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

1
the house, nfter having left tho morning
letters, when jules Dupre, who was
watching from his sixth story window.
descended hurriedly to the porter's Of
fee.
"Any letters for me?" he asked.
The porter put on his spcctacle8,
gathered up tho letters which had just
come in, looked them over ono by one
and replied ~laconically:
"None."
"Thank you, T" said the young man,
and he slowly romopntcd tho stairs,
where his friend Armand was waiting
for him.
Through economy the two young men
lived in the same room. There were TO
be seen Ill their furniture, all their
books and all their papers. There were
more papers than anything else, because
both of them ran manuscript mills. We
regret to say that while tho two young
men turned ont n great deal Of manu-
script they succeeded in placing very
little. Once in awhile u of them
would get IN article inserted in L of
the papers, but they scarcely made
enough to live on, oven by making a
partnership of their assets-and liabili-
tics.
"Well?' said Armand, seeing his
companion enter.
"Nothing, as 1 told you. We shall
have to wait until the end Of the month.
My uncle is q man who is a believer in
fixed dates"
1.-THE dovill Wohavo five days yet to
wait. Still, 1 would not object to break
fasting today instead Of five days from
now"
we needn't breakfast. In That way
we tan save taking n cocktail"
"Oh, l could spare that. 1 ain az
hungry as n wolf. You brow we had
rather a light supper yesterday"
Eyes, it is rue that n smoked herring
for two is scarcely %gluttony."
Armand, his hands in his pockets.
walked up and down the room reflect
lively
"Seo here, 4" said he, "don'tyo know
anybody who could loan us a hundred
f~rancs:"
Eyes, | know lots who could, but 1
know no one who would"
Armand suddenly cried out, 81 have
an idea"
"Is it a good one2"
Listen. Have you not often spoken
70 me Of an old collector Of autographs
who lives in this house?'
Yes. He lives on the first floor, a
man named Bridoux.
"What sort of II man is hep
"Wcll l don't know. 1 havo scarcely
seen him more han a couple Of times"
Suppose We try to sell him some
thing?"
''That is a good idea. It is true we
have plenty of autographs, but they are
mostly our own. He wants historic
ones"
"Ara you sure that 10 celebrity ever
wrote tn us?'
81 don't think so, but there is the
correspondence Golfer. Look through
it"
Armand seated himself at the table,
emptied the box upon the table and be-
gan 10 go through the letters. For at
least half nm hour he carefully TUNED
over the sheets Of paper.
Suddenly he cried out:
"Eurekal l have found it-a lettsr
from the Empress Marie Louise"
FoNerishly he waved in the air a yell
lowing sheet of paper almost cut in two
by the folds.
Jules looked at it. "Why Ireoognize
thatl'' said he. at is "A note from little
Marie Louise, who used to be a sales
woman at the lace counter in the Louvre.
got that letter from her when l was
serving my volunteer term Of q year,
with the grade of corporal"
II tell you, old man, that it is from
the Empress Marie Louise. and it is ad-
dressed to the great Napoleon"
And dated 1882"
"1s13, my lear fellow. The seven
looks exactly like a one. 1t is after the
victorious battle Of Lutzen, and this il
what tho empress wrote:
my LITTLE CORPORAL - You have wor
enough of laurels for the moment. Leave youi
army and come 10 me ut the Louvre, where
nm yawning In tho midst OF FLOWS Of Lace.
'MARlE LOUISE"
And you think you can sell that t
our neighbor Bridoux? Why, you ar,
joking. 1t would be "a swindle.
"You can aid me. Have you tina
false beard that you wore at the mas
querade last year,"
"Yes, ! think it is around some
where"
Listen, then, and / will teach yoI
your role"
In a few words Armand instructe'
MS friend what he had TO do. and then
putting the precious autograph IN hi
poeketbook. said: "DO not forget
Knock in a quarter Of an hour.
Armand repaired Mt once to the apart
ment OF Bridoux. The autograph col
iector lived alone. He was "a man O
about 90 years Of age. Armand looke'
at him critically.
IL wish to speak 20 NJ Bridouz"
That's my name, sir.