Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1892-03-11

contrary, you are to prevent his being
arrested. An idiot Of man has gone
and put the police on his track" Coin.
dart took notes in shorthand, and Ler-
oux added uneasilY,
"It probably seems strange to
yOu-n
''Nothing seems strange to me-" in
tcrrupted the detective, sand this is not
the irst time have had such charge.
If the public know oil our secrets they
would be less astonished at tho failures
of the police to make arrests. uuder-
stand you wish our gentleman to be put
to no Inconvenience whatever"
That evening, Calcatroni, on leaving
the opera house, stopped minute to take
out cigar and was accosted by stran-
ger, who asked the favor of light. He
had the air of n perfect gentleman, and
raising his hat politely, he said:
"Count Calcatroni, if you thing Of
going to your home now, l advise you
to change your plans, or within fifteen
minutes you will be seated In cab be-
tween two police officers. You would do
better to come and spend the night with
me. And, by the way, where are the
diamonds2"
The Count was astonshed. After
pause he SAID, haughtily:
"You carry the joke too far. Who
are you?"
GA fairy, a guardian angel, replied Coin
dart. "Your friend Lcroux has commls.
stoned me to watch over you. If you do
not believe me, walk II little farther and
you will see two men near your house
awaiting your return"
al will 90 with YOU" said Calcatroni,
''and explain matters on the way. 1t
was debt of honor, fifteen thousand
francs lost at cards, which was obliged
to pay to-day. have pledged the dia-
monds for that amount, but will soon re-
turn them, Lcrodx 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 received
the message he said:
al am willing to forgive him if he
will give me back the diamonds ut
once"
ale cannot do that, for he has
pawncd them for fifteen thousand
francs" said Coindart, and his nearer
exclaimed:
"Pawncd thcm-for fiftecn-it is i'm.
possible"
"Thcy are worth morc?"
"Supposc the broker should sci
them" cried Leroux, wildly. ooh,
Coindart, L beg you, find out his name
for mel"
Vho uovt n,orn;nfr ;,sto,d IF ro;,
dart, the Count himself called at the
bankers house and proudly presented his
card. lie was not kept rafting min
ute, and when the two men met no ono
would have thought that it was Calca-
troni, for whom tho police were looking.
at is true that you arc in great dis.
tress2" he said in distant tone, and Lc-
roux stammercd out reply, which his
visitor interrupted with:
"For week 1 have imagined that
friendlincss toward me prompted you.
l'nt now know why you did not wish
the police to know of your transactions.
This morning did what never before
thought ccessary-bolieving yoY to be
an honest mani examined the dia-
monds."
"Thcn you did not pawn thcm2" cried
Leroux, joyfully; and the other an
swcred scornfully:
"Pawned them, sirl Since when have
gentlemen tried to raise money on bits
of glassa" Leroux fell into an armchair,
trembling in every limb.
"You thought to deceive every one,
did you not2" continued the Count.
"And in order to conceal the gulf about
to swallow your patrons fortunes you
stopped to decorate your sons bride with
worthless glass ware am now going
to the Project of Police to expose your
Vaccinations; do not fear arrest for a
man cannot be punished for stealing rub
bish. To-morro " crowd of depositors
will bcsiege your hank and demand their
money"
"Have pity on mel" cried Lcroux.
"Do not gol What will you take to
keep silcnce?"
Fifteen thousand francs" replied
Calcatroni promptly. eff speak. your
diamonds will cost you more than that. {"
never heard how Lcroux raised the
money, but after some delay Calcatroni
put it in his pocket and left the house
with the air of Il man who had performed
an net of justice. On his way home he
posed letter for Mr.. Leroux. 1t was
addressed to the Project of Police, and
stated that the lost necklace had Just
been found behind piece of furniture
where it must have fallen. The bank
er's business has improved since then,
his daughter in law wears n ncckIaco of
real stones, but when any one speaks of
the Leroux family, Count Calcatroni
says, grandly.
II do not visit these people. From
the French, in Epoch.
Thn Rnn md IFS Yninn