Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-03-20

TCT&f S1 S&AN uOuSS, dlIer nav
Ivy 5S,&M@ ing eft h g
MI SSSSSssS lSl morning letters,
rSe %SgS.aSsIR when Jules Du-
~ ~ pre-, who was
e~~&N SsssN watching from
his sixth-story window, descended
hurriedly to the porter's office.
Any letters for me?" he asked.
The porter put on his spectacles,
gathered up the letters which had just
come in, looked them over one by one,
and replied, laconically:
"None."
"Thank you," said the young man,
and he slowly remounted the stairs,
where his friend, Armand, was wait
ing for him.
Through economy, tho two young
men lived in the same room. There
were to be seen all their books and all
their papers. There were more papers
than anything else, because both of
them ran manuscript mills. We re-
greet to say that, while the two young
men turned out great deal of manu-
script, they succeeded in placing very
little. Once in q while one of them
would get an article inserted in one of
the papers, but they scarcely made
enough to live on, even by making a
partnership Of their assets-and La
bilities.
"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 man who is a
believer in fixed dates"
Twill ill luck never cease? We have
five days yet to wait. Still, l would
not object to breakfastlng to-day, in
stead of five days from now."
"We needn't breakfast"
II am as hungry as wolf. You
know we had rather a light supper
yesterday"
"Yes, it is true that smoked her
ring for two is scarcely gluttony."
Armand, his hands in his pockets,
walked up and down the room, re-
fectively.
"See here," said he, "don't you
know anybody who could lend US a
hundred francs?"
Yes, L know lots who could, but 1
know of no one who would"
Armand suddenly cried out:
81 have an ideal"
els it good one?"
"Listen. Have you not often spoke
to me of an old collector of autographs
who lives in this house?"
"Yes. He lives on the first floor, a
man by the name of Bridoux."
What sort of man is he?"
"Well, don't know. have
scarcely seen him more than couple
of times"
Suppose we try and sell him some
thing"
"That is good idea. 1t is true we
have plenty of autographs, but they
are mostly our own. He wants his.
toric ones"
Are you sure that no celebrity eve,
wrote to us?"
II 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, ant
began to go through the letters. Fol
at least half an hour he CAREFUL,
turned over the sheets of paper
Suddenly he cried out:
Eureka! 1 have found it--a letter
from the Empress Marie Louise"
Feverishly he waved in the air
= yellowish sheet of paper, almost Gu
in two by the folds.
Jules looked at it.
"Why, L recognize that" said he
: "It's note from Marie Louise, VIII,
, used to be saleswoman at the lac,
counter in the Louvre. got tha
letter from her when was serving M
:, volunteer term of year, with tn
grade of corporal"
3 IT tell you, old man, that it is from
= the Empress Marie Louise, and it
q addressed to the great Napoleon"
"And dated 1872"
; "1S13, my dear fellow. The seve,
t looks exactly like one. 1t is afte
l the victorious battle of Lutzen, an
this is what the Empress wrote:
1 my Little Corporal-You have wo
enough OF laurels for the moment. Leay
" your army and come to me at the Louvr
q where l am yawning In the midst OF billov
oil lace. MARIE LOUISE"
;, "And you think you can sell that t
u our neighbor Bridoux? Why, yo
I are joking. 1t would be swindle.
/, "You can aid me. Have you this
!. false beard that you wore at the mas
:, querade last year?"
i eyes, 1 think it is somewher
If about"
IS Listen, then, and 1 will soon teac
" you your role"
In few words Armand instructe
his friend what he had to do. an