Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-21

have q torrent of blood rushing through
his head. He sprang at mademoiselle
seized her by the arms and shook her fu-
riously.
Where did you lose him. you miserable
girl? Tell me the truth before l shake
you your1 to pieces. Do you hear? DO you
But the girl could only cry and beg for
mercy.
The banker tried to be calm. No. it was
impossible. Nobody would dare to steal
his boy. Somebody would find him and
bring him back. OF that there could be
no doubt. He could scatter money about
right and left, and could have the entire
police force at his orders And he would
set to work at once, for not an instant
should be lost.
Charles, don't let the horses be taken
out. You others. see that this girl doesn't
escape. I'm going to the prefecture
And NJ. Godefroy, with his heart thump-
ing against his sides as if it would break
them, his hair wild with fright. darted
into his carriage. which at once rolled eff
as fast as the horses could take it. What
irony! The carriage was full of glittering
playthings, which sparkled every time a
gaslight shone on them.
My poor little Raoul! Poor darling!
Where is my boy?" repeated the father
as in his anguish he dug his nails into the
cushions of the carriage At that moment
all his titles and decorations, his honors,
had one idea burning in his brain. MY
poor child Where is my child?"
At last he reached the prefecture of po-
lice. But no one was there-the office had
been deserted for some time.
Il am NJ. Godefroy, deputy from L'Eure
My little boy is lost in Paris; child of four
years. l must see the project"
He slipped louis into the hands of the
concierge.
The good old soul, veteran with a gray
mustache, less for the sake Of the money
than out Of compassion for the poor father
led him to the projects private apartments
M. Godefroy was finally ushered into the
room of the man in whom were centered
all his hopes. He was in evening dress and
wore monocle; his manner was frigid and
rather pretentious The distressed father
Wfose knees trembled through emotion, sank
into an armchair, and bursting into tears
told OF the loss of his boy-told the story
stammeringly and with many breaks, for
bis voice was choked by sobs.
the project, who was also the father of q
family, was inwardly moved at the sight Of
his visitors grief. but he repressed his emo
tlon and assumed a cold and self-important
air.
You say. sir that your child has been
missing since o'clock
Yes"
Just when night was falling, confound it.
He isn't at all precocious, speaks very little,
doesn't know where he lives, and can't even
pronounce his own name?"
Unfortunately. that is so.''
Not far from Asnieres gate2 A suspected
quarter. But. cheer up. We have a very
Intelligent commissaire de police there I'll
telephone to him."
The distressed father was left alone for
five minutes. How his temples throbbed
and his heart beat! Then, suddenly the pre-
feet reappeared, smiling with satsfact ion.
''Fcundr'
Whereupon NJ. Godefroy rushed to the pre-
feet, whose hand he pressed until that func-
tionary WINGED with the pain.
Il must acknowledge that we are exceed
ingly fortunate. The little chap is blond,
ism he? Rather pale? In blue velvet? Black
felt hat, with a white feather in it?'
Yes. yes that's he That's my little
Raoul"
We'll. he's at the house of poor fellow
down IN that quarter who has just been at
the police office to make his declaration to
the commissaire. Here's his address, which
l took down: 'Pierron, Rue des Cailloux
Levallois-Perret.' With good horses you
may reach your boy in less than an hour
cratic quarter; his surroundings won't be Of
the highest. The man who found him is only
a small dealer in vegetables
But that was of no Importance to NJ. Code
troy, who, having expressed hiS gratitude
to the project. leaped down the stairs four
at a time, and sprang into his carriage. At
that moment he realized how devotedly he
loved his child. AS he drove away he no
longer thought of little Raoul's princely edu-
cation and magnificent Inheritance He was
decidedly never again to hand over the child
entirely to the hands of servants, and he
also made up his mind to devote less time to
monetary matters and the glory of France
and attend more to his own. The thought
also occurred to him that France wouldn't
be likely to suffer from the neglect. He had
hitherto been ashamed to recognize the ex-
but he decided to send for her to come to his
house. She would certainly shock his lack
eys by her primitive manners and ideas.
But what of that? She would take care Of
his boy, which to him was of much more i'm
portance than the good opinion of his SER
wants. The financier. who was always in a
hurry, never felt SO eager to arrive pune
tually at a committee meeting as he was to
reach the lost little one. For the first time
In his life he was longing through pure affec-
ton to take the child in his arms.
The carriage rolled rapidly along in the
clear. crisp night air down Boulevard Males
herbes; and, having crossed the ramparts
and passed the large houses. plunged into
the quiet solitude of suburban streets. When
the carriage stopped NJ. Godefroy saw q
wretched howell, on which was the number
he was seeking; 1t was the house where
Pierron lived. The door of the house opened
Immediately. and big, rough-looking fell
low with red mustache appeared. One Of
his sleeves was empty. Seeing the gentle
man in the carriage. Pierron said cheerily:
so you are the little ones father. Don't be
afraid. The little darling is quite SAFE" and.
stepping aside in order to allow NJ. Godefroy
to pass, he placed his finger on his lips with:
Hush! The little one Is asleep!''
Yes. 1t was a real howell. By the dim light
of little oil lamp NJ. Godefroy could just
was missing, some broken chairs, a round
table on which stood beer mug which was
half empty, three glasses, some cold meat
on a plate. and on the bare plaster of the
wall two gaudy pictures-a bird's-eye view
of the exposition of 1889, with the Eiffel tow
er in bright blue, and the portrait of Gen.
Boulanger when handsome young lieuten-
ant. This last evidence of weakness Of the
tenant of the house may we'll be excused,
since it was shared by nearly everybody in
France.
The man took the lamp and went on tiptoe
to the corner Of the room where, on clean
bed, two little fellows were fast asleep In
the little one. around whom the other had
thrown protecting arm, NJ. Godefroy rec
ognized his son.
THE youngsters were tired to death, and
so sleepy" said Pierron, trying to soften
his rough voice. Il had no Idea when you
would come, so gave them some supper and
put them to bed. and then 1 went to make
a declaration at the police office Zidore
generally sleeps up in the garnet. but I
thought they would be better here, 1 should
be better able to watch them"
NJ. Godefroy however, scarcely heard the
explanation. Strangely moved. he looked
at the two sleeping infants on an iron bed
stead and covered with an old blanket which
had once been used either in barracks or
hospital. Little Raoul, who still in
his velvet suit looked so frail and delicate