St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1896-08-01

away before he could reach them.. Tres
fume walked after them, but they still
avoided him and began nconversing earns
estly together. The fisherman hesi-
tated; he thought they had something
private on, and he did not wish to in
trude., It never entered his head that
they were avoiding him. He did not
intend to lose his chance, SO he contin-
ued his walk after them at a respectable
distance. Two or three times, when he
thought the moment opportune, he ap-
preached them, hat in hand, and at
tempted to speak TO them in his best
French, but was met with a scowl and
growl that. made him retire. He put
it down to American-or English man
ners, and with sigh he withdrew for
few minutes.
The two Americans were evidently
much perpleXed at the strange conduct
OF their passenger; they were
worried about it, too; SO finally they
spoke to the under steward concerning
Trefume. The official was more busy
than ever, but he was fond of a joke,
and thought he might as we'll enliyen
the routine of the day by little fun.
"You know that there has been q
big robbery in Paris" he said, in con-
fidential whisper. well, I wouldn't
mind betting Jhis man is Jean Earnest,
the cleverest detective in France, whc
is on the track of the thieves and has
disguised himself as fisherman from
the south"
81 ~,
thanked the under steward and diyed
into their 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 the
following day looking for the embassy,
asking the way in his provincial
French. and being laughed at and
treated with contempt as an impostor,
until, sick at heart and thoroughly dis
couraged, he sat down on doorstep
and began to cry. Uncle Sambuq
might have journeyed to his native
country to die, and thus have made
things easier for his heir! $7
After a few minutes he plucked up
courage and determined to try again.
He had just reached the end of the,
street when he saw one of the Ameri-
cans to whom the under steward had
referred him on the steamer. He had
changed his clothes and cut off his
beard, but Trefume was positive that it
was the same man. -s5.,.
Monsieur, monsieur!" he cried, rum
ming toward the man. GR7-~
| Whether the man heard the words or
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 well as know Endoume,
land he won't help me! i
Away they went, the American and
Trefume. In vain the former doubled
this corner and that, his pursuer stuck
to him until, thoroughly exhausted, the
American took. refuge in 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 A. saa@ zss sss~,.
$'tHush!H interrupted the American,
turning pale in spite of the violent ex-
ercise. Don't make a FUSS" he con-
tinued, in excellent French; shat will
be of no use. Come and sit down in
this eorner."g s8 #E@ f5f&# 1EfftEE
/ "Ah! that's better thought Ire
I fume. But he simply looked knowing
'ly at the man and took a seat.
| ~ know what you have come to New
| York for,' said the man.
"Good again!" thought the fisher
man. but before, he. could speak, the
I American continued:
aWe can arrange this little affair,
cant we, without further bother?''
p 'Of course we can" "sexclaimed Tre-
| fume, thinking still that the man was
talking about Uncle Sambuq's fartune,
| That's agreed. Now, how much do
you want?" -
My fair share, of course!" replied
the Frenchman.
'I'll give you this pocketbook--it has
100000 francs in French .notes-I have
not had time to exchange them for
American money. Theysa good. you
need not be afraid that they are bad OF
stopped. Viii that satisfy you?' @,....,---.
Is that my fair share?" asked Tre-
fume, doubtfully. .~, j.,
How much do you expeet?" asked
the other, irritably. lit was a good
thing, but it wasn't a gold mine, and
! there are several to share it. It's either
that or nothing!" ~ IS 0
"Welll I'll take i'll" said Trefume,
beginning to fear that he might lose
I all. ia
every well! Now, you have this on
condition that you go back in the
Bretagne, and the Bretagne starts in
two hours. And remember, you have
never seen mel"
The pocketbook was handed to him,
aud he scrutinized the notes. They
| were all right. He tried to explain it
all to himself; he was not clear on
some points; but the more he tried to
think it out, the more confused he be-
came. Only one thing was clear: he
had succeeded in getting good slice Of
Uncle sambnq's fortune and was now d
rich man.
Thus it came about that Master Tre-
furne, having had the good fortune to
he 4olsa.,sSEx,,~ q lxakaaffucs-I Ihpcoy,,a f1a