Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-07-19

PAAoN1 IL oOlllO lhNoblOlItlDlO pIlsG WIFI
q friend at the club"
"My friends are above suspicion, said
Armand loftily. 1T is you alone who have
brought about all this annoyance, and it
is very kind of you to try to shift the re-
sponsibility upon me-"
She was not convinced, but she said to
herself that she could never desert her hus-
band. If lac had done unytL ing wrong and
there was going to be trouble, she would
devote herself to supporting him against
everything and everybody. 1t was the duty
of wife to espouse the CAUSE of all that
concerned the firm and she prepared her
self for the campaign.
The captain of police subordinate Off
ctal, seemed to her to be q person more
easy Of approach.
She hunted him up, explained her di-
lemma to him frankly and asked him what
it all signifed.
He received her with his most courteous
manner, as one always receives pretty
woman in the French administration, and
went himself to look up the case. After
consulting the records he said in the Off
hand tone of n man well accustomed to
such things
'An affair of smuggling"
At this simple statement Nine du Pou-
chel gave great cry and almost tainted.
The captain of police rushed to her and
tried to reassure her, again and again say
ing that it was a thing which often hap
pened even in the best society and that it
was not matter of life and death.
She refused to believe her ears. and
threatened to have an attack of nerves.
The poor officer ut his wits end, looked
again ut the register and then said: ooh,
pardon me, l have made a mistake took
Dupouchel for Du Pouchel."
And he went in search of another file.
But then his face clouded and his anna
BILE manner gave place to one of cold po-
likeness.
81 regret, madame, that l can tell you
nothing; u private affair of which all
knowledge Is confined to the cabinet.
must refer you to the project"
On seeing che turn that things were
taking, Armand, who had become very
nervous, proposed finally that they should
go to the country where they were really
needed in order to attend to the replace
ment of their steward.
But Nine. du Pouchcl was afraid that
the detective would follow them to their
chateau, where his presence would have
had very bad appearance in the village.
And then she had an inspiration Of genius.
Dressed IN somber garments, with q
thick veil over her face, she went out one
day after her husband, saw Rabarton fol-
low him, took cab and followed Rabar-
ton.
They circulated in this way throughout
Paris oil day, the three, one after tho 9TH
or.
When Armand returned she followed
Rabarton, saw him enter a miserable
house at the other side of the city beneath
the ramparts, entered after him and made
inquiries of the porter.
She learned that Rabarton was q good
family man, who gained a small livelihood
for his wife and five children. When the
days work was done he took off his uni
form, dressed himself like any one else,
and went to smoke his pipe in the park.
She went there to wait for him.
On arriving Rabarton recognized her
Immediately and salutcd her mechanical
"; as he was not under orders he had the
right to be polite.
She approached him with an air of eff
fective simplicity.
an. Rabarton, how do you dor"
"Thank you, madame, you are very
good"
81 am very happy to meet you, rs I
want to have little talk with you. You
arc q detective?"
"Ah, maGLme, q sad calling"
uTt &c n pDn LTbot r,O,, n n &c
Of great use to society"
"Oh, it Is not that, but ono is not paid
enough. Then there are people who tire
you out. Your husband, for cXample-do
you think that he is easy to follow? AL
ways by highways and byways, and then
in carriages, and when there is an i'm
portant case it is always reserved for the
proteges of the administration. Always
favoritism. And If you could know what
they give me- without counting that most
people look upon one with distrustl Then
there is the dead season during tho sum-
mer. They do hardly anything, and one is
months without making a SOU"
"ButyO ought to have some small per
quisites."
lone would think so, but outsiders are
not interested and our clients dare not ad-
dress us for fear of getting into trouble"
ooh, we are not afraid, only sometimes
rather annoyed. Besides we could come to
somo understanding If you would be rea-
sonab1e. But tell me first why they had us
followed"
"You understand, my good lady, that l
have family. must make q case last as
long ms can"
"But if some one found you more lu-
crative employment"
"Ahl If could have something permR-
nent! That is my dream, and If could
leave PARISH
"Well, just now have place to offer
you in the country. Come to SEQ me to-
morrow morning dressed as you are II
the work does not suit you you can ga
back to your detective business at mid
day."
The next morning Rabarton, in the
dress Of a bourgeois, presented himself at
the house of NJ. and Nine. du Pouchel
They had made inquiries about him and
had received excellent references. Rabar-
ton was entered as steward in the service
of the family.
Armand had had some hesitation about
carrying out the project. He feared that
in default of the detective another would
be attached to him. But Rabarton took it
upon himself to bring the episode to q def
mite termination. In fact, some time after,
the project of police, in overlooking the
records, came upon the following state
ment: "The force has been deceived by q
false ScpOt They arn now on the troclr of