The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-24

store few moments. like good boy
You need not fear any customers Will
mpleSt YOU"
80 away she ran. and I, deprived OF
the comfort of contiding to her my
story. began to look about for book.
| had read most of those upon the
shelves.
Suddenly l remembered that a new
box had arrived from France the day
before, and as NJ. Croneau always un-
packed these himself in the back room
| resolved to look there for some newer
work. had never been in this back
room before. 1t was NJ. Croneaus
sanctum, and no one was ever invited
to enter it.
| pushed open the door and stepped
in. 1t was lighted by small back
window and contained a desk. guarded
by screen. a few old boxes in which
consignments of books were received,
shelf or two and a fireplace. The
newly-arrived packing-boX stood in the
center of the floor but it was empty.
Nor were any books. old or new, to be
seen anywhere. | was about to with
draw. feeling a trifie guilty, when my
eye was caught BY an object in the fire.
place. 1t was the back of a burned
| book. and examining more closely |
discovered a large quantity of burned
paper in the CRATE. This was singular
that a man should receive a box of
new publications and at once burn
them. | scented mystery and eX-
amined further. My search was re-
warded by finding brand new volume
by Du Boisgobey reclining on the floor
between the desk and the screen. This
is what / had come to find, so I re-
81 a.t.N ty,fr -alf
began its perusal The story started
off finely, and. as is my habit, turned
half the pages and SKINNED through
to catch the drift of the plot.
My surprise and disappointment were
great when / discovered that near the
center Of the book there We're nearly
| fifty pages perforated by n round hole
near the inner edge. The hole was
about an inch In diameter, and was
cleanly cut. as with die. I stared at
| it, bothering my head for a solution of
| this mystery. Why was this perfora-
alton made? If you opened the pages
where the hole began 1t seemed like a
tiny pocket, the bottom being formed
by the pages that had been left intact.
1t could scarcely be an accident. Then
this pocket had been made for a pur-
pose. But what purpose? A dry cough
aroused me and ] looked up.
M. Croneau was standing before me,
regarding my face with a strange in
tensity. We stared at one another a
| full minute, and during that time the
expression Of his eyes denoted dismay,
anger, doubt and fear-but his features
never moved muscle. Then he reached
out his hand. took the book from my
unresisting fingers, walked back to his
room and closed the door behind him,
without so much as word or a back
ward look.
Josephine came in and thanked me
prettily for relieving her. But Ii was
time for my engagement with Hr. For
sythe, so / cOntented myself with a
few tender words and pressure Of her
little hand, and started on my mis-
sion.
on the way 7 pondered the events of
the morning and came to the conclu-
sion that M. CrOneau was a strange
mana stranger man than I had
thought; and that strange things were
| taking place under cover OF that book
business. But was It any affair of
| mine? / was In love with this mans
| daughter; she encouraged me in the
| belief that she reciprocated my pas
sion, and undoubtedly my best policy
| than 1 could help seeing.
Resolving thus ] came to the store
and was ushered into Mr.. Forsythe's
| Office. He was writing when entered
and mOtioned me to a seat.
Presently he faced about and re-
| garded me almost as attentively as
| had M. Croneau SO shortly before. But
| the expression Of his eyes were first
| questioning, then cautious and finally
| trustful.
How long have you been in our EN-.
ploy, Mr.. Andrews?" was his first ques-
tion.
Nearly two years. sir"
| "You were recommended to US by M
Ransom. the lawyer?"
Yes, sir; he was my fathers friend
| and signed my bond"
"Also vouching for your good charac.
isfactory one?"
II have nothing to complain Of, sir
except that I believe myself capable Of
doing better things"
| Exactly" He seemed to think
deeply for a moment and then asked:
''Have you any ties that would pre-.
vent you accepting a mission that will
| take you across the ocean--On a long
and probably perilous journey to a hall
civilized land"'
| own I was startled. That some com.
mendation. or even prefermeht. might
be offered me I had imagined, but such
a proposition as this took my breath
away. ttsatl
Still realized that this was not my
time to present difficulties to any prop.
0sition that would serve to advance rny
interests, so I replied. as calmly as
could:
There is nothing to prevent my
| going, sir, except"
| was going to say Josephine, but hi
miaunflerntood me- and added.