Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-12-31

'Don't you think you could lend
me the money, NJ Cassemiche?"
The blacksmith reflected mo-
ment.
SHOWS my chance" he thought;
but he made no gesture of surprise.
II can not lend it to you, but per-
haps I can give it to you. Only one
thing, Nine. Pistache. 1t is the
same with me as with Loupeton-"
~ thought you liked me well
enough TO-"
ITO want to like you better still"
interrupted Cassemlche, land what
is more"
Steps were heard outside, and Nine.
Pistache grew pale. They were COM
ing closer to the house.
Then voice said: I'm the name
Of the law OPEN"
Her husband and the Sheriff! Could
1T be possible that he knew? Was
he coming to kill her? A flood OF
thoughts rushed through her bewil-
dered brain. Cassemiche himself was
in a terrible stew. He was strongly
built, muscular man, but he was
coward.
"Hide yourself; quickw she cried,
and pushing him into a cupboard she
closed the door on him Then. more
dead than alive, she went to open the
door.
"Good morning, Nine. Pistache, !"
cried a merry voice, which was not
that of the Sheriff, but Of the Justice
Of the Peace. Petaride, a big man
of jovial disposition, always ready for
joke nd a laugh. With them came
the Justices clerk.
"We are extremely sorry, Madame,
to cause you any annoyance, but 1t IS
the cause of the law. Why, you're
as pretty as ever! eh? It's your poor
husband, you know. He has Just as
signed and been declared bankrupt,
my dear woman, and it is my duty
now to place the official seals on all
articles in the house. But l shall
not detain you long. Here! POlifesse
(the clerk, come and take the keys
Of these cupboards, and mind you
lock them securely first. Then affix
the seals. must remind you, my
dear Nine. Pistache, that in virtue Of
Article $50 of our valuable code any
tampering with these seals is punish
able by term of hard labor in
prison."
81 cannot stay here a minute
longer" sobbed the poor woman, half
choked with tears.
''Tne DEVIL" said the Justice, 81
must have some one to watch the
seals"
II will stay if you wish it, M. Peta-
ride" said Loupeton, with a horrible
look of satisfied revenge.
"What! you will stay?"
Certainly" returned the wine
merchant! 81 shall feel easier by SO
doing"
"As you like, then, seeing that
Nine. Pistache is going. Let me ex-
press my regret again, my dear mad
anne, for the annoyance have caused
you. The duties of public man are
often of very cruel nature, but they
are necessary Are you ready, Poll
Jesse? Forgotten nothing? Eh?"
"You will take me as far as the
car, won't you?" pleaded Nine. Pts
tache, in her most winning manner.
The Justice CALAMITY offered her his
arm, and the poor woman went out
after looking at Loupeton in a way
that would have sottened a tiger:
But when it is a question of ones
rights, a man is often harder than
even a tiger.
Polifesse, the clerk, went out last
having thoroughly and conscientiously
performed his duty.
He had been especially careful to
lock securely the cupboard where the
unfortunate Cassemiche was lying in
the greatest anxiety of mind and dis
comfort of body. He had double
locked it and affixed the seals.
Night drew on. Loupeton had
brought a frugal dinner Of bread and
cheese with him and he now COM
menced to spread it on his lap and
eat it with the appetite of a man
who is well satisfied. Then he lit
his pipe of fragrant tobacco and
threw himself lazily into an old sofa
whose creaklngs and groanings
sounded to him like the voices of the
| furies of remorse.
"Loupeton," murmured voice
that seemed to come from nowhere
and which nearly made him tumble
/ off the sofa in terror. Up he jumped
like maniac and rushed to the door.
The voice sounded again, still more
quietly, this time, 'Loupeton?"
His feet were glued to the floor!
81 am Cassemiche; your friend
Cassemiche, said the voice. And,
as he still stood there, trembling, 81
am Cassemiche: they have locked me
up in this cupboard, and sealed it.
Let me out, I beg of you"
Then, in flash, the wine mer.
chant regained his presence of mind.
"May I first serve twenty years at
the galleys," he cried, between his
teeth. ''Let you out? Never! You
need not have'put yourself in there
l. r.