The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-06
,he was more luclo than L.

an hour in the hands of those people, she
exclaimed authoritatively. IF you are
sincerely determined to do all you can to
give me back my safety, go at once 10 this
NJ. Bontemps-he will receive you-teLl
him what you think necessary and bring
me back that accursed paper"
/ said timidly: bat it is nearly 5 O'Clock
and today is the last of the month. have
my liquidation still TO make"
She waved the plea to one side, and saw
clearly that my liquidation was nothing to
her. And compared to her own it was
nothing. Without resisting further Itook
I'D nv hat and said: Il am off then. Wait
for me here"
She stretched out her hand to me and
pressed mine with extraordinary force
Breathing a deep sigh she let herself fall
into an armchair l went down the stairs
four steps at a time and drove hastily TO
the magasins.
/ saw NJ. Bontemps at once. When /
named myself the rich man deigned to
raise his head with condescending famil-
iarity This displeased me, and | opened
the conversation brusquely enough.
Monsieur, a few hours ago lady, one
of my friends, through an unfortunate
train of circumstances which L cannot ex-
plain here, was arrested in your establish
ment by an inspector"
NJ Bontemps lips parted in smile.
"A shoplifter?"
"a sick woman, a mad woman, surely
irresponsible; for her education, her fami-
ly, her social position
"a shoplifter," he repeated, with cold
tranquility.
BE it so, shoplifter. In whose behalf
/ have come to ask. One of your inspect
ors has made her sign declaration"
'That is the custom"
eyes, for the professional delinquents.
But fancy that you will make distinc-
ton between the case of a creature whose
sole occupation is theft and that of a wom-
an under hallucination, and who, besides,
at the very moment she was surprised was
Kidding herself of the lace she had taken.
If you only knew who this lady isl
81 have not yet seen the papers," He
rang. An employee appeared, bowling low
as if to a sovereign. Bontemps said: Send
me the chief inspector" The employe dis
appeared, and the old inspector came in al
most instantly, saluted in military fashion
and stood at attention.
To-day" said Bontemps, ian elegantly
dressed lady was brought before you who
had been surprised in appropriating our
goods?"
Eyes, monsieur, the Countess Of
Bontemps interrupted him. "The name
is of no Importance. Of what nature were
the goods?"
point d'Alencon lace"
Every good. What impression did the
lady make on you?"
mon Dieu, monsieur, no particular i'm
preston. 1t is always the same thing, al
most the same words. You know how
cunning women are. AS soon as they are
caught they have only one idea-to get
around us, and they cry, they beg, they
wiring their hands, they talk about their
husbands aud their children and their
mothers, And If we believe them they
would laugh at US. If we didn't watch
them they would carry your store away
bodily, monsieur"
Still how did this lady appear TO you?"
Better educated, better dressed, more
acute than the rest; but they are all
alike"
Bontemps turned toward me. "You
hear, MONSIEUR"
II hear"
The inspector threw me look. "Mon-
sieur comes from the prefecture of police
without doubt. Then you ought TO
know
l stood petrified, unable to say a word.
AS proof of the sagacity of the man he
took me for police spyl
The merchant cut short the folly of his
employe and with a superb gesture sent
him away. Scarcely had he gone when /
broke out: "What confidence can you place,
in the judgment and tact of
man who just now in your very presence
supposes that am an agent of the police?
admit tbs; my title of baron IS not writ
ten on my face, but good heavensl do not
resemble hired detective. Why, your
man sees nothing but thieves, and so sees
a thief in every one. He has simply abused
the terror of an unhappy woman. The
whole thing is nothing but a misunder-
Bontemps did not bulge. His eye was
yelled, his mouth hooking. He replied
simply enough by reading from the paper
which lay before him:
81 confess to having been arrested while
| interrupted his brutal answer.
But it is just this paper that we must de-
stroy"
The great merchant drew himself up
aghast. But it is our only safeguard.
Thanks to this paper, we are assured that
the culprit will not attempt a second theft.
1t is only for that reason that we are salts
fed to proceed no further on a first at
tempt If give it back TO you
"You admit, then, that you will give it
back"
"Oh, argue the point to be agreeable to
you"
bTeathed again. The battle was gained.
But the conditions were yet TO be settled,
and saw that the overblown shopkeeper
who was parading himself before me was
not the sort to capitulate for nothing.
1T shall never be said" Mr. Bontemps
continued, that so honorable a man as
you, VI. lie Baron, should come to me and
be unable TO obtain what he desired But
say for yourself what reparation you think
ought not to be due us for such an impo-
sition upon our good nature"
Reparationl The word was pronounced.
III understand you, You indicate that
this little paper can be purchased"
Is an exceptional piece of condescend-
epcn on our paTt"
'TYou are too kind. But how much:"
"You tell me the family is nobles"
They are foreigners / cried quickly.
Then | should charge you less, no
doubt. Pat are they richgn
well of; no more"
"DO they keep a carrisge'"
"Yes, with two horses. I don't wish TO
deceive you"
You understand, we are just as we'll as
generous. and the amends ought TO be pro-
portioned to-
The amends-well. you estimate them
att"
Fifty thousand francs"