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

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apartment of Bridoux. The auto
graph collector lived alone. He was
a man of about sixty years of age.
Armand looked at him critically.
ST wish to speak to Monsieur
Bridoux."
"That is my name, sir"
81 wish to see you on a serious af-
fair"
"Come in" said Bridoux.
Armand entered, and Bridoux of.
fered him chair.
''Sir," said Armand, ct have heard
of you as being one of the most cru
dite autograph collectors in Paris,
and I wish to show you something
very rare-an autograph of the EN-
press Marie Louise"
So saying, Armand unbuttoned his
coat, carefully took out his lank pock.
etbook, and from it took the letter,
which he placed under the eyes of the
autograph collector.
Bridoux read it, mused and said:
'It is very short. You say that
these characters are from the hands OF
the Empress Marie Louise? Her
autographs are very rare"
1T is authentic. The Empress ad-
dressed it to the great Napoleon the
day after the battle of Lutzen."
But the Emperor lived at the
Tuileries then"
Certainly, sir, and that observa-
ton proves your intimate knowledge
of the history of the time. But, if
you will remember, during the alb
sence of the Little Corporal, as he
whirled from battlefield to battlefield,
the Empress was in the habit of retir.
ing to the Louvre"
Bridoux was evidently fattered at
his historical knowledge being praised,
but, rubbing his nose refectively, he
said:
GLOW did the letter fall into your
hands?"
''Oh, in the most natural manner in
the world. got the letter from my
father, who got it from my grandfather.
My grandfather-a soldier of the en-
pire, and fanatic admirer of Napo-
leon-picked up this letter one day
when it had fallen from the pocket of
the great man, and preserved it as a
precious relic. Sir, nothing but the
most urgent need would force me to
sell it. But must have 100 francs.
1t is for me aquestion of life and death.
Nevertheless, 1 beg you to believe I
am patriotic, for if come to you it is
because you are French and because,
if you purchase it, this precious docu-
inent will remain in my own country.
1 could have had ten times the price 1
asked you. Just now an Englishman
tried to buy it on any terms. He fol-
lowed ME, sven dogging my footsteps
to the door of this house"
But Bridoux evidently did not ap-
pear to be in hurry to bind the bar
gain.
81 would willingly buy it, but wish
to consult an expert first"
81 regret, SIR" said Armand, "that
| cannot wait"
He turned cold inside as he said to
himself:
"This affair is going to fall through
if Jules does not hurry up"
At this moment the door bell rang.
Bridoux went to open it. Jules en-
tered. He was unrecognizable. His
hat was on the back of his head, his
coat was buttoned to the chin, and he
had on pair of long whiskers, not
unlike those which adorn tourists who
travel about with those queer "per-
sonally conducted" parties.
At the sight of this curious person.
age the autograph collector stared in
stupefaction.
"Pardon me-" said the false Eng
lishman, 81 wish to speak to the gem
tleman who just came into your house."
Bridoux was about to reply, when
Armand interrupted.
"How," said he, "you here again,
man."
eyes. I will give you 200 francs
for your letter"
''But told you I would not sell it. I"
II will give you 500 francs"
81 tell you, sir, that l am already
making bargain with this gentle
man."
81 will give you 1000 francs"
81 beg you, sir, to leave the room" "
VERY WELL" said the Englishman,
ST will wait for you outside the door,
but must have that autograph" and
he left.
"You see," said Armand to Bridoux,
''the price that Englishman attaches
to ttis precious document. Don't
force me to let it pass int his hands
when l ask you only 100 francs for it. y
The autograph collector WIS at last
convinced. He took the 100 francs
from his desk and gave them tc
Armand, who thanked him and with.
drew.
Not long after that the two young
men scored success with a novel,
and the first thing they did was to put
a bank note of 100 francs into an en-.
velope with this Endorsement, "Resti
tuition and thanks" and addressed il
to Bridoux. But Bridoux never knew
what it meant. He simply placed the
100 francs in his treasury, and for hin
the note of the little saleswoman a
the Louvre lace counter is still al