Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1903-10-08
fCoNTINUED.l

nmaZemcnt and CONSERVATION when
beheld the sweet face of good Frau
Robard. Oh. l assure YOU. gentlemen.
it was most gricvous error on my
part, and no one could regret it more
than did, especially when felt Your
billiard cues ramming inc in the stom
nch.
We'll. the evil is not so great, if the
good frau can forgive me-
\ look of great significance passed
from Robard to the younger of the
four, who was his son.
"And you say this fellow was Il
thief?" asked the elder Robard. GLOW
much did you say he stole:"
1t flashed into the mind of Nandal
that the paltry amount of 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
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 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 a bargain with
him. She took the gown, he took the
money, spent the night here and this
morning departed"
"What sort of man? How did he
look:" asked Vandal.
ooh, young fellow. He spoke
French, but 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 a thief who steals like that
would not own good eyes long,
ooh, this fellow was good actor.
He can appear to be anything"
HE must be a marvel"
Gle is. Which way did he go?''
"Well, now, to tell the truth, I do
not remember. think he went on
toward Trolle. At least he purchased
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 q heap Strug-
Cling for life now Il. the to-, OF the
heap with the interest AID attention
of all concentrated on l.i:.!.
Our man has gone on toward
Trolle," said Nandal. lou: friends;
here did not know they were letting q
prize slip through their fingers. Why.
there is Il prize of 5000 francs offered
by the Paris police for the return of
the man to them. Oh. you should have
held him.
Again that quicl, flash from father
to son.
Il 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"
II agree. l agree" said Rebcr and
Robello.
In an hour the three We're in bed.
and a consultation was being held be-
low between Robard and his son.
well. luck has at last come to us, y
chuckled the old villain to the younger
one. Twelve thousand francs, dia-
monds and u 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 Curse, thinking
that contained all his wealth. A ped
der with GOO francs is a rare bird.
But 1900! Is he safe for awhile yet!''
well, gave him a good dose. But,
God, suppose 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 mu:,.. not lose this prize. -
From this delec, aDle conversation 1t
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 1t.
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 q
way Of going by stealth.
In this room he and his son had crept
after the unsuspecting Buckford was
asleep and had drugSed him heavily.
They had then procee6S6 to ride his
clothes, tin, having found his purse,
they had taken It. -Iegvipg htm in his