The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-17
where his absence had been noticed by

no one." sN
1.-THE name of this man-you do not
know it, you say?" demanded the bar
onne, becoming thoughtful.
mot yet, madame. Butt
"Poohl" said SLIDER, cit must have
been my trainer, Hawkins. He's
great hand fer girls, and the only man
at Virofiay rich enough to have nest in
the Muette quarter"
"And has Hawkins railroad pass, do
You know. baron, as this man last night
had:" Guerin pursued eagerly.
"A pass? You are sure he had pass,
monsieur? cried Marguerite, consider
Ing intently the great red face of her
husband suddenly beaded with perspira-
ton.
Absolutely, for Coutourier Swallowed
him all the way from Viroflay, trying to
see his face, which he kept concealed,
and heard him tell the st. Eazare Off
Gals that he mad somehow misplaced it.
With a detail like that to work on, it
won't take long to nab the fel'--
IN. Guerin," interrupted the baronne
with sparkling eyes, "no-go no further.
We know all we need to know; we shall
do the rest. Decidedly, with your as
sistance one can learn anythingl"
at is my trade, madame" replied
Guerin modestly, "but if madame likes
and has time to spare there are other de-
tails of this business that it would amuso
madame greatly to hear"
"Goe2n-I am not ut all hurried. Give
us the "details, monsieur" and Nine. Sill
Der smiled invitingly with her eyes fixed
always on the baron's' face with an in
defnable gaze. Proud of his success and
warmed by his demitasse Of eau de vie,
Guerin settled back in his chair and
crossed his legs comfortably.
1.-TWO words, madame" said he, "and
the milk of the cocoanut is yours. That
Virofiay parsonage, first befooled by the
boolmaker and the bookmaker's lady
love, is a second time befooled by his
would you guess it?-by his wife, who
has lover"
Guerin paused for the laugh that did
not come.
SLIDER and his wife were evidently in
disposed to hilarity. White as the cloth
her fingers drummed ON, the baronne bit
her lips and gazed straight before her,
and Karl, with an effort to pull himself
together, called tremulously for the
brandy.
Wanda, must tell you," continued
Guerin. 'for my agent watched her
house, too-Wanda, of course, numbers
among her other friends certain NJ.
Rene de Payzac"-
The Silbers started, each in n different
way.
de Payzacl He makes three, then"
the baron gasped out, losing all vestige
of self command.
ooh, no, OF at least as you mean,
baron. Payzac is merely an old friend
of Wanda's, who limits himself now to
replenishing his pockets through his one
time idol. Courtier overhead them one
night i'll the gardenH and learned the
whole story. He wanted 40 louis, and
she wouldn't give them to him, and he
threatened if she didn't to tell her friend
how she sold to the bookmaker the Sc
crets of his stable. Tell him if you
dare says she, and will in turn tell
him with whom his wife spends her
evenings when they believe him safely
engaged with his horses"
Guerin broke off to laugh heartily.
But still no one initiated him, and yexed
at this lack of interest in his amusing
"details" he rose, took his hat and began
cool adieu. He was tired of talking
thus to the walls.
What do we owe you, sir!" said Sill
Der stiffly. ut is useless to trouble you
to call here again. Well drop this bust
ness where it stands"
"a thousand francs, baron" replied
the chief of the Guerin agency. "but the
names of the Virofay unknown-you
still lack that"
we do not need it, sir" growled Sill
Der, and a thousand francs, Guerin!
You're wrong; you can't be serious?
You'll surely make a reduction?"
Guerin did not at once reply. He was
carefully selecting a cigar from the box
before him. This done, he raised his
eyes, fixed them upon the discounted
couple and read the situation.
No. said he, firmly. Il 900 francs,
baron, just as l said. And if you haven't
the worth of Your money at that, you
are indeed hard to please
Whereupon Guerin, the bill buttoned
safe in his pocket, smilingly bowed him
self out, leaving the baron, the baronne
and, unluckily for himself, De Payzac,
who CHANGED in at the moment to ex-'
plain things, at their ease.-Translated
For San Francisco Argonaut From the
French of Leon de Tinseau by E. G.
Waggener.