The Progress., 1892-06-25


or "a lore of thieves might coaspirc to-
Gether tor ~s,,Il d" ullZt. ~, taiS. MI
against their skill and address no single
ran would stand 4 chance. Ah! know
something of 1t. WIS robbed once"
DO tell me about It." | exclaimed,
with an impUlsivc betrayal IF interest
that made me smile the nest momcrt.
Another tuuu," s3id hc. shaking his
head: and presently b. added. Won VIII
pardon me for presuminS to counsel
YOU
Ny dear sir. | arn much Obliged to
you Ny i,lca is that Inc simplest pre-
cautions are the best. snail carry the
stones II IN inner pocket 3ul shall 20
armed. No one vii! suspect me. and If
a.l attacked | shall make IA good &C.
Tense at all events
Mr.. HirchInoce said nothing more. and
indeed seemed scarcely to listen To my
remarks. now suggested 10 him Tia.
hc might show Rudolph his ring lie
put lis hand to his waistcoat poc.,ot AMI
gave "a half suppressed ejaculation of dis
appointment and annoyance. lie has
lot She rins ut home,
NO matter; | VIII call tomorrow.
Herr Rudolph" he Observed rye no
doubt shall find what want here. Il
anywhere. GooI morning. Is. if .
You arc ready. Mr.. GainSborough: -
the way, Rudolph. suppose you put
yUur treasures i'll Il safe ut night
"Oh. by all means Herr. replied the
littir Saxon Ard have 2 wa;chman
also. who guards all night long
~ prGdCnt fellow; yes. thai viii do"
murlIuIcd 81. Birchmnrc in an undcr-
tone to himself Then, with paglG.
nod ana smile. 10 which the iewclcrstd
not respond. he s2uutcrcI out follow
ing him. We walked back 10 the hotel
did not see him a%;un until after din
ncr, when he offered rp Il cigar. and
when we had smoked together awhile IN
silence he said abruptly:
I've foand that stone"
| looked at him mquiriugly.
The diamond ont of my ring. In my
trousers pocket. Of al places i'll The world
Fell ont while | was cropping for my
keys, suppose. Sorry 10 have raised
false hopes IN your friend Rudolph. BY
the way. he'll have finished that job OF
yours before very long"
In about u week. | fancy. shall be
sorry to leave Paris"
Yes: Well. it Is nice place: but
one gets tired of the incest places III
time. do. like to be moving"
Il shall have month to spend on my
way to lone. This Is almost my first
experience OF the Continent. | wish
had some travelling companion who
knew the ropes. This hint let fall in
the hope that he might propose to join
lAe. bat as lie made no rcjoinGcr ut ,
length vcntrrrl TO pat it more plainly
gave = rough sketch OF the route pro
posed to tolioYE, asked his opinion upon
it anl finally said that should his in :
cliIiEti0n lead him also il that direction
should be very glad Of his company
We'll. sir. I'm obliged to YOU" re-
piled Nj Birchmore after pause OF
some moments. "IOu couldn't pay =
man Il better compliment than to ask Z
hlm to travel with Won; and would nc Z
ccpt your offer as frankly and fearlcssly :
as you make 1t. only-well, the fact Is,
I'm not so entirely at my own disposal Z
rs may appear t. yoa to be. have =,
bec.i through u goal many experiences T
in life, and some OF the consequences are =
upon mo still. When you have reached {
my age-if yoa ever do reach i,-yoa 4
Will understand me better. | suppose \
may be fifteen years your senior; wei. +
fifteen years means IL good dcal-a good q
deal" He pulled incditatiye cloud or
two and then added, You're not hurt: =
You see how it is: y-ould really ike {
to accompany you-but can't /
o. course warmly disavOwcl all re-
sentiment, and fc,t ilwarlly ashamed 0! y
having forced him, by the freedom Of !:
M advances. into making this cxrlana- \
ton. Meanwhile. could not help lili- =
ing him better tl.an ever and feeling Z
moro than ever interested. not 10 say =
curious. aboa. him. Il vas nOw certain y
that some mystery or other attached to 4
him. cast coYcrt Chances at him in
The vain attempt to read something of =
his secret through his outward aspect
But lie was inscrutable. or rather there
was nothing especially noticeable i'll