Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-01-14

thlng about tho fOrtune,n observe,
Irefume's better half, wiping he
! eyes.
81 suppose you want him to tel
US all about it before the man l.
fairly dead" replied Trefume, sar
castlcally. "We can wait, and h,
knows it. He'll write again in
day or two"
lie looked again at the envelope
and noticed that it was addressed tC
Monsieur Sambuq or Monsieur
Cogolin." As all the Sambuqs were
dead and he was the only CogOlin, j,
was natural that the letter should
have been delivered to him, and the
Vagueness Of the address did not in,
splre in the simple man any misgiv.
ings as to the fortune, any more than
ala the brief note from the embassy
But, strange to say, the embassa.
dor omitted to write that other let
ter. AS the time went on surprise
deepened into anxiety; a veritable
teVer-a gold fever-took possession
of them they lost interest i'm every
thing; they could think of nothing
but Sambuq's millions, and wondered
what had become of them. At
length their anxiety reached such
pitch that Trefume announced his
intention Of undertaking a Journey to
New Gork-a decision which met
the full approval of all concerned.
L sha'n't tie away more than a
month or two," said Trcfumc, land
the boy can look after the boat. A
few hundred francs won't break us
besides, know I'll be ill if | don't
go and sec what's going on over
there"
have said that every one approved
the decision. i may add that had it
been otherwise it would have made
no difference. When Trefume got
an idea into his head it wanted some
getting out.
He travelled to Havre, and en-
barked on a vessel bound for New
York. He knew absolutely nothing
Of the great city which he was ap.
preaching; he could not speak the
language-he was as helpless as q
child in a wood. He began to get
very anxious, and looked around for
somebody to confide i'm and obtain
assistance from. He tried the uu-
der-steward, a fellow-countryman
but the latter was too busy to be
bothered. Trefume, however, re-
fused to be shaken off, and the un-
der.stcward, in desperation, glanced
about for somebody to whom he
could refer the persistent fisherman,
and so get rid of him. "Here :" he
said, pointing to two Of the passen-
gers; "theSe are the men to help
you. They know New York so well
that they could find their way blind
folded anywhere in the city. Try
Them !"
Trefume looked at the men, and
thanked the compatrIot heartily
He was delighted at the thought Of
meeting two people who were so
well acquainted with New York.
They were two shifty-looking fellows
who had been very severely left
alone on the voyage. He went to-
ward the two passengers, who, after
exchanging Il word or two between
themselves, walked away before he
could reach them. Trefume walked
|
him and began conversing earnestly
together. The fisherman hesitated
he thought they had something pri-
Vate on, and he did not wish to in
trude. 1t never entered his head
that they were trying to avoid 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 nand, and attempted to
speak to them in his best French,
but was met with scOwl and II
growl which made him retire. He
put it down to oAmerican-O English
manners, and with a sigh with
drew for few minutes.
The two Americans were evil
IDENTIFY much perpleXed at the strange
conduct of their fellow passenger
they were worried about it, too; so
finally they spoke to the under.stew-
ard concerning Trefume. The Off
cial was more busy than ever, but
he was fond of joke, and thought
he might as we'll enliven the routine
of the day by a little fun.
"You know there has been bIg
robbery in Paris" he said, in con-
fidential whisper. Well, / would
not mind betting that this man is
Jean Ernest, the cleverest detective
in France, who is on the track of the
thieves, and has disguised himself as
a fisherman from the south"
The two men looked at each other,
thanked the under steward, and
dived 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 un-
observed by him; he was left to find
his way about New York as best he
could.
How he went through the rest of
that day, and where he lodged that
night, he never knew. He began
again the following day, looking for
the embassy, asking his way in his
provincial French, and being laughed
at and treated with contempt as an
impOstOr, until, sick at heart, and
thoroughly discouraged, 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.
After 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 Americans to whom the under
steward had referred him on the
steamer. He had changed his clothes
l. l. L. lALaI DCrn IIaAn a