Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-04-18
SOLD!

M. bernSJelu, Willy Ola dealer IN an
Equities, every morning was wont to
repair at II precisely to the old fashioned
Bravette restaurant. At that particular
time he well knew that business was
! quiet-so quiet that to an outsider the
place would seem as II 1T were going to
the dogs but instead 1t was fourishing
concern. So, to the minute every morn
Ing, he took his seat in the topmost cur
tanned box, ordered his soup and roll and
read the paper until half past II, when
the first stream of clerks and others
would begin to arrive. Then, having par
taken of the cheapest repast he could get,
he would again repair to his establishment
In tho Rue dc Beranger.
AS he sat reading his paper one beauti-
full May morning and giving an occasional
dip with his roll into the soup his atten-
ton was lnomentarily drawn to two Gus.
toners who entered and came and sat down
in tho adjoining box. He heard them give
the waiter an order and then went on
reading his paper again. Suddenly he be-
came alert and began to listen eagerly to
the conversation.
II can assure you, old fellow, " said one
in low but clear tone, II can assure you
that it is masterpiece, genuine Murillo
and perfect gen."
Old Bernstein now began to listen in
tently and kept very still. Evidently they
did not know of his near presence.
IA glorious work" continued the
speaker. "Such picture of gypsy chill
dren which have never seen equaled, and
the coloring of it is superb, magnificent!
In fact, words fail me to express its beau
ties
''You astonish me-" was the reply.
But how came you to discover 1t? Such
finds are few and far between nowadays"
II will explain to you exactly how it
was. Some two years ago we made very
delicate piece of machinery for an English
firm, and the workman who really made
and put it together left us six months ago.
Last week it was returned for repairs, but
unfortunately we have no one now on the
works who properly understands it. So
yesterday was ordered to go down to
Bernace to see if Jules was with his ia
ther, old Claude Revers, who lives on q
small farm. I dare say you have noticed
the old white house near to the station"
II have noticed it many time when
going through Bernace, was the reply.
but proceed"
However, when I arrived at the old
fellows place found on inquiry that his
son was away In England, SO my business
for tho nonce was done. The old fellow,
knowing that had an hour or so to wait
for my train, invited me to stay and chat
with him about his son, and to make mat
ters more comfortable went below into his
cellar to get bottle of wine for our re-
freshing. Old Revers suffers badly from
rheumatism, SO he was some little time
before he returned. Meanwhile had
been looking at a coarse daub Of the Ma
donna which hung on the opposite wall
when suddenly something prompted me
to take 1t down and examine 1t closely.
To my surprise saw that the front of the
canvas of the Madonna had slipped slight
ly, revealing another canvas behind it, I
had my pinchers with me, and had I had
time then l would have taken off the
wooden back and examined it, but just
then heard the old fellow coming up the
cellar steps, and had perforce to put ii
on the wall again. The wine was fairly
good, so between US we finished it, and
then prompted the old man to fetch an
other BOTTLE He was nothing loath, espe
cially when laid franc on the table, SO
down he went once again, carrying the
empty bottle with him and chuckling to
himself. So now was my chance, and tax
ing 1t down once again laid 1t fiat on
the table, whipped out the nails which
held the back in position and brought the
beauties of the hidden canvas, the Muril
10, into the light of day."
'What splendid discovery! lam itch
ing to see and handle it. But go on. 1
am quite Interested
my first thought was that I might
take it away surreptitiously, as the old
fellow was not aware of its existence, but
it was rather too large to smuggle away.
Then, on second thoughts, the old man did
not seem we'll off, and l settled in my
mind to offer him 20 francs for it. had
just time to reflx the nails and put it back
ON the wall when the old man opened the
cellar door,"
''You were only just in time them"
laughed the other.
"Just SO. But, however, as soon as the
fresh bottle was opened told him had
taken great liking to his picture oppo-
site, and that would buy it from him.
The old fellow laughed, thought some
what contemptuously, inquiring what 1
would give.
Twenty francs, and so saying laid
that amount on the table, thinking he
would not resist the sight Of the money
and telling him that no one would give
him more for 1t.
perhaps not m'sieu, was the curt
answer, but have no desire to sell 1t. |
It would bring me bad LUCK and have
had quite sufficient of that, for my farm
and buildings here are burdened with
debt Of 10000 francs But, putting that
on one side why should sell the Madon-
ma, Of which my dear old wife was SO
fond, for few paltry francsi Bah! Why
should II So to end the matter, m 'sieu,
If you want my old picture, the price is the
debt on my farm, and neither you nor
anybody else would be fool enough to give |
me that. So good day, m'sieu. Your |
train will be here in ten minutes and the |
old man laughed immoderately at his prop
osition.
"'Good day, Papa Revers. may come
and see you again some day, I replied as |
I left him, and so here am, only you and |
knowing o. this matter"
II am glad you have been SO discreet,
Pierre, on that latter point. But what do |
you propose to do nowi"
.This: Advance me the 10, 600 francs,
with which feel sure I can tempt old