The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-27
CHAPTER Nj.
COUNTERFEIT.

On the south side of the Seine. in quiet
street not stones throw from the Boule
ward Saint Germain, there is a bakers shop
which in the early days of October. 1896,
prospered exceedingly. Let us call the
street the Rue Casse-Tete, and assign the
name of Grigot-Veuve Grigot-to the pro-
prietress of the shop. Neither of those
appellations is to be found in the directory,
but this will be the kinder course in view
of possible inquiry by the French police
into the nature of the aforesaid prosperity.
On the face of things this took shape in
an increase of the number of the widows
customers. The street is so quiet so shy
and retiring in its habits, that perhaps none
of the neighbors noticed it; but had they
done so they would have wondered at the
frequency with which the half-glass door
swung to and fro admitting strangers who
were not of the Rue Casse-Tete. They, the
neighbors, ldevoured the Veuve Grigot's
mouldy loaves, with maledictions, because
they were cheap and near. 1t would not
have occurred to them that the fame Of
the dingy bakery was such as to attract
outsiders from other streets, least of all
outsiders in fur overcoatS and shiny silk
hats.
Not that the jewellers i'm the Rue Casse-
Tete would have had real cause for wonder
ment on that head, for the good widow
made no addition to her bake to meet
an extra demand, and the sudden influx
of customers did not even cause a dininu-
ton of her normal stock. And, what was
still more strange, these others the new
customers, though they undoubtedly went
into the shop, were not to be seen coming
out again-at least without an unconsciona-
BILE long wait-by those who saw them
enter. And all day long and far into the
night Pierre Grigot, the widows black
browed son, with whose name rumor
coupled with wild doings in the far-off Com
mune days, stood guard at the foot of
the stairs beyond the inner door that sepa-
rated the shop from the house.
About the time of street-lamp lighting.
in the late afternoon of Tuesday, the eth
of October, a tall man, enveloped from head
10 heel in military cloak, but wearing a
civilian hat we'll pulled down over his eyes.
entered the shop, and, paying heed to
the frowsy old woman behind the counter
walked straight through TO the inner door
Opening and shutting it behind him, he
was for moment in darkness, till the
CLEAN of Pierre Grigots bulls-eye lantern
shone full In his face. The dim outline
of the ex-Communard's hulking frame was
just NIslDit, DiOCklus tue narrow stair
way.
For five seconds Pierre's ferocious eyes
glared in doubt; then his hideous features
broke into a forbdding grin.
'.Bon soir, monsieur, he gurgled, doffing
a houry cap of rabbits skin. You come
not often. like some of them, and at first
l did not recognize YOU. Pass up. If you
please; madame waits
''She is alone?" asked the visitor and
| being answered in a leering affirmative he
assembled the stairs and knocked al a door
| opposite the landing. A silVery voice babe
| him enter, and he found himself in a tawdry
| apartment-larger than might have been ex-
| pected, since Ii covered the shop as well
| as the lower floor of the dwelling house
| The Princess Olga Palitzin, its sole occu-
pant. rose with outstretched hand.
''You good Boris, she said with little
| cooling laugh. II knew that | could trust
| you TO keep your word. And has fortune
| favored your endeavors? You have obtained
| the passes?'
Dubrowski flung OPEN his cloak and pro-
duced several slips of paper. which he laid
| on the table. 1t was a long table, with
| chairs close together on either side. very
much after the style of the room In the Rue
| ST Pol at Boulogne.
Yes" he said. II have got the passes
and I'm the names you gave me. / do trust
| that you will be careful, though Olga-fol
| my sake as well your own. Ii is bic
| risk to run-merely for a little sightseeing
for an officer OF. the Household TO procure
passes in false names"
| The princess Was eagerly scrutinizing the
/ slips of paper which had been signed
] "Mohrenheim' by the Russian ambassador