The Minneapolis journal., 1901-08-07
BLACK
AT
e. 90 d fellow

II must see for myself" replied the officer.
81 can't take your word for anything like
that"
At this the Frenchman became angry.
His eyes smouldered like red-hot Goals
II tell you,>' he almost screamed "It's
only cat, and she will run away from me.
and I brought her all the way from la belle
France for my mother-in-law. -
Il can't help it if you brought her all ths
way from the moon. I've got to see what's
in that basket"
But tell you it's a cat, and IL l open
the basket ever so little she will run, and
monsieur knows mother-in-laws. Not so?"
he asked with wry face
Come! Unite those cords. I'm bound to
inspect that basket"
With rueful countenance Pierre carefully
united the strings. The officer reached out
his hand to lift the lid
Careful, careful!'' exclaimed Pierre pIac-
ing a restraining hand on the policeman's
sleeve II don't want to chase after my cat
again. bon Dieu knows l had trouble
enough in getting her as it is" and then he
adroitly let the lid fall away.
Instantly black cat sprang out, and dart
ing between the policeman's legs. disan-
peared. Pierre had placed the basket on the
ground in such way that when the animal
sprang out, the nearest way of escape would
be the shipyard. His calculations were cor
rect, and when the officer of the law turned
all he saw was a black tail disappearing
through the door in the wall enclosing the
yard.
The Frenchman's entire vocabulary was
then turned loose, and before he had stopped
his cursing in French and English the police
man almost wished he were as far away az
the cat. He honestly felt sorry that ne had
been so insistent. The Frenchmans distress
was so very great He went so far in mis- re-
mn
help him find the cat again.
At this, however. the clever little fellow
calmed down.
Bon Dieu" he exclaimed, "here am ]
blaming you because you did your dutyl
If my men did theirs half as we'll I'd have
the finest ship in the service. Your pardon.
monsieur Offering his hand with winning
smile and raising his peaked cap 81 ad-
mire you so much now as blamed you be-
fore. l will find my cat again, monsieur, and
then you must join me in a toast to Americas
gendarmes." and placing the lid again Oh
the basket which had fallen over on the
ground, he picked it up and walked quickly
back to the ship.
In half an hour he returned with smile
on his face.
''I've got her." he said to the policeman,
tapping the basket gently, ''and pretty hunt
had, too! I'll warrant she won't get out
again if I know It,
m very sorry, sir, put you to all that
trouble" said the officer, eyeing the basket
well, I'll take your word this time
That's right, that's right" replied Pierre
Its never too late to right wrong Now
for the toast I do not forget-eh?" he added.
leading the way to nearby saloon
For some time the two men stood at the
bar with the basket at their feet The
Frenchman's ready sallies and stirring anec-
dotes of the sea kept the crowd around them
roaring. Then, when he thought he had re-
mained long enough to avert any suspicion
that might linger in the officers mind. he
took his basket on his arm, and accom-
panied to the corner by the blue coated officer
Of the law, hailed a passing car. and was
soon out Of sight. In the meanwhile the
black cat frisked in the ships hold. for in
the basket a fortune in diamonds was buried
beneath some superfne tobacco.