The Portland daily press., 1895-04-27
SOLD

repair at II precisely to the old fashioned
Brayette restaurant. At that particular
time he well knew that business was
quieb-so quiet that to an outsider the
place would seem as IF it were going to
the dogs, but instead it was Furnishing
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 the Buo de BeranRer.
AS ho aat reading his paper one beauti-
full May 1-scs.liaG- and giving an occasional
dip with his roli into the soup his atten-
ton was lnosneata2ily drawn to two Gus.
toners who eatgrsa and came and sat down
in the adjoining oox. re heard them give
the waiter an osiier and then went on
reading his 28r again. Suddenly he be-
came alert ans began to listen eagerly to
the conversation.
II can assure you, old fellow" said one
in low but clear tone, Il can assure you
that it is masterpiece, genuine Murillo
and perfect gem %
Old Bernstein now began to listen in
tently and kept very still. Evidently they
did not know of bis near presence.
IA glorious work, - continued the
speaker ''Sach 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 it's beau
ties. ~
''You astonish me-" was the reply
atBut how cano you to discover it2 Sueh
finds are few.e end far between nowadays.
IT 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 a
small farm. dare say you have noticed
the old white house near TO the station"
81 have noticed it many time when
going through Bernace,'' was the reply.
But proceed"
However, when arrived at the old
fellows place I found on inquiry that his
son was away in England SO my business
for the noncs was done. The old fellow,
knowing that I 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
tiers more comfortable went below into his
cellar to get a bottle Of wine for our re-
frssiling Old Reyers suffers badly from
rheumatism, SO he was some little time
before he returned. Meanwhile I had
been looking at a coarse daub of the Ma
donna which hung on the opposite wall
when suddenly something prompted me
to take it down and examine it closely.
To my surprise I saw that the front of the
canvas of the Madonna had slipped slight
ly, revealing another canvas behind it. ]
had nv pinchers with me, and had I had
time then I would have taken off the
wooden back and examined it, but just
then heard the old fellow coming up the
cellar steps, and I had perforce to put it
on the wall again. The wine was fairly
good, so between us we finished it, and
then I 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 chuekling to
himself. So now was my chance, and tax
ing it down once again I laid it fiat on
the table, whipped out the nails which
held the back in position and brought tbs
10, into the light of day"
''What splendid discovery! am itch
ing to see and handle it. But go on. I
am quite interested"
ssMy 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 well off, and I settled in my
mind to offer him 90 francs for it. I had
Just time to refz the nails and put it back
on the wall when the old man opened tho
cellar door. ;"
''You were only just in time then?"
laughed the other.
"Just so. But, however, as soon as the
fresh bottle was opened told him I had
taken great liking to his picture oppo-
site, and that I would buy it from him.
The old fellow laughed, thought some
what contemptuously. inquiring what
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 it,
g Perhaps not, m'sieu, was the curt
answer, but I have 10 desire to sell it,
It would bring me bad luck, and have
had quite sufficient of that, for my farm
and buildings here are burdened with q
debt of 10, 600 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 francs? BAIL 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
Did man laughed immoderately at his prop
Osition.
Good day, Papa Revers. I may come
and see you again some day. I replied as
loft him. and SO here l am, only you and
knowing Of this matter"
II am glad you have been SO discreet,
Pierre, on that latter point. But what do
you propose 10 do nowf'
This: Advance me the 10000 francs,
with which feel sure l can tempt old
RoVeTs to sell is to me- Then, supposing