The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-06-18
Ten Thousand
Francs Reward
A Story of Two Fortunes
and a Dowry.
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81 should offer 10000 francs reward
to the loser" the author responded.
Alfred Cliquet, the valet of a certain
count whose name is of no Importance
to this story, stepped into a cab at a
corner of the Rue de Chateaudun with
the object of visiting a friend in the
Place St. Michel. He had scarcely TAX
en- his seat when he observed neatly
tied parcel lying on the cushion at his
side. He opened it and felt his heart
swell with joy as his eyes fell upon sew
eral packages of 1000 franc notes.
Hastily slowing them in the inside pock-
cts of his waistcoat and buttoning his
jacket tightly, he dismissed the cab and
went home. There in the privacy of his
room he counted the bank notes and
found that there were 100 of them. A
hundred and fifty thousand francs! And
no address-not a scrap of paper that
! gave any clew to the owner.
Finding is not stealing" Alfred mus
ed Il have as much right to enjoy this
fortune as the man who left it behind
him in the cab"
He gave his master "notice" and pro-
ceeded to establish himself in a fine first
floor apartment which he succeeded in
getting richly and extensively furnished
In the course of the next "a hours.
at would be rank ingratitude," solilo-
quized the newly made gentleman Of
leisure, "to ignore this plain hint of for
tune, which no doubt needs only little
encouragement in order to bestow fur
| Their favors upon me"
So he went to brokers' oflce and ex-
pended 10000 francs in the purchase of
| 200 shares of South African gold mine,
| the Blagfontein, the stock of which, he
was assured, was certain to rise greatly
in value As he was returning to his apart
ments he saw a number of yellow plac-
ards and was led by curiosity to examine
one of them. He turned pale on reading:
TEN THOUSAND FRANCS REWARD
Left in a cab, Rue de Ohateaudun, package
containing 10000 francs in bank notes. The find
er will receive the above reward on returning the
package to Rue -, numero -.
''Too late" thought Cliquet. "But if
the Blagfontein turns out well will re-
imburse this careless person."
He had applied for lackey at serv-
ants bureau, and on the following morn
ing young man presented himself.
"Have you been in service before 2"
Cliquet asked.
''No, sir; but 1 have resigned my old
position. I am willing and hope l shall
soon learn my new duties"
'What is your namew
Edgar Boffignon."
"What sort of position did you give up
in order to become a valetT'
81 was a lawyers clerk. resigned my
position because l inherited a legacy Of
10000 francs. On leaving the bank
where ! had received my great fortune l
took cab intending to deposit the
money with the Credit Foncier. But on
reaching Rue Chateaudun was startled
by loud cries. A trolley car had crashed
into a carriage and overturned it, killing
the horse and throwing out the occupants,
lady and little girl. | sprang to their
assistance and saved them from certain
DEATH But when returned the cab was
gone and my fortune with it."
During this narration Cliquet had be-
come very pale. He made heroic efforts
to. conceal his emotion. After ALL what
could he do? He had encroached upon
the capital, and confession would have
ruined him.
care you alone in the world, M. Bot
fgnon?" he asked.
"No, sir. ! have mother and sister,
now 10 years old. They live in a village
near Blois in little cottage with tiny
garden. Now my mother has to work by
the day in order to live"
"And what would you have done with
your fortune?"
81 thought of buying farm near our
home In fancy / saw my mother and
sister engaged in rural occupations. saw
our cows grazing in the pasture on the
bank of the Loire. l pictured shepherd
boy watching our flock on the slope of the
hill All, that dream is gone noww Gil
quet turned aside to wipe away tear.
Edgar" he said, consider yourself
engaged"
Every well, sir"
'Your wages will be so francs a month,
with II francs for wine." At this point
the conversation was interrupted by the
ringing of the door bell
at is the breakfast ordered from the
cookshop around the corner" said Gil
quet. "Set the table. The napkins are in
this drawer, the plates and silver in the
cabinet"
CIiquet opened the door, and boy en-
tered with basket, from which he took
three covered dishes. Turning to the ia
BILE and regarding his new Wallets work,
he exclaimed:
s.Oh, that isn't the way to set the table.
Let me show you" He spread cloth on
the little table and laid two plates, with
knives, forks and other accessories on OPP
posite sides of it. Then he cried merrily:
"Come, we mustn't let the steak get
cold. Be seated"
"What, sir, you wish me to-
"Of course" replied Cliquet. Surely
l can breakfast with lawyers clerk.
So they breakfasted together Then Gil
quet said: II want you to brush my
clothes You must do that in the hall, and
open a window to LET the dust out. Come,
l will show you how to go to work" In
order to show him Cliquet brushed all his
own clothes and his Wallets too.
'Tomorrow," he said, ''we will cook
our own breakfast"
II cannot promise that it will be a
good one" said Edgar.
ooh, it's easy enough" Cliquet re-
piled. II will show you. Just watch
me, and you will soon know as much
about it as | do"
The two young men were soon on
terms of intimacy. Edgar Bofignon had
received a good education. Chquets ed
ucation, on the contrary, was sadly de-
fective, though he had acquired certain
intellectual veneer from superficial ana
sensational reading. He continued to
act as his Wallets servant. He prepared
breakfast and dinner, busted the fur
niture and BACKED the boots. When Ed
gar happened to fall in with any of his
old associates, he would say, with praise
worthy sincerity, 81 have found a very
good master"
But Chquet, in spite of his self abnega-
ton and his attentions to his valet, was
constantly gnawed by remorse. When
he treated Edgar to a glass of wine in
a cafe and Edgar said, ooh, thank you,
sir!' Cliquet heard a voice within him
saying
''But it is he who pays and you who
ought to thank him, you scoundrelP'
One day, after yainly seeking to still
the voice of conscience by various dis
fractions, Cliquet proposed to Edgar
visit to the little cottage near Blois. Ed
gar accepted the proposal with delight,
and they started the next day.
Edgar's mother with tears of joy in
her eyes, embraced him tenderly, and his
sister Madeleine kissed him on both
cheeks. This scene of affection made
powerful impression on the lonely and
susceptible Cliquet.
Mother" said Edgar, ''allow me to
present M. Alfred Cliquet, my-my en-
ployer."
Then there was a merry luncheon.
Cliquet, under the enlivening influence OF
the thin wine, made no attempt to con-
ceal the admiration with which the beau
tiful young girl at his side inspired him.
Madeleine was a typical village girl OF
Touraine, fresh and blooming as rose.
She laughed often and heartily. mat
n;vh+ r,lioua+ tossed uneasilv on a Sleep