer'
The next morning, instead of Coindart,
the count himself called ut the bankers
house and pro dly presented his card. He
was not kept waiting a minute, and when
the two men met no one would have
thought that it was Calcatroni whom ;ho
police were looking for.
rs it true that you are in great dis
tressE' he said in a distant tone and LIE
rouX stammered out with reply, which
his visitor interrupted with:
For a week have imagined that friend
illness toward me prompted you, but now
know why you did not wish the police to
know Of your transactions. This morning
/ did what | never before thought neces-
sary-believing you to be an honest man
| examined the diamonds"
"Then you did not pawn themf" cried
LerouX joyfully, and the other answered
scOrnfully:
"Pawned them, sir Since when have
gentlemen tried to raise money on bits of
glass;" Leroux fell into an armchair,
trembling in every limb.
You thought to deceive every one, did
> l,n, I
order to conceal the gulf about to swallow
your patrons fortunes, you stopped to
decorate your sons bride with worthless
glassware! | am now going to the project
of police to expose Your Vaccinations do
not fear arres'. for man can not be pun
ished for stealing rubbish. Tomorrow a
crowd of depo,itors will besiege your bank
and demand their money"
''Have pity on metz cried LerouX. "Do
not 90! What will you take to keep 81
lenceE"
Fifteen thousand francs" replied Ca
catroni promptly. "If speak, your dia
monds will cost you more than that"
never heard how LerouX raised the
money, but after some delay Cacatroni put
it in his pocket and left the house with the
air of man who has performed an act 0
Jus ice. On his way home he posted let
ter for Mr.. LerouX. 1t was addressed to
the project Of police, and stated that the
lost necklace had Just been found behind Il
piece of furniture. where it must have
fallen. The bankers business has i'm
proved since then, his daughter-in-law
wears necklace of real stones; but, when
any one speaks of the LerouX family,
Count Caicatroni says grandly:
Il do not visit those people. "-Traus-