Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-09
THE LOST PURSE.

skirts She released them with sudden
movement and thrust her hand into her
muff, which she held in her left hand. At
the same moment she uttered a cry of sur
prise. The little purse that she always car
rled in her muff was no longer there. A
few feet away from her there stood a man
OF about so years of age, clean shaven,
stout, well dressed Ho was looking at
her attentively. Then he suddenly came
toward her, and with polite bow and an
evil smile he said:
Madam, live near by in the Rue de Ia
Michodiere, No. 60. NJ. Chouinot; man of
business. If you desire to have news re-
garding the purse you have been so unfor
tunate as to lose can furnish it to YOU"
M. Choulnot was a fine specimen of a
rascal. 1t must be confessed life was diff
cult for him. He had ondeavored to make
success of several enterprises, but every
time just as the longcd for end was in
view an obstacle had risen up and over
whelmed him. That obstacle was justice.
The clients whom he had attempted to
dupc had made complaints to the police,
and the police had started Investigations
which had finally brought NJ Chouinot
face to face with the superintendent of po-
prison of Mazas. Hoppily he had so far
been able to avoid long terms of imprison-
ment, which was something, but he had
been obliged in every case to disgorge his
gains and restore to their rightful owners
the sums of money that had been conflded
by them to his care. In short he had so far
been successful only in putting to one side
his scruples.
That Ioy bn 1yac WALKING bn1,ip6 N,pn
Daurel. Was he looking at her? 1t is prob
able that he was, for Nine. Daurcl deserv-
ed it. Rarely has u more charming woman
been seen.
That she had the appearance of the smart
woman, a supple and graceful figure, beau
tifully proportioned could be seen from
her back. In front it was seen that she
had lovely face, dark ardent eyes, an
adorably chiseled nose, q fine mouth, and
besides these an infinite and subtle charm
that was indefinable. She was woman
no man could help looking at.
So, as has been said already, M. Choui-
not was walking behind Nine. Daurcl.
Suddenly he saw that she had dropped
something on the pavement. He was about
to call her attention to the fact when an
idea presented itself to his mind.
"Never trust a first impulse, thought
he
No one happened to be passing at the
moment. Why should he not take posses
sion of the article provided it was worth
the trouble?
NJ. Chouinot opened the purse, for it was
purse that Nine Daurcl had let fall,
mignon little purse with her name on it
in neat silver letters. 1t contained q 50
franc bank note, several scraps Of paper
and letter in an envelope ready to be
posted.
NJ. Chouinot rapidly looked over the
pieces of paper. They We're letters that
showed signs of having been read and re-
read many times. They were almost il
pieces, and all bore the same signature,
Henri. The letter in the envelope was ad
dressed to NJ. Henri dc Prcjaillos. So the
owner of the purse was answering love
lettcrs
''Ha, hal" exclaimed NJ Chounot to
himself. Then he found some cards bear
ing the name, Nine. Andre Daurcl, and
NJ. Chouinot commenced to think deeply.
Mime. Daurel to Il male friend. Henri &c
Prcjailles. Excellent AFFAIR.""
Without trcmor he opened the envcl-
opc, and taking out the letter began to
read. at remains to be seen now whether
Nine. Andre Daurcl is rich said NJ.
Chouinot to himself. "In any case it will
be sufficient if her friend is. Henri dc
Prejaillcs sounds we'll l will find this out
as quickly as possible
Talking thus to himself, NJ ChOuinot
kept following Nine. Daurel. When he
saw her stop in front of the postoilicc, he
stopped also. 1t was the decisive moment.
''She wants to post her letter now and
discovers that her pocketbook is lost"
continued NJ. Chouinot in monologue. Il
will approach her very politely and beg
her to come to my Office for news of the
lost article. There l shall tell her my con
ditionsr'
NJ Chouinot's deductions were perfectly
accurate. Is it necessary to say that when
Nine Daurel heard NJ. Chouinot address
her she turned in surprise, which rapidly
changed to confusion and terror and left
her without a word to reply?
AS soon rs she recovered her self posses
sion NJ. Chouinot, who had turned upon
his heel as soon as his little speech was
concluded, was already disappearing down
the street.
Thus she found herself at the mercy of
this man. Doubtless he had opened the
pocketbook, had read her letters and now
would only restore them to her in return
for "a large reward. Nine. Daurcl faced tho
situatios.
''There is no use hesitating," she
thought. 81 must go to this man"
And she went
NJ. Chouinot was waiting for her, and
as soon as she had made known her name
she was introduced into the private office
of the man of business. NJ. Chouinot rose
to meet her and bowed
Here is your pocketbook, madam" he
said to her, holding out the article he had
picked up shortly before on the pavement.
Nine Daurel, a little surprised was about
tc thank him warmly when he began:
II hand you back your pocketbook, but
honesty compcls Inc to state that it docs
not return to you intact. 1t still contains,
indeed, the note for 80 francs, because
money is always sacred. You will also find
there your visiting cards But l thought
it was inprudent of you to keep your let
tiers there. An indiscretion is so easily
committed Therefore l will take care OF
them-oh, the utmost care, assure you'll"
Nine Daurel understood. The man had
laid trap for her, and she had tumbled
into it.
Monsieur, she stammered, 1.-THE pock-
etbook you have picked up is my property.
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