The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-05

a secret which would make them. famous
| ali the world over filled the VEINS OF the
| initiated like fire. They grndged every
moment not spent in the dlsedsSloill Vi
their prospects. They wanted to De mn ere
! thew could GO on and on, painting tne
marvellous pictures of life with which the
future was to be unpublished. men t the
feast was over they slipped away rom tne
guests to enthuse over their plapS: "I"A
alone was cool and collected, ms aP'
preaching departure to France had no per
| ceptible effect upon: hlmi ana Milie'
| Paraf was the gayest OF the gay. one eA-
pressed her sorrow at having to leave her
good friends for a short time, but she
would bring them all sorts OF. nice Httie
presents from Paris. She would convey TO
| them the latest fashions, and then she
kissed them an affectlonate goodnight
and, with her good husband; returned to
the hotel. for they had given up house
keeping some time before.
Paraf was to leave on a. Thursday. On
Monday he politely intimated to Mr.. STAN
ford that he should require Some money.
NEGOTIATIONS Paraf had not asked. him for
a dollar. and he felt anxious to show his
annreciation of the great chemists skill.
"How much will you. want, MIR. ParafP'
asked the Governor. :;
"Well. " reioined Paraf, las i We got to
clear up some of my debts IN Europe and
make a final settlemento of my affairs there,
I think YOU had better give ME check for
500 600: or saw" he added, after some re-
lection. ~ think seventy-hve Will do.
At this critical moment message came
for Governor Stanford. he had not yet
made out the figure on the lace OF the
check. The visitor was waiting Tor him In
the next room. As he passed out, the boy
who used to assist Paraf at his expert,
ments touched him on the shoulder. and
whispered in his ear:
'Don't sign that check. faraI IS
fraud" ~, -.ti-,,oroa +to
II mean" replied the boy in the same
low tone 1that the Frenchman has been
doing YOU all right along. He hasn't got
anv tin in that mud. I've seen him palm
the nugget and dropit into the retort every
time we put it on the ire.
and went downstairs with the boy. 1t dld
not take long to disclose the entire plot.
Paraf was a swindler of the first mag
nitude. There was no tin in the fotrero
clay nor in any other clay IN that vicinity
The Frenchman. was playing ior DIG
it. He must have enjoyed the castles in
the air erected by his deluded associates.
Nine. Paraf, who was IN her way gust as
clever as her husband was, played'her part
in the conspiracy with cOnsumInate art.
Her husbands discoveries and successes
were the constant theme OF her. converse
ton.
When Mr. Stanford returned to the labo-
ratory there was no scene. In minute
he had weighed all the pros and cons OF the
situation. He had saved 100000, and that
was something for which TO be thankful.
Exposure meant ridicule and therefore 1t
would not do to quarrel with the arch
cOnsplrator.
'sMonsieur Paraf, I cannot sign that
check to-day" he said coldly to the sm1l-
ing expectant Frenchman.
'Ah, but Mr.. Stanford" replied Parat,
1.-The time is short and. madame and my
self must make our preparations for de-
parture."
II cannot sign that check to-day reiter-
his eye. land if you force me to-tell you,
Ar air of surprised politeness rested on
the Frenchman's face as he said: .'..,.''.
Monsieur Stanford has grown sus-
picious."
81 have" rejoined Mr.. Stanford, "but,"
he added, eff you can reassure ME by hav-
ing that clay assayed with the same result
that you obtained we will go on as before"
Paraf laughed merrily:
1.-THE game is over" he said pleasantly.
GA few moments more and l would have
taken the last trick" -
And this was the end OF Parafs grand
effort. He went to South America shortly
afterward and cleaned up about $4,000 on
some plausible swindle, but he died of a
fever contracted in that country before he
could enjoy his booty.