Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1903-03-20

.At length. Oh the Saturday afternoon
he h"tmk himself to the box office of
the 1h'ter in the Rue Richelieu. No
sooner Lad he mentioned his name than
the clerk produced the order in an en-
velope of which the address was scarce.
~ dry.
''It has been taken this moment
said the clerk
Indeed" said Francis MAY I ask
what the gentleman was like?"
'YOur friend is easy to describe" re
piled the official. He is old and strong
and beautiful, with white hair and q
saber cut across his face. You cannot
fail to recognize so marked person."
mo, indeed" returned Francis, land
thank you for your politeness.''
"He cannot yet be far distant" add.
ed the clerk. IF you make haste, you
might still overtake him."
Francis did not wait to be twice told.
He ran precipitately from the theater
into the middle of the street and looked
in all directions. More than one white
haired man was within sight; but,
though he overlook each of them in
succession, all wanted the saber cut
For nearly half an hour he tried one
street after another in the neighbor-
hood until at length, recognizing the
folly Of continual search, he started on
walk to compose his agitated feel
ings, fer this proximity of an encounter
with him to whom he could not doubt
he owed the day had profoundly moved
the young man.
1t CHANGED that his way led up the
Rue Drouot and thence up the Rue des
Martyrs, and chance in this case served
him better than all the forethought in
the world, for on the outer boulevard
he saw two men in earnest colloquy
upon seat. One was dark, young and
handsome, secularly dressed, but with
an indelible clerical stamp. The other
answered in every particular to the
description given him by the clerk.
Francis felt his heart beat high in his
bosom. He knew he was now about to
hear the voice of his father, and, max
ing wide circuit, he noiselessly took
his place behind the couple in question,
who were too much interested in their
talk to observe much else. AS Francis
had expected, the conversation was
conducted in the English language.
Your suspicious begin to annoy me,
ROLES" said the old man. II tell you l
am doing my utmost. A man cannot
lay his hand on millions in moment.
Have l not taken you up, a mere stran-
ger, out of pure good will? Are you not
living largely on my bounty?"
ION your advances, MIR. Vandeleur,"
corrected the other.
Advances, If you choose, and inter-
est instead Of good will, if you prefer
II" returned Vandeleur angrily. Il am
not here to pick expressions Business
Is business, and your business, let me
remind you, is too muddy for such airs.
Trust me or leave me alone and find
some one else, but let us have an end,
for Gods sake, of your jeremiads."
Il am beginning to learn the world"
replied the other, land see that you
have every reason to play me false and
not one to deal honestly. am not here
to pick expressions either. You wish
the diamond for yourself. You know
you do--you dare not deny it. Have
you not already forged my name and
searched my lodging in my absence.
| understand the cause of your delays.
You are lying in Wait. You are the
diamond hunter, forsooth, and sooner
or later, by fair means or foul, you'll
lay your hands upon it. l tell you it
must stop. Push me much farther, and
I promise you a SURPRISE"
1T does not become you to use
threats, returned -Yandeieur. 1.-TWO