The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-31


ely old fox is landed in Sedan jail.
went on at the door the patrol exam
ined me before | was allowed to enter.
Pauline came forward at the sound of
NV step; the tears were rolling down her
pale cheeks.
Pauline" 1 said hesitating,y, "Tm glad
/ happened to come this evening. have
heard outside. What can / do for you p"
Nothing" she said hopelessly. Il can
Only sit still and wait for the worst"
"But." l began, you must not lose cour-
age; It is only his first conviction.
That won't help him much" she re-
piled you know that as well as do F"
HE was betrayed. l hear" l went on.
Yes" she said; "a man OF Chairieres,
whom he had worsted in u bargain. turned
informer. They seized him at this very
door. l saw it all. heard it. All. it was
dreadful! Just what / have always
feared"-she shuddered at the remem-
brance; land what will become of him?
| have asked the gendarmes. They say
he will GET what he deserves What will
that be. do you Think"
could not tell her. knew nothing OF
French law. knew there were fines and
i'm prisonments, but of the exact details
nothing whatever.
He resisted. you know" she went on
'he fought hard. Two excjsemen were
badly hurt"
zee. it sounded bad; there seemed no
chance of his being let of lightly.
But as / rsnsacked my mind for grain
of comfort. an idea struck me.
Pauline ] cried, I'VE must have q
good defense for him on his trial."
we could not afford it." she said
sadly.
But" | continued, Pm thinking Of
Maitre Letellier"
''Maitre Letellierp she repeated; "who
is hep"
He is the most eloquent pleader in
Sedan" | explained. land have heard
that be often pleads for nothing. He is a
great socialist you know. He tried to get
into the chamber last year and failed.
Since then he loses no chance of airing
his opinions. The president of the tri-
bunal at Sedan admires him, too. He is
the very man to take up your father 6
cause, and he'll do it for nothing, as it's
against the government
Pauline started from her seat. Jules, "
she cried, lis that true?"
Yes" 1 said. I've heard it dozen
times"
And YOU will go to Maitre Letellier
and ask him?"
YES" l replied, "I will go now"
"And when will YOU let me know"
"On my way back" | said. ''but it will
be late. Remember, it is an hours walk
to Sedan"
"Never mind, I shall be watching for
you. Jules. am very grateful to you"
1t was wonderful how light my heart
was as | started on Pauline's errand. The
ground seemed to fly under my feet.
Within an hour was waiting in Maitre
Letellier's bureau for him to return from
the club where he was dining. When at
last he came he did not let me tell my
story near so fully as | wished 20.
"Ees, yes" he said, 81 know the kind OF
case 1t is scarcely such as | care to I'M
dertaKe. Still, as you are so urgent. l
might, perhaps You had better come
and see me tomorrow at 10 o'clock. do
not talk business out of business hours. "
Then he rose our interview was evidently
at an end. lone word more" he said. as
babe MIN good-evenin9. "Am | TO uu-
derstand that 1t is you who retain me for
the defense?"
stared at him in astonishment.
al mean" he continued, lis it you who
are making yourself responsible for my
fee ?"
Atthis question you might have knocked
me down with feather.
"Your fee," Monsieur rAvocatp l
gasped.
He smiled.
Yes my fee." he said; "did you think
prisoners were defended gratis? ?"
But | had heard" | began, then
suddenly l seemed to recognize how
vague those stories of his disinterested-
ness had been besides, no doubt he did
not class smuggling as political otiense.
| changed nv tone. Eyes. monsieur, GER
tainly am responsible for the fee."
81 shall not be hard on you" he said /;
eve will make it $50 francs"
"Bien. Monsieur PAvocat," replied,
and then, half dazed, | walked out into
the street.
Two hundred and fifty francsl Where
was that to come from? My savings
amounted to one-third of the sum. The
trial would come off soon. perhaps, and
Pauline would have to be disappointed.
| was outside the Notifications by this
time. / saw in the twilight the outline OF
an estaminet which l knew of old. went
in and called for petit verre." then for
another. While ! drank. the landlord sat
and talked with me. When | came out
my mind was so full of doubt and per-
plexity that could not walk quickly. Ii
was past 10 o'clock when l knocked at the
door OF the Cafe Pochet.
Its all right, Pauline" l said "Maitre
Letellier undertakes the case"
She began to ask questions, but l hur-
ried away, and she called out her thanks
after me into the night.