Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-09
F!oR|OCENlTS

force you to give me back those letters. -
"And 1 can go to the police and tell
them that 1 picked up nothing; that
know nothing of any pockctbook, and that
l, NJ. Chouinot, a business man, am above
all suspicion of such things"
Mime. Daurel did not insist on this point.
"But," she said, "why do you keep
those letters? They have no interest for
you. l assure you
eta, ta TIA! Letters of that sort, ma
dame, l assure you, are very nice to keep.
NJ Henri de Preiaillcs writes most in
tcrestingly, and your own style, madame,
is delightful"
Mmc. Daurcl flushed. She had loosened
for u brief second her grasp on the pocket
book, and that little moment of negligence
was going to cost her dearly.
You forget, madame" continued NJ.
Chouinot, THAT everybody who RECEIVERS a
lost article is entitled to a reward"
II am prepared to give it you, mon
sieur'
agreed. But there are rewards and re-
wards. ! thinl, the correspondence of
Nine. Daurel and Henri &c Prcjaillcs is
worth Il good price"
"Oh, monsieur
"a very high price, repeat, madame.
For 20, 900 francs l will return you your
letters. Otherwise 1 will give them your
husband
Nine. Daurel became furious.
"But it is u swindc!" she shrieked
"That is nasty word for such an ex-
quisite mouth.
"Wretchn'
And Nine. Daurcl threw one of her cards
in the face of NJ. Chouinot. The man OF
business remained calm and said:
"A second card is useless I have al
ready taken one Twenty thousand francs,
l repeat. NJ. Daurel is builder ard is
rich. Twenty thousand francs is nothing
to him!"
This was said quietly and with calm
cynicism.
After her anger a 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 if she was being sentenced to death.
Then there was n silence, and Nine.
Daurcl rose and walked toward the door
NJ. Chouinot did not move or say 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 NJ. Chouinot wanted to
know.
Several hours later she would return.
Probably he would try to bargain with
him for Is, 600 or 10, 900 francs. But he,
NJ. Chouinot, would remain unalterable-
90, 900 francs.
And then Nine. Daurel would spread
out on the table, not without regrets 90
bank notes of / 900 francs each
At the thought of this NJ. Chouinot rub
bed his hands
ooh, beautiful schemel Twenty thou
sand francs for merely picking up peck
etbook y
But the hours passed, and Nine. Daurcl
did not return. Probably she needed more
time to get tho money. Meanwhile NJ
Chouinot sang to himself while he waited
Presently an employee Of tho Office came
in
Monsieur, there is some one asking for
you outside
The woman, no doubt?"
''No, sir; it is gentlcman"
"a gentleman? Show him in"
The visitor came into the Office.
Monsieur" he said, looking NJ. Choui-
not in the eye, ~ am NJ. Henri de Pre-
jaillcsr
The man Of business took a step back
ward.
'Oh, do not be afraid. / have no inten-
ton Of administering to you the thrashing
you 50 richly deserve. 1t gives me pleas
IRE however, to sly that you are an infa-
nous Villain Having said this, l ask you
now to follow me.
Monsiour!" NJ. Chouinot moved far
Their and farther away.
Henri do Prejailles took pistol out of
his pocket and put the end Of it under NJ.
Chouinot's nose.
viii you follow me?''
Il will follow you, monsieur, but re-
member one thing-that your letters are
In safe place, and that you cannot force
me to give them up, AND