The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-28


| attention to MS tr, assures, to come and
see the famous enamels. The old gen.
tlernan noticed with pleasure how Keen
| an interest they seemed to take n the
| precious relies and the elaborate devices
for their protection. While they were ex-
| pressing their adm ration, or, t. be more
| accurate, while Augustus expressed his,
Father Antoine, the priest with the
strong face, came and joined in the con-
! Versacion Augustus turned pale, though
| there was nothing in the priests face
even to suggest that he recognized m.
That night there was short, sharp
/ conversation between Augustus and his
accomplish. I'VE must do it tonight
said augustus; the priest may suspect
! something and put on a watchman."
TEe burglar pieaded Tor delay, or even
III is an easy job" he said, so far as
mere skill is concerned but L don't like
| breaking into a church, though l am
| pretty bad lot And l thought 1t was
Protestant church when you first spoke
| to me OF it,
| But I'm not going to rob them" re-
! Piled Mr. Judge I'm going to leave IN
| place OF the enamels these notes, which
! they can never trace, for ten thousand
! pounds. They'll De glad enough OF the
! transaction. Now" he said, Il rely upon
| your honor
Honor among thieves, you mean"
Yes, # you put it that way. / rely
upon your honor-Arcades ambo-
! w hat QO6S LIidl IuSdI.
! well. 1 don't know exactly-somethiGS
! like both in the same boat Pve trusted
you-trusted you with my money ana
yes, that's so; and I feel proud, AMI
| will act straight to you; but-but, any
how, 1 don't think much of those
enamels, and I do wish
In the end, William gave way, a2d
promised ito go through with the joh.
| Late at night, despite the binding ram.
| the two men crept out of the back door
,sff Al, Lon rcf11I tn IA
| their bicycles We're in trim, for sf1ry-
| kilometers ride to Nantes was part OF
| the programme. Not soul was stirring
! in the village. They walked cautiously
| across the square and round to the north
porch which seemed the best point of
attack.
William quietly produced his tools, and
! after a few minutes work had opened the
| door They entered, and then shut the
| door quietly. Utter, awful darkness!
| Augustus could feel that his comrade
| was trembling all over while he fumbIed
| at the lamp Suddenly came thin streak
of light from the lamp; both jumped and
| then laughed. They crept forward to TIE
| screen. To force it open was more difficult
! than they had expected and for a quar-
| ter of an hour Augustus kept watch at
the north door while his companion work
ed. Suddenly Augustus heard clatter,
and ran back.
ITS DONE" whispered William; "but
a bit of the metal fell. Hush!'
Each held his breath-not a sound.
liam. Lets d:op it; I'm sweating aw
full"
'Nonse nse You heard nothing. Take
drink and Augustus gave him a nip oc
brandy They pushed open the doof--it
creaked horclbly-crept through the Choir,
and again William used his Instruments,
and worked with immense energy. Tho
m nutes flew by; the metal was hard and
unexpected bolts disclosed themselves.
AT last the outer door was opened, and
through the grating poftculEs-llke, gle am
INI1-t fa6t I.A
obstacle. Strange sounds became heard,
Tor the wind had risen; pictures cTeaked.
chains c.anged, the hurry and scIrry of
rats became audible, @nd at every NOISE
William started, paused and groanad;
and Augustus hal to stay with him. and
encourage him to work. At last Williams
task was finished: the grating was cut
through and drawn out, the. enaneIs were
in the hands of Augustus He hastily
thrust packet into the hole. Almost at
tha same moment came a crashing clang,,
seeming loud enough in the ears of the
chuT ch-breakerS to awaken the dead -sssJ
Holy motherH' gasped William.
Great Scott muttered the millionaire.
A. moment later a great ray of light
rushed on the guilty men; they looked
up terror-stricken. To their hurried gaze
the light seemed to come from the au-
reole of a large altar figure Of st. Deter.
William gave a voorhees, scream; his
knees Knocked aga nst one another, the
tCols and broken grating fell from his
nerveIess hands. Suddenly he found
stumbling, bTuiSIng and baating himself
against Different objects, and crashing
into the screen; then he turned to the
right and disappeared. Augustus follow
ed quickly as he could without danger
to his prize. Just as he reached the
screen a dark figure stepped from behind
a pillar and stood in his way.
Good evening, Mr. Judge"
Angus. us recognized the voice of Father
Antoine; he was trapped. Ugly thoughts
crept into his mind. The priest guessed
you NAV be armed, Mr.. Judge: tam
not; but wicked you are, your wicked
ness is less than that"
Yes, yes, said Augustus eagerly, not
so wicked as that, nor even so bed ss
you think me. Come, look!''
They walked to the little chapel: the
priest took the packet from the hole.
1.-TWO hundred and fifty thousand francs
are there" said the millionaire--'ten
thousand pounds"
"The sum you offered for the enamels.
I might have guessed the-the name Of
the eXchanger from the amount.
81 never thought of that. Now. be a
good man; take the money, and
'And leave you the enamels?" The
priest stretched out his hand to take the
AT least I am going to examine
them
But I will; don't try to stop me by
brilliant light Of the electric lamp. A
strange smile came over the SIfOnS race
of Father Antoine; a strange thought
rushed into the mind of Augustus.
Great heavens! it's mere glass and wire
an abominable, modern sham
The priest laughed-a loud hearty
laugh. which echoed and re-echoed
through the old building. ''It was after
the war" he said, when money was
urgently needed that my predecessor sold
them to another collector who promised
to keep the affair secret: the imitation
was made at Birning CHAM by the collector
secret for secret, Mr.. Judge"
Augustus put down the frame. My
money!"
1T is in the hands of the church. She
never gives back-it is mortua manu-. Be
sides, there are repairs to be done-and
don't you think that you ought to suffer
much good this money will do to my poor
parishioners."
How did you find out that l.
81 recognized your, voice yesterday
the confessional makes our ears very
acute [ saw you were frightened by me,
and guessed you would make your at
tempt tonight. You We're earlier than
expected or | should have stopped you
sooner and prevented the discovery of
our secret, which, however, [ think, IS
safe, seeing what might follow a dis
closure.
The millionaire nodded, and then
crawled out of the church like beaten
hound Next day at Nantes Mr.. Judge
read with amusement the following par
agraph in a local paper:
ALLEGED MIRACLE AT KERKAN-
D&EK.
On Tuesday a daring effort was made
to rob the Church of ST. Catherine at
Kerkandrek of the famous enamels the
pride of the province. The burglars. ev-
identity masters of their predatory profess
sion, sl1ilfully effected an entry and cut
through the elaborate defenseS of the
treasure. Just as they cIutehed their
prize a tremendous noise was heard and