Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-11-13

"a WISH 10 sec yca CT q serious 0l-
fair"
"Come in," said Bridoux.
Armand entered. aud Drilorz offered
him a chair
"Sir," said Armand. az have heard
Of you as being one Of the most orudltc
autograph qoilcctcrs in Paris, Gud 7
wish to show you something very rare
an autograph Of the Empress Marie
Louise.
so sayih7. Armand unocttoncd his
coat, carefully took out his lcnk pocket
book, and FROM it took the letter, which
he placed under the eyes Of the auto
graph collector.
Bridoux read it, musod and said:
1T is very short. You say that these
characters arc from the baudsof the En-
press Marie Louise. Her autographs arc
very rare"
1T is authentic. The empress i'd
dressed it 10 the great Napoleon The day
after the battle of Luton"
"But the emperor lived at tho Tuilo-
ries then.
Certainly, sir, and that observation
proves your intir.atc knowledge of tho
history of the tiila. But, if you VIII TO-
member, during inc absence Of the Lit
tie Corporal, as ho vhiricd from battle
field TO battlefield. the empress was in
the habit Of retiring TO tie Louvre.
Bridoux was evidently fattored az his
historical knowledge being praised, bat
rubbing MS nc1o 1cfiectivcly he said:
"How did the letter fall into your
hands?'
''Ol, in tho most natural manner IN
the world. I got the letter from ny
father, who got it from my grandfather.
Ny grandfather, a soldier Of THO empire
and q fanatic adnircr Of Napoleon,
picked up this lester one day when it
had fallen from The pocket of the great
man aud preserved it as a precious relic.
Sir, nothing but the most urgent need
would fcrcc mo 10 sell it. But ! must
have 100 francs. II is for ne % question
Of life and death. Nevertheless 1 beg
you to believe l am patriotic, for if l
come toyou il is because you are French
and because, if Jod purchase it, this
precious document will remain in my
country. l could have had ten times the
price l asked you. Just now IN English
nan tried to buy it on any terms. lie
followed ne, even do2ging my stcps to
the door of this house"
Bat Bridoux evidently did not appear
in q hurry to bind the bargain.
"Iworld willingly buy it, bat I wish
to consult an expert first"
II regret, sir, " replied Armand,
"that I cannot wait" He turned cold
inside as he said to himself, ''This
affair i7 going to fall through Il jules
docs not harry up"
At this moment the dCorboll rang.
Bridoux went to omen it. Jules entered.
He was unrecognizablc. His hat was on
the back Of his head, his coat Ta5 but
toned to tic chin, and he had on o pair
Of long rcd whiSbcrs not unlike those
which aGoIn the English tourists who
travel around with those queer person
ally conducted" parties.
At the sighto OF this curious parsonage
the autograph collector stared IL stupe-
faction.
"Pardcn nc" said the false English
man. II wish TO speak to Tic gentleman
who just came into your house"
BriGouX was about to reply when
Armand interrupted.
How" said he, you here again,
man."
Eyes. will give you 200 francs for
your letter"
"But l told you I would not sell it. "
"I will give you 500 francs"
81 tell you, sir, thet l am already
making a bargain with this gentleman. -
81 will give You 1000 francs"
81 beg you, sir, to leave the rcom."
Very well, said the false English
man, Il viii wait fer you outside the
door, but l must have that autograph"
and he left.
"You sec" said Armand to Bridoux,
"tho price that Englishman attaches tc
this precious document. Don't force nc
to let it pass into his hands when 1 ask
you only 100 francs.
The autograph collector was at last
convinced. He took out Of his ge~cretairC
a bank note for 100 francs and gave il
to Armand, who thanked him and with.
drew.
Not long after that the two young
men made q raise, and tho first thing
they did was to put a bank note of 10(
francs into an envelope with this in
dorsement, PROSTITUTION and thanks, ,
ard addressed it to Bridcuy.
But Bridoux never knew what i
meant. He simply covered the 10'
francs into his treasury, and for him th,
note Of tho little saleswoman at TIN
.,-,., Loo, oountor Il still an atrthauti
autograph of the Empress Marie Louise
Adapted For the Argonauu From tn
French.