Los Angeles herald., 1892-11-27
A TRANSFER TICKET.


twenty years, was in very bad humor,
as was also Tonette. the bonne, who had
looked in three times already to an
nounce that the dinner would be done to
chip
What in the world had happened to
him? Some accident of course, for, ac-
customed to leave the Office at an estab-
lished hour, Phillipes arrival could
usually be foretold to the minute Real
ly it was frightfull PHILIPPE had surely
been run overl That Montmartre cross
ing doubtlessl He was so reckless al
ways, with an absolute mania for cross
ing a street when it was filled with a
pack of vehicles Hark no. a key CRATES
In the lock!
"Toinette! monsieur comes: quick,
bring in dinnerT
The door opened; Marjeval entered;
his wife flew to him.
"There was an accident then, PHILIPPE?
You are hurt, crushed at lastl knew
it; told you so! 1t doesn't astonish me
the least in the world!'
Hurt? Crushed? What the deuce,
Jeanette, are you talking about? How
could be crushed I'd like to known
"But-such late returnv'
"Oh, see; but come, let us have din
ner; I'm dying of hunger I'll tell you
about it at table.
"As you please, but everything's dried
up now No matter, though, since you've
no bones broken"
And while his wife placed the screen,
turned up the gas and ran her eye over
the silver to see that nothing was lack
ing. Marjeval drew off his topcoat and
mopped his brow-for he had clearly
been on the run to reach home.
Unfortunately, as he drew out his
handkerchief he pulled out with it an
omnibus transfer ticket, which fell on
the floor unseen.
The edge of his hunger blunted, and
while attacking the remains of pate dc
foie gras PHILIPPE became communica-
tive, and told his wife that passing the
bourse coming home some one had
clapped him on the shoulder, and that
"some one" was no other than Proudine.
Madame tiptilted her nose with an air
that said plainly:
"And who, pray, is Proudine"
"Proudine, you know" continued
her husband. whom I've told you of a
thousand times, and whom | met at
Vincennes. A regular character, that
fellow-a journalist, practical joker and
out and out Bohemian! It's five years
since | saw him; judge then of my
amazement and pleasure, for Proudine
and were always great chums. Brief
ly, we entered Berons to take an alb.
sinthe together; Proudine was joking
and talking and time passed before l
knew it."
And dinner finished Marieval got up,
whistling cheerfully, and passed to his
room to don his slippers and smoking
jacket.
Meanwhile his wife assisted Toinette
to clear the table; they sat in the salle-a.
manger instead of the salon-because it
was warmer and made it necessary to
keep but one fire going. In STOPPING to
pick up napkin, she suddenly per-
ceived the ''transfer" on the carpet, and
mentally asked herself, "How did that
scrap of pasteboard come there?" add
ing naturally enough, "Phillipe dropped
it of course"
Marjeval just then returned with tho
last new novel.
"You walked home, think you told
me, PHILIPPE, did you notT" Jeanette
asked carelessly. as he came in. "Or
did you take an omnibus?"
mo, | walked, as | said"
"You are sure you walked? Think
well"
"Certainly, I'm sure; and what should
think about? The Office is only some
twenty minutes from herer
You are positive then, PHILIPPE, you
did not
"See here, Jeanette, this is bore!
Why should l say I'd walked if I'd
taken bus? And why do you ask this:"
"Why? Oh, only to know whether
you are fatigued."
"What an ideap'
And Marjeval installed himself in an
easy chair by the fire, book on his knee
and paper knife in hand, while jean
nette took her seat opposite. Nine.
Marjeval, however, closely watching
QlIQ, WAS ueutdlly ulSCOuISiuS Will Hel-
self.
There's something under all this"
thought she. 81 haven't been out of the
house today; no more has Toinette.
This transfer couldn't have got here
alone, therefore my husband brought it.
He has taken an omnibus today and did
not wish me to know it; therefore he
has been in some place that he seeks to
conceal from me. His delay at dinner,
too-ah-h! | begin to see-that tale Of
an old friend at the cafe was pure inven-
tion. PHILIPPE is deceiving me, and l
am determi led to know why"
And rising quietly she thrust the
famous ticket behind candelabra on
the mantelpiece, PHILIPPE, absorbed in
his book, seeing nothing.
81 am going for my work, said she,
and left the room.
Five minutes passed and PHILIPPE, still
reading, took long pulls at his pipe.
Something was wrong with it; it refused
to draw, clogged and went out. PHILIPPE
rose impatiently for another match, and
cropping on the mantel for the box his
eye alighted on the transfer ticket.
"Halloo!" he exclaimed, "Jeannette's
been out today. The Bon Marche again,
of course, though she says she never
goes there Jeanette just then re-
turned, embroidery in hand, and PHILIPPE
said carelessly: