The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-11

A
SO | came 10 Josephine the next day
full of my adventure; but as soen rs 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 must positively run over 10 the
dressmakers IS and try OH my new gown.
30 tend the store few moments, Ike
good boy. You need rot fear any Gus
toners will molest you.
SO away she ran, and /, deprived OF the
comfort OF conhding 10 her my story, be-
gan to look about for a book. j had read
most OF those upon the shelves.
Suddenly renem bered that new box
had arrived from France the day before,
and as NJ. Croneau always unpacked these
himself in the back room, j resolved 20
look there for some newer work. l had
never been In this back rC om before. IL
was NJ. Croneau's sanctum and no ole
was ever invited 10 enter il.
pushed open the door and stepped in.
II was lighted by q small back WINDOW
and contained a deak, guarded by IA
screen, few old boxes IN which consign-
ments of books were received, shell or
two and fireplace. IRE newly-arrlved
packing box stood i'm the center of the
floor but II was empty. Nor were any
books, new or old, TO be seen anywhere.
/ was about 10 Withdraw, feeling u tgille
guilty, when my eye was caught by an
object in the fireplace. 1t was the back
of burned book, and exam ming more
closely discovered very large quantity
OF burned paper in the CRATE. This was
singu.ar-that a man should receive
box OF new publications and at once burn
them. / scented mystery, and exam
ined further. My search was rewarded
by finding brand new volume 10y Du
Boisgobey reclining on the floor between
the desk snd the screen. This was what
had come TO find, so / retired to the
store and, seating myself, began its pc
rusal. Tue story started of finely, and,
as is my habit, ] turned half the pages
and skinned through to catcSthe rift OF
the plot.
great when l discovered that near the
center of the book there were fully fifty
leaves perforated by round hcle near
their inner edge. This hole was about an
inch in diameter, ana was cleanly cur, as
with a die. i stared at IL, bothering nv
head for solution OF this mystery. Why
was this perforation made? II you opened
the pages at where the hole began il
seemed like tiny pocket, The bottom
being formed by the pages that had been
left intact. Ii could scarcely be an acci-
dent. Then this pocket had been made
for purpose. But what purpose? A dry
cough aroused me, aud ! looked up.
NJ. Croneau Was standing before me,
regarding my face wi,h strange inten-
sity. We stared al one another "A full min
ute and during that time the expression
of his eyes denoted dismay, anger, dcuot
and ear but his features never moved
q muscle. Then he reached out his ha I'D,
took the book from my unrssisting lin
gers, walked back TO his room and cloIed
the door behind him, without 90 much
as word or backward look.
Josephine came in, and thanked me
prettiy for relieving her. But ii was
time for my engagement with Mr.. For
he n s.I alf -
tender words and pressure Of her little
hand, and started on my mission.
On the way i ponderod the events of
the morning, and came TO the conclusion
that NJ. Croneau was a strange mana
stranger man than l had thought; and
that strange things were taking place
under cover OF that book business But
was 1t any AFFAIR OF miner l was in love
with this mans daughter; she encour-
aged me in the belief that she recipro-
Gated my passion, and undoubtedly my
best policy was TO say nothing and see
no more than | could help seeing.
Resolving thus came TO the sore and
was ushered into Mr.. Forsythe's Office.
He was writing when l entered. and mo-
toned me to a seat.
Presently he faced about and regarded
me almost as attentively as had NJ Cro-
neau so shortly before. But the express
sion of his eyes was first questioning,
"How long have you been in our en-
ploy, Mr. Andrews?n was nis first ques-
ton
Nearly two years, sir ~
"You were recommended TO us by Mr..
Ransom, the lswyer2i
"Nes, sir; he was my fathers friend
and signed my bond. "
Also vouching for your good charac-
ter. Is the position you occupy satis-
factory one?'
~ have nothing to complain OF, sir, ex-
ceptlng that ! believe myself capable of
doing better things.
Exactly" He seemed 10 think deeply
for a moment and then a sked:
Have you any ties that " ould prevent
you accepting mission that Will take you
across the the OCEAN on long and
probably perilous journey to half civil
lied landY''
| own Twas startled That some COM
mendstion, or even preferment, might
be offered me | had imagined, but such a
proposition as this took my breath away.
Still l realized that this was not my
time To present difficulties TO any propo-
sition that would serve TO advance my in
terests, so replied, as calmly as ! could
"There is nothing TO prevent my going,
sir, except.
was going To say Josephine, but he
misunderstood me, ali added:
"You mean the remuneration. / shall
take care that IL IL liberal. Now listen to
me. The delicscy with which you acted
in that affair Of last evening, your evident
good sense and calm Judgment, attracted
my attention. II you are discreet as well,
you will he exsctly the man ! have
wished TO perform my difficult errand
TO Bonita. y
1.-THE CRIME AT BENlTA.
He paused, as II expecting a reply. 81
don't know where Benita Is, sir, nor do
/ much care, provided it Is accessible at
all; but any confidence with which you
may honor me, YOU may rest assured
Will be closely guarded y
:" shall trust YOU At present I need
only outline the task Ipropose for you. II
You incline TO accept ID, I shall prepare
full and complete instructions, with
sufficient explanation 10 permit you to
act intelligently. To be brief, our firm s
one OF three which own and operate the
diamond mines az Bonita. on the north
west coast OF Africa.
1--WE obtained pos sion OF them some
eighteen years ago. aud they have repaid
US largely. But recently we have dis
covered a serious shortage IN the amount
81 -. a.