Sunday Washington globe., 1902-02-09

NO female relative or acquaintance
hasn't he?" was my exulting thought I
gained the road. And yet if that is not
NJ lie Breton's picture between those Of the
husband and wife am BOBBY and blind
one" / no longer in the least doubted
that had struck brilliant trail, and could
have shouted with exultatiOn, so eager was
/ not only to retrieve my, l fancied,
somewhat tarnshed reputation for activity
and skill but to extricate- the pluudered
:firm from their terrible difficulties; the
more especially as young NJ. Bellebon, with
the frankness Of his age and nation, had
limited to me-and the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
light of his 6ue expressive eyes testified TO
the acuteuess Of his apprehensious-that
his marriage with a loug-loved and amiable
girl depended upon his success in saving
the credit of his house.
That same evening, about nine o'clock
NJ Levasseur. expensively, but withal
snobbishly attired, left Oak Cottage, walked
to Edmonton, hailed cab and drove of
rapidly toward town. followed by an Eng
lish swell as styishly aud suobbishly
dressed whiskered and mustached as him
self; this English swell being no other than
myself as prettilv metamorphosed and made
up for the part l intended playing as heart
could wish
NJ Levasseur descended at the end of the
Quadrant Regent street, and took his way
60 Vine street. leading out of that celebrated
thoroughfare. I followed and observing
him enter a public house. unhesitatiugly
did the same It was house of call and
general rendezvous for foreign servants out
of place. Wallets, couriers, cooks of many
varieties of shade, nations and respecta-
bility, we're assembled there smoking,
drinking and playing at an insufferably
noisy game unknown, ! believe, to Eng
lishmeu, and which must, l think, have
been invented in sheer despair of cards,
dice OF other implements of gambling The
sole instruments of play we're the game
ster's fingers of which the two persons
playing suddenly and simultaneously up
lifted as many, or as few as they pleased,
each player alternately calling a number;
aud if he named precisely how many
fingers we're held up by himself and oppo-
uent he marked a point The kubbub of
cries-ciHg, neuE di.p, etc.-was deafening.
The piayers-almost everybody in the large
room-were too mich occupied to notice
our entrance, and NJ Levasseur and my
self seated ourselves aud called for some
thing to drink, without, WAS glad to see,
exciting the slightest observation. M.
-Levasseur, I soon perceive d, was an iuti-
mate acquaintance OF many there; and some
what TO my surprise, for he spoke French
very we'll found that he was Swiss,
His name was. ] therefore concluded, as
sumed. Nothing positive rewarded my
watchfuluess that eveuiug but / felt quite
sure Levasseur had come there with the
expectation of meeting some one, as he did
not play. and went away about half-past
eleven o'clock With an obviously discon-
tented air. The following night it was the
same; but the next, who should peer into
the room about half-past ten and look eau
aiously round, but NJ. Alexaudre lie Breton
The instant the eyes Of the friends met.
Isevasseur rose and went out / hesitated
20 follow, lest such a movement might
cite suspicion and it was well did not, az
they both presently returned and seated
themselves close by my side. The anxious.
haggard couutenance Of lie BretOu-who
had, ! should have before stated, been
privately pointed out to me by one Of the
force early on the morning / visited Oak
Cottage-struck me forcibly, especially in
contrast with that of Levasseur, which wore
only an expression Of malignant and fe-
'rocious triumph, slightly dashed by tenn
porary disappointment I.e Breton staid
but short time, and the only whispered
words caught were-"He has, fear, some
suspicion"
The anxiety and impatieuce of NJ. Belle
bon while this was going on became ex.
treme. and he sent me note after note the
only mode of communication I would per-
mit-expressive Of his CONSERVATION at the
near approach of the time when the engage
meuts Of his house would arrive at matur-
ity without anything having ia the mean
time been accomplished. I pitied him
nefH aft 10 II
ion, resolved upon new and bolder
game By affecting to drink great deal,
occasionally playing, aud in other ways ex-
hibiung a reckless, devil-way care de-
n1eauor. had striveu 70 iusiuuate myself
auto the confidence and comp auionship of
Levasseur but hitherto without much ef-
feet, and. although once I could see
startled by a casual bint. dropped to an
other persOu-oue of Ours-just sufficiently
loud for him to hear-that I knew a sure
and safe market for stopped Bank Of Eng
land notes the cautious scoundreI quickly
subsided into his usual guarded reserve.
He evidently doubted me and il was inn
peratvely necessary to remove those
doubts. This was at last effectuallv. and
as / am vain enough to think cleverly
done One evening a rakish-looking man
who osteutstiously and repeatedly declared
himself TO be Mr.. Trelawuey Of Conduit
street, and who was evidently three parts
intoxicated, seated himself directly in front
of US, aud with much braggart impudence
boasted OF his money at the same time dis
playing pocketbook, which seemed pretty
full Of Bank Of England notes There we're
only few persons present in the room be-
sides as, and they we're al the other end Of
the room. Levasseur I saw noticed. with
considerable interest the look Of greed and
covetousuess, which fixed on that same
pOcketbook Al length the stranger rose to
depart. also hurried up and slipped after
him, and was quietly slyly followed bv
Levasseur. After proceeding about dozen
PAGES locked furtively about. but not be-
hind, robbed Mr.. Trelawnev Of his pocket.
book, which he had placed in one off the
tails Of his coat, crossed over the street and
walked hurriedly away still could hear
followed by Levasseur. I entered another
public house, strobe into an empty back
room, and was just in the act Of examining