The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1902-01-24

| several thousand francs IN money,
some valuables and some fine clothing.
We traced the rascal to Strassburg,
and then from city TO city and almost
through Prussia We lost the trail at
last, but the direction had steadily
been toward Deneslia, and, knowing
that he had friends here, we believed
he would make for this country.
1--WE knew that he left Paris In the
disguise of a woman He arrived at
Strassburg in the same disguise. And
now the mysterious part Of 1t is this
that he wore a gown the counterpart
of the one Frau Robard now has on.
am sure of this, and was so sure that
the moment / set eyes on the gown
believed the wearer of ii to be the
thief
"To make sure, l stepped up to the
lady, and, thinking more than ever that
i was right, rudely raised her head in
order TO see her face. Imagine my
amaZement and CONSERVATION when
beheld the sweet face Of good Frau
Robard oh, | assure you, gentlemen.
ii was a most grievous error on my
part, and no one could regret it more
than l did, especially when | felt your
billiard cues ramming me in the stom-
ach.
"Well, the evil is not SO great, if the
good frau can forgive me-
A look of great significance passed
from Robard to the younger of the
four, who was his son.
And you say this fellow was a
theft asked the elder Robard. "How
much did you say he stoleY"
1t flashed into the mind of Vandal
that the paltry amount Of a thousand
francs was not sufficient loss to cause
three men to chase across Europe at
an expense beyond that to recover it.
why, so far as we could ascertain"
he answered, the rascal took in money
1900 francs, several diamond orna-
ments, ladies' jewelry and fine gold
watch"
Another flash of intelligence from old
Robard to his son.
"Well, my friend" said the old man,
Il can explain the matter of the gown
very easily. There came to this inn
from the train yesterday young man
who claimed 10 be peddler. In fact,
he had a valise and in that valise he
carried this gown, which he offered for
sale. 1t took fhe fancy of my wife at
once, and she made a bargain with
him. She took the gown, he took the
money, spent the night here and this
morning departed.
Il L.,
look?" asked Nandal.
"Oh. a young fellow. He spoke
French. but | fanced he was more like
those accused English. lie spoke also
German TO the wife"
Smooth face, dark brown hair, good
eyes?"
The same. Evidently the same.
would not own good eyes long"
ooh, this fellow was a good actor.
He can appear to be anything"
He must be a marvelr
Gle is Which way did he goT'
"Well. now. TO tell the truth. | do
not remember. | think he went on
toward Trolle At least he purchased
a horse Of me-"
At this point the two frightened as
sociates were brought in. and their
eyes opened at seeing the man they
had left at the bottom Of a leap strug
Cling for life now at the top of the
heap with the interest and attention
OF all concentrated on him.
"Our man has gone on toward
Trolle," said Vandal. "Our friends
here did not know they were letting a
prize slip through their fingers. Why,
there is a prize of 5000 francs offered
by the Paris police for the return of
the man to them. Oh you should have
held himp'
Again that quick flash from father
to son.
81 suggest" said Vandal. that now
our explanation is complete and good
will established, we drink the health of
the Frau Robard and get some rest.
In the morning we will continue our
journey"
IL agree. / agree" said Reber and
Robello.
In an hour the three were i'm bed
and n consultation was being held be-
low between Robard and his son.
well, luck has at last come to us"
chuckled the old villain to the younger
one. Twelve thousand francs, dia-
monds and a watch on him and 5000
francs for returning him to the Paris
police. But where is all that money !?
Six hundred francs only we found"
"Well, we took his purse, thinking
that contained all his wealth. A ped
dler with GOO francs is rare bird.
But $1,000! Is he safe for awhile yetT
well, gave him good dose. But,
God, suppose l had killed him, as / in
tended at first, and lost that 5000
francs! oh, IL those three wise French
men only knew their thief was asleep
in this housed Well. we would have to
kill them. We mur.. not lose this prize"
From this delec aole conversation ii
will readily be gathered that only a
portion of the story told by Robard to
Vandal was true. Buckford, as will
be remembered. gave Nine. du Barry
the slip at Strassburg. He left Strass-
burg by the first train toward Deneslia