Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-02-03


beings l love, their life and mine, all that
is most precious, most dear to mel"
And how?"
81 do not know. You must lind a means
You see me at the end of my strength,
without either intelligence or courage Do
what you win, but save me''
In the disorder OF my own ideas sought
to discover by what means, if any, could
rescue this charming little humoug, who
sat upright waiting her eyes fixed on my
face with expression of unmistakable
anguish from her position. That she was
little humbug did not doubt for a mo-
ment. My reason, protesting strongly
against my compassion, told me so strong
iy, endeavorinS to bring me back to my
habitual skepticism. But nothing could
prevail against the singular excitement
produced in me by the terrified look out of
this little demons eyes and the wild curry
ing of her lips. 1t was she herself, after
all, who suggested the plan ! must follow,
for in spite of her profound moral distress
she was more lucid than l.
THAT confession, fora confession it is
which have signed, must not remain for
an hour in the hands of those people," she
exclaimed authoritativeiy ''If you are
sincerely determined to do al you can to
give me back my safety, go at once to this
NJ. Bontemps-he will receive you-tell
him what you think necessary and bring
me back that accurSed paper
said timidly; But 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
up my hat and said; Il am off then Wait
for me here
She stretched ont her hand to me and
pressed mine with eXtraor binary force
Breathing deep sigh she let herself fall
into an armchair. | went down the stairs
four steps at a time and drove hastily to
the magasins.
| saw ii. Bontemps at once. When |
named myself the rich man deigned to
raise his head with condescending famiI-
iarlty. This dispieased me, and opened
the conversation brusquely enough.
Monsieur, Il 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"
M. Bontemps lips parted III smile
a shoplifter?"
"A sick woman, a mad woman surely
Irresponsible; for her educati on, her fami-
ly, her social position'-
"A shOplifter," he repeated, with cold
tranquility.
BE it 50, Il shoplifter In whose behalf
have come to ask. One of your inspect
ors has made her sign a declaration"
'"That is the CUSTOM"
eyes, for the professional delinouents.
But fancy that you Will make distinc-
ton between the case of a creature whose
sole occupation is theft and that of n wom-
an under hallucination, and who, besides,
at the very moment she was surprised was
Kidding herself of the lace size had taken.
Ii you only knew who this lady is
Il have not yet seen the papers" He
rang. An employe appeared bowling low
as If to a sovereign. Bontemrs said send
me the chief Inspector" The employe dis
appeared, and the old inspector came in al
most instantly, saiuted in military fashion
and stood at attention.
To-day" said Bontemps, IAN elegantly
dressed lady was brought before you who
had been surprised in appropriatinc our
goods?"
Yes, monsieur, the Countess Off
Bontemps interrupted him. "The name
is of no Importance. OF what nature were
the goods"
Point d Alencon lace"
VERY good What impress sion did the
lady make on yOu?'
Mon Dleu, monsieur, no particular i'm
preston. II 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 and their children and their
mothersl 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 vou?"
Better educated, better dressed. more
acute than the rest: but they are all
alike"
Bontemps turned toward me. "You
hear, monsieur?"
Il hear"
The inspector threw me look ssAton-
sieur comes from the prefecture of DoIica
without a doubt. Then you ought tn
know
L stood petrltied, unable to say word
AS proof of the sagacity of the man ne
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.
monsieur, in the judgment and tact of a
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
thief in every one. He has simply abused
the terror of an unhappy woman The
whole thing is nothing but a misunder-
standing"
Bontemps did not bulge. His eye was
yelled, his mouth hooking lie replied
simply enough by reading from the paper
which lay before him:
81 confess to having been arrested while
stealing
interrupted his brutal answer
Enough we know what is written there
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 viii not attempt second theft