Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-30
CHAPTER VIII-Continued.


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
thief?' asked the elder Robard. "How
much did you say he stole?"
1t flashed into the mind of yandal
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, 1.-The rascal took in money
$4,000 francs, several diamond orna-
ments, ladies' jewelry and a fine gold
watch"
Another flash Of intelligence from old
Robard to his son.
well, my FRIEND" said the old man.
II can explain the matter Of the gown
very easily. There came to this inn
from the train yesterday young man
who claimed to be peddler. In fact,
he had valise, and in that valise he
carried this gown, which he offered for
sale. 1t took the fancy of my wife at
once, and she made bargain with
him. She took the gown, he took the
money, spent the night here and this
morning departed"
what sort of a man? How did he
look?" asked Vandal.
'.Oh, young fellow. He spoke
French, but 1 fancied he was more like
those accused English. He spoke also
German to the wife"
"Smooth face, dark brown hair, good
eyes?"
1.-THE same. Evidently the same.
Though thief who steals like that
would not own good eyes long"
'Oh, this fellow was good actor.
he can appear to be anything"
He must be marvelr
He Is. Which way did he go?"
swell, now, to tell the truth, do
not remember. 1 think he went on
toward Trolle. At least he purchased
horse Of me-
At this point the two frightened as
sociates We're brought in, and their
eyes opened at seeing the man they
had left at the bottom of q hemp 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. sour friends
here did not know they were letting
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.
Il suggest" said Vandal, chat, 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"
81 agree. I agree" said Reber and
Robello.
In an hour the three were in bed,
and consultation was being held be-
low between Robard and his son.
"Well, luck has at last come to u.s."
chuckled the old villain to the younger
one. Twelve thousand francs, dia-
monds and 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"
Wen, we took his purse, thinking
that contained all his wealth. A ped
dler with 900 francs is rare bird.
But $4,000! Is he safe for awhile yet?"
Wei, l gave him good dose. But,
God, suppose l had killed him, as / in
tended at first, and lost that 5000
francs! Oh, If those three wise French
men only knew their thief was asleep
in this house! Well, we would have to
Kill them. We muga not lose this prize"
From this delecrable conversation it
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
and on the way managed to resume his
natural appearance and placed the
gown Of Nine. du Barry in his valise.
Arriving at Ontro, he had seized the
first opportunity to get rid of the
gown and had presented it to the wife
of his host.
She, pleased with the gaudy thing,
accepted it
Judging that man who could give
away gown that was better than any
his wife had ever had must have plen-
ty of money, Robard had given the
traveller room into which he had a
way Of going by stealth.
In this room he and his son had crept
after the unsuspecting Buckford was
asleep and had drugged him heavily.
They had then proceeded to rife his
clothes, till, having found his purse,
they had taken 1t, leaving him in his
stupor while they thought of way to
either explain his loss satisfactorily
or kill him IL he made any fuss.
They had given him more Of the
deadly stuff than they intended, and
he had slept all that night and all day.
But as has already been seen, Buck
ford had a constitution of iron and
rallied from attacks that would kill
ordtnary man