Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-05-20


walked after them, but they still avoided
him and began conversing earnestly to-
gether. The fisherman hesitated He
thought they had something private on,
and he did not wish to intrude 1t never
entered his head that they were avoiding
him. He did not intend to lose his chance
so he continued to walk after them at a
respectable distance Two or three times
when he thought the moment opportune
he approached them, hat in hand, and at
tempted to speak to them in his best
French, but was met with a scowl and a
growl which made him retire. He put 1t
down to American, or English, manners,
and, with sigh, he Withdrew for a few
minutes.
The two Americans We're evidently
much perplexed at the strange conduct Of
their fellow passenger. They were wor
ried about it, too, SO finally they spoke to
tho understeward concerning Trcfume.
The official was more busy than ever, but
was fond of u joke and thought he might
as well enliven the routine of the day by
little fun.
"You know that there has been big rob
berry in Paris" he said in confidential
whisper. swell, wouldn't mind betting
that this man is Jean Ernest, the cleyerest
detective in France, who is on the track OF
the thieves and has disguised himself as
fisherman from the south.'
The two men looked at each other
thanked the understeward and divcd into
the cabin, from which they only emerged
when the ship was actually alongside the
quay Poor Trefume looked for them in
vain. They got off the steamer unobserved
by him, and he was left to find his way
about New York as best he could.
How he went through the rest of that
day, where he lodged at night, he never
knew. He began again on tho following
day looking for the embassy, asking the
way in his provincial French and being
laughed at and treated with contempt as
an inpostor until, sick at heart and thor
oughly discouraged, he sat down on door.
step and began to cry. Uncle Sambuq
might have journeyed to his native coun
try to die and thus have made things
easier for his heir.
After few minutes he plucked up cour.
age and determined to try again. He had
just reached the street when he saw one of
the Americans to whom the understeward
had referred him ON the steamer. He had
but Trefume was positive that was the
same man.
monsieur, monsieurr' he cried, run
ming toward the man.
Whether the man heard the words OF
not, he took to his heels as soon as he saw
the Frenchman running.
"What!' said Trefume to himself in an
indignant tone. "This man knows New
York as we'll as l know Endoume, and
he won't help me. III see about that
Away they went, the American and Ire
fume. In vain the former doubled this
corner and that His pursuer stuck to him
until, thoroughly exhausted, the Ameri,
can took refuge In a bar and awaited the
arrival of his pursuer.
$50 have you at last exclaimed the
Frenchman. "Why did you run away and
give me all this trouble? Now you must
"Hush!'' interrupted the American,
turning pale in spite of the violent exer-
else. s'Don't mako FUSS he continued
in excellent French. "That will be Of no
use. Come and sit down in this corner. !"
"Ah, that's BETTER thought Trefume
But he simply looked knowingly at the
man and took seat.
81 know what you have come to New
York for, " said the man.
s'Good againG' Thought the fisherman,
but before he could speak the American
continued:
''We can arrange this little affair, can t
we, without further bother?"
"Of course, we cant" exclaimed Ire
fume, thinking still that the man was
talking about Uncle Sambuq's fortune.
CHATS agreed. Now, how much do
you want9"
"My fair share, of course!' replied the
Frenchman.
"I'll give you this pooketbook-it has
100000 francs in French notes-I have not
had time to exchange them for American
money. They are good. You need not
be afraid that they are bad or stopped.
Will that satisfy your"
One hundred thousand francs! 1t was
an immense sum, but was it a fair sharef
How much was Uncle Sambuq worth?
'Is that my fair share?" asked Trefume
doubtfully.
elbow much do you expect9" asked the
other irritably. cit was good thing,
but it wasn't gold mine, and there are
several to share it. It's either that OF
nothing!
"Well, I'll take itr' said Trefume, be.
ginning to fear that he might lose ALL
Every we'll. Now, you have this on
condition that you go back in the Bre-
tagne, and the Bretagne starts in two
hours And, remember, you have never
seen me!'
''Donev' exclaimed Trefumo
The pocketbook was handed to him, and
he scrutinized the notes. They were all
right. He tried to explain it all to him
self. He was not clear on some points,
but the more he tried to think it out til,
more confused he became. Only one thing
was clear-he had succeeded in getting d
good slice of Uncle Sambuq's fortune sspd
was now rich man.
They remained where they were for AL
hour, then the American went with him
to procure ticket, saw him safely OIL
board and watched him until the ship
started on its voyage across the Atlantic
Thus it came about that Master Ire
| fume, having had the good fortune to be
taken for detective, became tho heir OF
| Uncle Sambuq, who had died penniless IN
hospital few W Ieks before.
AS to Trefume, he was never able to ar.
rive at any proper understanding of the
affair, but he did not worry himself much
on that head. Later on, when he had
given up work and donned a frock coat,
he used to shake his head and declare,
with much gravity, that in business mat
tiers those American fellows were far ahead
of any other people, See how quickly
they settled that little matter of Uncle
| Sambuq's fortune. Strand.
|