Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-12-19

muCn leSS tune InAn 1G taxes 10 ueSCI1Do it. Then turning quickly back, crying: "What is itf Whats the matter?' he rejoined his companions.
 When he learned what had happened, his indignation was extreme. Butor, cochon, imbecile, cuistre, were the best names he had for the unhappy cause of the accident, on whom he lavished so much abuse that Pierre could with difi- culty pacify him by declaring that it was quite as much his own fault as Ser trand's.
 Peace being restored, they continued on their errand, Pierre carrying the bas- ket himself this time. He placed it on little table beside the door of the cave, which he proceeded to open, Remond po- litely holding the lantern in order to fa- cilitate proceedings, but great was his nmazement when he saw the lock was empty.
 "Diable~ he cried. What has become of the key? It was in the door an hour ago. and not n sign of it now"
 Dear mem said Remond, "how very annoyingi Some one must have taken it. |"
 Taken itl Who would take it?' cried Pierre. anxious for the credit of the place. "We have no thieves here, can tell you. It must have fallen out" he continued. We will soon find it if one of you gentlemen will be good enough to hold the lantern while search. If we don't find it. must only go and get the other bunch"
 So Remond held the lantern, thinking to himself that the key would not bs found, and sure enough it was not
 
 not trace of that key was to be seen.
 "C'est pourtant drole!" said Pierre, raising himself up after Il last attempt to look under the door of the cave. "Tiens! perhaps the patron took it him self, seeing 1t in the door and thinking had forgotten it. must ask him about it in the morning." So saying, he went off to fetch the bunch of duplicate keys.
 He returned almost immediately, car rying them in his hand. As he ap- preached, Remond, who had stopped down, as though to look for something under the table where the lantern stood, raised himself, saying: "Is this the key, M. Pierre? I found it lying here just beside the leg of the table"
 "Peste!" said Pierre, putting the bunch he held down on the table beside the Ian tern. That's it. sure enough. Now, how did miss it: I'm sure I searched well enough. An, yours are sharp eyes, NJ. Remondr'
 Remond was on the alert; his keen glance had already spied out the key he wanted, with its label. No. 13, in Charles clear writing, and his hand, con- cealed in his pocket. grasped the knife ready to sever the cord that attached it to the ring. One moment was all he wanted, and then the F, 900 francs were his. At the thought his eyes gleamed ] like vultures which scents its prey. He drew long breath of relief as Pierre, taking up his basket, which lay on the ground, turned toward the door of the cave, with the single key in his hand, leaving the bunch still lying on the table beside the lantern. He opened the door and went in, but when he had got few paces in he stopped and called to them to bring the lantern.
 But that moment was enough. Quick as flash those long supple fingers did their work, and with a smile of triumph Remond grasped the wished for key.
 Then with inimitable sang froid and audacity he carried the lantern himself into the cave. saving he could not again expose M. Pierre to the awkwardness of such a maladroit as his esteemed friend. He helped to fill the basket with many gay jest, held it while Pierre locked the door of the cave, and when the latter was going away without the bunch of keys reminded him of his forgetfulness adding that, though M. Pierre had said there were no thieves at Les Bons Amis | still if TniUht he 6aO8arouS tO 1aoyp tbaYr there, since he, who knew what good wine was, had seen the contents of the cave, at which Pierre laughed heartily as an excellent joke, as he put the keys in his pocket, and so they sallied back into the house, Remond singing as they went: