The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-07-02

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talker. The lunch was excellent, also
the company, and then he babe me
adieu at the hotel, / am sure it was
with sincere regret on both sides,
particularly as he was about leaving
Paris for London, and our renewed
acquaintance would have to be sus-
pended until we met in New York Ny
sister returned from shopping expedi-
ton later in the afternoon. and / gave
her a graphic account of how / spent
the morning, concluding, And here is
the money you wanted my hand Gid
ing into my pocket 1t was empty! Ny
purse had disappeared without a tear
in the material to mark its exit l had
not taken 1t out after leaving the
bankers: of that | was almost certain;
therefore my pocket must have
been picked en- route. / rememb ered
crowd of people in the Rue Daunou,
which damned the narrow side
walks, but Mr.. Fairman had been be-
hind me the entire way. Could ne help
me L wondered. My sister advised me
to write to him at once. Perhaps we
could stop him before he left the city
l looked at the clock; it was striking
four. He leaves at six murmured,
hopefully L will send for him imne-
diately.' Then, remem boring: But 1
don't know his address. Is it not pro-
voking? l went over to the window
and gazed absently out. l had been
watching passers-by for some time,
feeling deeply depressed, when sud-
denly I caught sight of Mr.. Fairman
hurrying along on the opposite side.
What luck. Without a word of explain
alton to my sister l ran to the door,
down the staircase and into the street
In few seconds had overtaken him,
and while trying TO regain my breath
managed to tell him of my loss He was
most sympathetic and much distressed
over the occurrence.
81 am mortified at not having been
able to take better care oftyou,' he kept
repeating, apologetically; you cannot
imagine how badly feel However, 1
will 60 to the police station and report
the theft on my way to the depot, so
that your interests will be looked after
when l am gone
He walked with me back to the hotel
entrance, and l gave him minute de-
scription of my pocket-book and its con-
tents, after which he excused himself,
as he said he must return to his apart
ment before going to the. train. In
spite of his kindly interest, as is usual
in such eases, the money was never
heard of again.
"a few days ago." Mrs. Chester con-
tinued, drawing long breath and sit
ting more erect, Il met Mr.. Fairman ON
Fifth avenue, and stopped to speak to
him. How have you been since 1 saw
you last summer in Paris?' exclaimed,
cordially. He shook my hand rather
mechanically, l thought, and seemed
somewhat puzzled. Do you know
went on, we never found any trace of
that money that was stelen? And
added, laughing: we almost accused
you of petty larceny
''Mr. Fairman's face wore an extra
ordinary expression. Paris? Petty
larceny?' he stammered, looking blank
" at me, but, my dear Chester, have
not been abroad for three years.
For moment there was dead
silence, each gazing at the other. Not
been abroad?' l gasped, unbelievingly
But saw you; 1 lunched with you
81 can prove an alibi whenever you
please Mr.. Fairman replied seriously
L spent August and September with
my sister Carrie IN Newport
Then the truth flashed over me-
The small differences had not noticed
before became only too clear now. The
clever duplicate had traded on his mis-
taken identity, and had calmly lunched
me, and rified my pocket to pay for, the
spree. Well, it was good lunch, but
it cost me one thousand francs. R IL.
McVickar,iin Harper's Bazaar