Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-05-13
ooox, ana snsr nttle moment OF negligence

lyon forget, madame," continued M.
CbouiDot, "that everybody who RECEIVERS u
lost article IN entitled 10 "a reward"
~ am prepared TO give 1t you, mon
sicur."
Agreed. But there arc rewards and re-
wards. j think tho correspondence of
Mime Daurcl and Henri do Prejailles In
worth n good price"
"Oh, monsieur
"A very high price, repeat, madame.
For 20, 900 francs will return you your
letters. Otherwise ] will give them to your
husband"
Nine. Daurel became furious.
But 10 is swindlep" she shricked.
THAT is nasty word for such an ex-
quisitc mouth"
"Wretchp'
And Nine Daurcl threw one OF her cards
In the face OF M. Chouinot. The man OF
business remained calm and said:
"A second card IL useless. have al
ready taken one. Twenty thousand francs,
i repeat. N. Daurel Is builder and r
rich. Twenty thousand francs is nothing
TO himi"
This was said quietly and with calm
cynicism.
After her anger q reaction had followed,
and Nine. Daurcl grew quiet. She was
frightened now, painting and overwhclm-
ed. She sank down on chair, with her
eyes on the ground, listening TO this man
as III she was being sentenced To death.
Then there was n silence and Nine.
Daurcl rose and walked toward the door.
M. Chouinot did not move or say q word.
The unhappy woman went out, pale and
trembling, with sobs In her throat that
suffocated her.
What was she going to do?
That was what M. Chouinot wanted to
know.
Several hours later she would return
Probably he would try TO bargain with
him for 10, 900 or ZOO francs. But he,
M. Chouinot, would remain unalterable--
90, 900 francs
And then Nine. Daurcl would spread
out on the table, not without regrets, 20
bank notes of / 200 francs each
At the thought Of this M. Chouinot rub
bed his hands.
"Oh, beautiful schemel Twenty thou
sand francs for merely picking up pock-
etbook"
But the hours passed, and Nine. Daurel
did not return. Probably she needed more
time to get the money. Meanwhile M.
Chouinot sang to himself while he waited.
Presently an employee Of the Office came
In.
Monsieur, there is some one asking for
you outside"
"The woman, no doubt?"
"No, sir; II Is a gentlemanW
"a gentleman? Show him in"
The visitor camV6nto the office.
Monsieur" he said, looking M. Choui-
not in the eye, II am M. Henri dc Pre-
jaillesv'
The man Of business took step back
ward.
"Oh, do not be afraid. have no inten-
tiOn OF administering to you the thrashing
you so richly deserve. 1t gives me pleas
ure, however, to say that you are an infa-
nous villain. Having said this, ask you
now to follow me-"
"Monsieur!" M. Chouinot moved far
ther and farther away.
Henri de Prejailles took a pistol out OF
his pocket and put the end of it under M.
Chouinot's nose.
"Will you follow meg''
81 will follow you, monsieur, but re-
member one thing-that your letters are
In a safe place, and that you cannot force
me to give them up, and''-
EXACTLY. Meanwhile walk in front of
me, and not a word, or 1 will shoot you
like dog!''
Below carriage was in attendance, and
M. Chouinot got in. Henri do Prejailles
took the seat next him.
"Coachman, drive to Rue Rembrandt,
No. "a, the house of M. Andre Daurelr'
M. Chouinot trembled, but said moth
ing. There M. de Prejailles said to his
companion as he opened the door:
Monsieur, you may get out The mo.
ment to execute your threat has arrived
Take my letters to M. Andre Daurclr'
M. Chouinot sprang out. He could hard
| ly believe his ears. What was going to hap
pen ncxtf
At the door stood q servant, dressed ir
| black, with white tic. NJ. Chouinot went
| toward him.
IN. Andre DaurelS" he asked.
What, monsieur" said the servant
"yOu have not heard?"
"What?"
an. Andre Daurel died this afternoonr y
M. Chouinot was fairly stunned
ooh, " he groaned, II have no luck q,
alll'
He was about to walk away, when Hen
| ri dc Prejailles stepped out of the carriage
and held him back.
"You see," he said, "that good fortune
| does not always come to villains OF YOU
sort! You will now restore to me the let
tiers you have stolen. We will go to youl
office to fetch them, and whatever you dt
do not keep us waiting"
Poor M. Chouinot! What could he do
| He went into his office with Henri Il,
| Prejaillcs at his heels. He took the letters
out Of n secret safe. M. Henri took then
and placed them in his pocket.
| "Now, M. Chouinot," he said, al will
tell you that M. Daurel never felt better
| in his life He is alive and well. The serv
ant mt the door was my own valet Twen
| ty francs did the trick. You see, the 90,
| 600 francs you spoke Of seemed n pretty
! high price compared to that"
And us M. Chouinot raised his arms tC
| heaven in utter despair he added:
'Foc tho rest there Is always bullc; II
this plaything at your pleasure"
And he showed him his revolver. Prom
the French