Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-24

Off from the front; but very often he pass
ed the entire day elsewhere. whether on
business or pleasure / did not know.
josephine taught me French from the
books in that language that lined her
shelves, and I caught the accent from her
own sweet lips. 1t stood me in good stead
upon one occasion, as you shall see.
So I came to Josephine the next day
full of my adventure: but as soon as she
saw me she clapped her hands and ex-
claimed that she had been wishing me to
come for the last hour.
Father Is away, and 1 must positively
run over to the dressmakers and try on
my new gown. So tend the store a Few
moments, like a good boy. You need
not fear any customers will modest you.
So away she ran, and I, deprived of the
comfort of confiding to her my story, be-
gan to look about for a book. had read
most of those upon the shelves.
Suddenly / remembered that new box
had arrived from France the day before.
and as NJ Croneau always unpacked
these himself in the back room, I resolved
to look there for some newer work. l had
never been in this back room before. 1t
vas M. Croneau's sanctum and no one
was ever invited to enter it.
I pushed open the door and stepped In.
1t was lighted by small back window
a few old boxes in which consignments
of books were received. shelf or two and
a fireplace. The newly arrived packing
box stood III The center of the floor, but 1t
was empty Nor were any books, new or
old, to be seen anywhere. l was about
to withdraw, feeling a trifle guilty, when
my eye was caught by an object in the
fireplace. 1t was the back of a burned
book. and examining more closely dis
covered very large quantity OF burned
paper in the crate. This was singular
that a man should receive box of new
publications and at once burn them.
scented Il mystery, and examined further.
My search was rewarded by finding
brand new volume by Du Boisgobey re-
the screen. This was what l had come
to find, so l retired to the store, and, seat
ing myself, began its perusal. The story
started off finely. and. as is my habit, !
turned half the pages and SKINNED
through to catch the drift of the plot.
My surprise and disappointment were
great when 1 discovered that near the
center of the book there were fully fifty
leaves perforated by a round hole near
their inner edge. This hole was about
an inch in diameter, and was cleanly cut.
as with a die. 1 stared at it, bothering
my head for a solution of this mystery.
Why was this perforation made? If you
orened the pages at where the hole be-
gan it seemed like tiny pocket, the bot
tom being formed by the pages that had
been left intact. 1t could scarcely be an
accident. Then this pocket had been
ade for a purpose. But what purpose?
A dry cough aroused me. and looked up.
NJ. Croneau was standing before me.
regarding my face with strange inten-
sity. We stared at one another full
minute. and during that time the express
sion of his eyes denoted dismay, anger,
doubt and fear-but his features never
moved muscle. Then he reached out
his hand, took the book from my unresist-
ing fingers, walked back to his room and
closed the door behind him, without so
much as word or a backward look.
Josephine came in, and thanked me pref
tily for relieving her. But it was time for
my engagement with Mr.. Forsythe, so 1
contented myself with few tender words
and pressure OF her little hand, ana
started on my mission
On the way l pondered the events of the
morning and came to the conclusion that
NJ. Croneau was strange mana stranger
man than 1 mad thought; and that strange
things were taking place under cover of
that book business. But was 1t any affair
of mine? I was in love with this mans
daughter; she encouraged me in the belief
that she reciprocated my passion, and I'M
doubtedly my best policy was to say moth
ing and see no more than could help see
ing.
Resolving thus came to the store and
was ushered into Mr.. Forsythe's Office. He
was writing when 1 entered. and motioned
me to a seat.
Presently he faced about and regarded
me almost as attentively as had NJ. Cro-
neau shortly before. But the express
sion of his eyes was first questioning, then
cautious, and finally trustful.
How long have you been in our en-
ploy. Mr.. Andrews?" was his first question.
Nearly two years. sir"
You were recommended to us by Mr.
Ransom, the lawyer?'
Eyes, sir: he was my fathers friend, and
signed my bond"
"Also vouching for your good character
Is the position you occupy satisfactory
one?"
Il have nothing to complain of, sir, ex-
cepting that I believe myself capable Of
doing better things"
Exactly" He seemed to think deeply
for a moment and then asked:
Have You any ties that would prevent
you accepting mission that will take you
across the ocean-on a long and probably
perilous journey to half civilized land?"
/ own I was startled. That some COM
mendation, or even preferment, might be
offered me 1 had imagined, but such
proposition as this took my breath away.
Still 1 realized that this was not my
time to present difficulties to any PROPOSE
ton that would serve to advance my in
tercsts so 1 replied. calmly as could:
"There is nothing to prevent my going,
sir. except"
1 was going to say Josephine, but he mis-
understood me, and added:
"You mean the remuneration. shall
take care that 1t is liberal Now listen to
me. The delcacy with which you acted in
that affair Of last evening, your evident
good sense and calm judgment, attracted
my attention. If you are discreet as well.
you will be exactly the an I have wished
to perform my difficult errand to Benita"
CTo be continued in Mondays Starr