The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-09-05


cred anything?"
Everything, madame" Guerin re-
turned calmly, depositing his portfolio
on the table. "a curious story it is, too,
and with woman in it, of course, as
thought from the start"
Perhaps, them" said the baron, with
a meaning look at his wife, ''you would
desire, monsieur, to be alone with me
awhileT'
But Guerin, priding himself upon his
skill as a raconteur and preferring two
auditors to one, made signs that he could
gloss over things when necessary and
plunged into his story.
''The truth is, baron" said he after a
little thought, 1--WE never have had a
case that gave us so much trouble as
this. Usually we have to trail people
who, suspecting nothing, take no pre-
cautions. Here, on the contrary, all
were under cover. It took us nearly a
week to learn that Wilhelm, the book
maker Of the Rue Vivienne, had lady
love, and to find out who she was took
US longer still, as Wilhelm visits her
very irregularly. She is foreigner-a
Polish girl-who lives secluded life in
little gem of house in the vicinity Of
La Muette"-
'.The vicinity of La MuetteP' mechan-
ically repeated the baron, going red and
white by turns LA Muette-the little
wretchI'
Eyes," said Guerin, though not com.
pretending, "but what will interest you
most Of all is that Wanda-the Polish
girls name, you know-on certain even
ings receives another visitor, and that
he-this visitor-comes from your Viro-
fay stables. You see the mouse in the
cheese, do you not, baronf" and GueriD
smiled significantly.
"The little wretchr' cried SLIDER again
starting up in his chair.
Exactly" said Guerin carelessly,
ssbut you would see more than one of
the same kind, baron, were you week
in my place. Well, it is she-this
Wanda-who sells to Wilhelm-for a
round sum of course-the secrets of
your stable, by which every one profits
but you, baron. Nothing remains to be
done now but to learn the name of this
man who gives this girl the information
that she in turn imparts to the book
maker"-
''AhP' said SLIDER, with sudden vi
vacity, 'you do not know his name
then
Sand nothing is done after all then,
monsieur" chimed in the baronne, with
resentful surprise.
ssOn the contrary, everything is done,
madame" firmly declared Guerin, pour
ing his demitasse of brandy into his cof-
fee cup, and draining it at gulp, ''ev-
erything, l repeat, because you do not
know my agent, Coutourier. This is the
way it happened, you see
ssBut we don't-we don't see, Guerin,
or want to see either" SLIDER cried reck-
lessly. 1--WE see too much already
more than is necessary"
son the contrary, NJ Guerin," Mar
guerite protested sweetly, your story is
most interesting; proceed if you please. !"
"Then, as / said,' continued Guerin,
sit happened in this way. They go to
bed very early at Virofay, and last
night--other nights also-when all were
asleep, man slipped out of there with
great precautions, went to the station,
took train for Paris and reached the
La Muette house about II p. m. Two
hours later he came out again, took a
fiacre, and was driven back TO Virofav.
wnere his absence had been noticed by
no one"
"The name of this man-you do not
know it, you say?" demanded the bar
onne, becoming thoughtful.
'sNot yet, madame. But
'sPoohr said SLIDER, sit must have
been my trainer, Hawkins. He's a
great hand for girls, and the only man
at Virofay rich enough to have nest in
the Muette quarter"
"And has Hawkins a railroad pass, do
you know, baron, as this man last night
hadY' 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 Virohay, trying to
see his face, which he kept concealed,
and heard him tell the St. Lazare Off
cials that he had 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 amuse
madame greatly to hear"
''Go on am not at all hurried. Give
us the details, monsieur" and Mime. Sill
Der smiled invitingly, with her eyes fixed
always on the baron's face with an IN
definable 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
Virohay parsonage, first befooled by the
bookmaker and the bookmaker's lady
love, is second time befooled by his
would you guess itT-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 TREMENDOUSLY for the
brandy.
Wanda, must tell you," continued
Guerin, "for my agent watched her
house, Wanda, of course, numbers
among her other friends a certain M.
Rene de Payzac"--
The Silbers started, each in a different
way.
''De Payzaci He makes three, then,
the baron gasped out, losing all vestige
of self command.
.'Oh, no, not at least as you mean,
baron. Payzac is merely an old friend
Of Wanda's, who limits himself now to
his pockets through his one
time idol. Courtier overhead them one
night in the gardenI and learned the
whole story. He wanted 40 louis. and
she wouldn't give them to him, and he
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 vexed
at this lack of interest In his amusing
"details" he rose, took his hat and began
q cool adieu. He was tired Of talking
thus to the walls.