The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1900-01-18

5A1o1 0tAhSS ~ AoAAAA% 1
business is beyond belief. You are
swindled by heather Turks, swindled
by ~vagabond children, swindled right
and left, upstairs and downstairs. l
think 1t must be your imagination. /
thank my stars l have none"
Pardon me-" replied Desprez still
humbly, but with a return of spirit at
sight Of a distinction to be drawn;
pardon me, Casimir. You possess,
even to an eminent degree, the COM
mercial imagination. 1t was the lack
of that in met appears it is my weak
point-that has led to these repeated
shocks. BY the commercial magma
ton the financier forecasts the destiny
of his investments, marks the falling
house."
"Egad," interrupted Casimir; "our
friend the stable-boy appears to have
his share of It,"
The Doctor was silenced; and the
meal was continued and finished prin-
cipally to the tune Of the brother-in-
laws not very consolatory converse
ton. He entirely ignored the two
young English painters, turning a blind
| eyeglass to their salutations, and con-
tinuing his remarks as If he were alone
in the bosom of his family; and with
every second word he ripped another
stitch out Of the air balloon of Des-
prez's vanity. BY the time coffee was
over the poor Doctor was as limp as a
napkin.
LET us go and see the ruins" said
Casimir.
They strolled forth into the street.
The fall of the house, like the loss of
a front tooth, had quite transformed
the village. Through the gap the eye
commanded a great stretch of open
snowy country, and the place shrank in
comparison. 1t was like a with
an open door,. The sentinel stood by
the green gate, looking very red and
cold, but he had a pleasant word for the
Doctor and his wealthy kinsman.
Casimir looked at the mound of
ruins, he tried the quality of the tar
paulin. Him. he said, II hope the
cellar arch has stood. II it has, my
good brother, I will give you a good
price for the Wines"
1--WE shall start digging tomorrow"
said the sentry. "There is no more fear
of snow"
my friend" returned Casimir SEN
tentiously, "you had better wait till you
get paid"
The Doctor WINGED, and began drag
ging his offensive brother-in-law to-
ward Tentaillon's. In the house there
would be fewer auditors, and these al
ready in the secret Of his fall.
"Hullo," cried Casimir, there goes
the stable-boy with his luggage; no,
egad, he is taking it into the inn"
And sure enough, Jean-Marie was
seen to cross the snowy street and en-
ter Tentaillon's, staggering under a
large hamper.
The Doctor stopped with a sudden,
wild hope.
what can he have?" he said. LET
us go and see." And he hurried on.
Ellis luggage, to be sure" answered
Casimir. "He is on the move-thanks
to the commercial imagination"
II have not seen that hamper for
Lux ONS1 81 4OnS1 1Cu4dIhSu IA0 OOCLOA'
"Nor will you see it much longer
chuckled Casimir, unless, indeed we
interfere. And by the way, I insist on
an examination"
"You will not require" said Desprez
positively with a sob; and, casting 8
moist, triumphant glance at Casimir
he began to rum.
, "What the devil is up with him,
wonder?" Casimir reflected; and then
, curiosity taking the upper hand, he fol,
l lowed the Doctors example and tool
{ to his heels.
The hamper was SO heavy and large
and Jean-Marie himself so little and sc
, weary, that it had taken him a grear
: while to bundle it upstairs to the Des
| prez's private room; and he had jus
set it down on the floor in front of An
a~stasie, when the Doctor arrived, anC
was closely followed by the man o
1 business. Boy and hamper were boil
in a most sorry plight; for the one haC
passed four months underground in
certain cave on the way to Acheres, AM
; the other had run about five miles, a
hard as his legs would carry him, hal
weight.
"Jean-Marie," cried the Doctor, in
I voice that was only too seraphic to b
called hysterical, sis it? 1t isl" b
cried. "Oh, my son, my SOM" And b
sat down upon the hamper and sobbe,
]. 1ko a 1ittIo child