Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-06-17

II made every attempt, examining Il
letter by letter, searching among my
papers fer tla name Of the person who
could have been guilty Of this vile
sorawl. It was absolutely impossible TO
discover any Glow which would put me
on the right track. At Bsden-Badenf l
had 800 frionds at Baden Baden. But
this unlucky name-still, | must find
out what il was. For two days l did
nothing but turn it oven in my mind,
seeking the solution. giving every one
whom l met this signature to decipher.
Absolutely useless. Each person gave a
different opinion.
lyon can imagine into what a fever
this had thrown me. At the time 1 was
full Of q great many notionA Imagined
that to refuse money to o friend was
We are all simpletons when
young. But what caused me the great
est annoyance was the thought that per-
haps this note was from some one for
whom l entertained a real friendship.
II telegraphed TO 10 or 10 intimate
friends. None was the author Of the
note. Then 1 betook myself to experts
in chirography. One said the name was
Caseruier-hRd no doubt of it, was
willing 10 swear to it. The second said
that he challenged any ono to read the
name otherwise than Sutinais and was
willing to swear to that name. and
finally a third declared it was not o
name at all, but a word. In his opinion
it was 'Ciyilities.'
"Sutinais and Cnsernier wero alike
unknown to me. l turned over the club
directories. l again reviewed my book
of addresses, name by anne Nothing. l
could discover nothing. | was almost
crazy, you may imagine, and l had even
lost sight, to some extent, of the original
reason for all this trouble, thinking less
now of obliging a friend than of discov.
ering this name so carefully concealed.
"On the third day an inspiration came
to me, so simple that it had occurred to
me only after all the other attempts had
failed. l wrote to Baden-Baden for a
list of the Frenchmen staying at the
hotel Of the unfortunate scribbler. l
would need only to write to all whom ]
knew in the place. This Gained me
And, in truth, | needed it, for l had
conceived an inexplicable rage against
all this, as if something mysterious and
fatal pursued me.
81 retired early on the evening of the
third day and soon fell asleep.
II ought to tell you that | then had
l still have, in fact-the habit of using
a night lamp. Icannot bear to feel my
self in total darkness for an instant.
"That night-it is truly a singular
thing, and | have never been able to
think of it without n strange sensation
that night was awakened by a sharp
cracking sound in the great silence.
have never known what that noise was
doubtless the night lamp going out,
for it vas perfectly dark. At first a feel
ing of awful anguish oppressed me, e
feeling always have when IN the dark,
and before | had time to fully awaken
l heard-yes, my friend, l actually
heard-the effect of nervousness, you
say?-it matters not-l heard a voice,
which whispered very low, Jacques
Lerminier.'
"a cold shiver ran through my whole
body, though l saw no reason for it. In
a second l had risen, lighted a candle
and reread the letter from Baden Baden.
Why had not deciphered it before? 1t
was perfectly plain.
"Lerminier was a refined boy, oblig-
ing, but q little wild, whom l had loved
much when wo were young together,
soon lost from sight, then found again
in those momentary encounters where a
rapid clasp of the hand and IN earnest
DO you remember is all, and then
separation, perhaps for years.
Poor Jaoquesl That is what we al
ways called him at the school of st.
Cyr.
"He should certainly have had his
1000 francs.
~ locked at the clock. 1t was past
midnight. Nothing could DO done until
morning. Immediately l wrote a letter
to Baden Baden, exousing myself, ex
planning all. l placed the money in il
and sealed it. And while l did this
remembered that the whisper which
had heard erewhile was exactly like th'
voice of Jacques when deeply moved.
"How strange is the work Of memory
in our brains, l said to myself, and how
was it possible for me to recall at thu
same time and while yet asleep thi
name and the voice Of poor jacques
"Then went back to bed again, salts
fed and calm. l did not dream an!
more Of the whispering voice in TIN
blaokness of my silent chamber. No
indeed. / thought no more Of it unit
two days later, when l received a dis
patch from Baden-B Baden. My registere,
letter had been remailed to me.
"'Poor jacques had killed himsol
at midnight two days before, at the mo
ment when my sleep was interrupted b.
a sharp crack-that sharp crack likI
the report of a pistol"
Brignao coughed slightly to clear hi
throat.
II positively insist that my chill
shall write a legible hand, +" he said
with a sad smile.-From the Frencl
For Short Stories.