The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-05-11
The Tines Daily Short Story.

merely a subterfuge. However, he saw
the opera through, then, joining some
friends, went to supper at cafe.
About / o'clock he went home, let him
self In with HIS night key, and was
about to go up stairs when he saw a
man standing on the stairs. He had
been coming down when Rathbone en-
tered and stopped,
Rathbone staggered under the load
Of horror that had suddenly come upon
him.
"stand where you areg' he said as
soon as he could get. his voice. "Giye
me time to think. Myswife's name must
not be brought into this affair. We
must find some other pretext."
"Go to your club" said the man,
"and say that you caught the Count de
Tourinne cheating at cards. You chal-
lenged him and will fight him at day
light In the morning"
'aThe Count de TourinneY
by my indiscretion my family, one
of the Oldest in France, must suffer
the only stigma ever put upon It. But
1t is better thus than that your wife's
reputation should suffer-
1T viii not matter. I will put you
where only the worms will interest
YOU"
The count advanced, took card
from his pocket, threw it on a table
and walked out Of the front door.
Rathbone went into the drawing room
and, falling on divan, buried his face
IN the cushions. Half an hour later he
j went to his club, where he met Spencer
Hunt, q Heidelberg chum, whom he
/ told that the Count de Tourinne had
/ cheated him at cards and a challenge
had passed,
Co. he concluded, ITO the address
on the card aud arrange the details Of
/ the affair"
Il am surprised beyond measure"
said Hunt, that Tonrinne should have
done such q thing. I am not personally
/ acquainted with him, but his standing
both socially and as man Of honor
is the highest Is not this pretext
to cover the real cause Of your quar-
relg''
"Hunt as You value my friendship
ask no questions. Arrange the affair
TO be fought out till either / or the
count is killed or MORALLY wounded.
Go at once"
Rathbone paced back and forth in
the hall Of the club, waiting. Men were
coming and going, occasionally casting
a glance ait him, wondering what was
the matter with him. Fortunately for
Rathbone, he bad been so devoted a
husband that he had not frequented
the club and knew only few Of the
members. For an hour he paced, then,
suddenly looking up, saw Hunt coming
in at the door accompanied by an aris-
tocratic looking gentleman. Both ap-
preached Rathbone, the accompanying
man glaring at him.
us this the man whom you accused
OF cheating at cardsT asked Hunt
"No."
count, this is my friend Harvey
Rathbone The Count de Tourinne,
Harvey. There is some mistake"
The count, notified, asked for an ac-
count of the affair and description Of
the person who had been personating
: him, then returned to his home.
Rathbone was worn out with excite
ment and the load he bore and did not
know what to do Hunt took him by
the arm and led him to the Place de
la Concorie and thence up the Champs
Eiysees. There they walked and
talked till the sun stood high in the
sky. Then Hunt decided to take bis
friend home to face an investigation.
When the front door opened Mrs
Rathbone threw himself into her hus-
bands arms, Historically exclaiming:
ooh, Harvey, where have you beeni
) I The house has been entered and all my
Jewels takenw
The two men darted glances at each
other full of meaning 1t was plain
that thief had played a pretty game
and effected his escape.
"Thank Godl' exclaimed Rathbone.
@What do you mean?" cried the wife
: "Why, my dear, / mean-the fact Il
l have news Of the winning Of sui
at home by which / will acquire quits
enough to replace your jewels. Let Us
have breakfast"
The Jewels were recovered by the
q police and the thief secured. He had
8 formerly been valet Of the Count Dc
c Tourinne. T. A. mitchell.
J speed OF salmon.
Experiments made in England have
shown that salmon can swim at {