Middletown transcript., 1904-08-06
HE elder and fatter OF my cap
tors flashed his light full on my
face with little grunts of salts



who had SO ably assisted him; y
is the yicomte. Our first effort has me
with happiest success.
Blinking at them sayagely, l sat up
I was bruised and sore from my tussl'
with the giant who finding desperation
made me unpleasantly strong, had re
auested the fat man to use his club. Th
latter, who had been worrying my Goa
like puffy, pursy terrier, had compiled
with such good will that the blow on m.
head stunned me for several moments
When clarity Of intelligence returned,
was bound hard and fast and lay on TIN
floor of the little inn, vine-covered, tin.
building situated in the heart of la bell,
Frances most troubled province in thos
days Of 1S-.
''Yes, mon ami, the happiest success !
repeated the fat man.
''If your success rests on my being
Vicomte," | said, sneeringly, "you ma.
reverse the work. No Vicomte am |, bu
simple Captain in my Emperor's arm.
Ney's division. F"
The fat man smiled in superior man
ner.
"You are the Vicomte Charles Henr
Lorraine, brother of Mademoiselle Alix.
Brother of the devil p said, rudely
IT am the brother to no one but myself
My family were all exterminated in thu
late discriminating efforts of a certain
Monsieur Robespierre. am alone in the
world, with no title and no sister-st
loose me, and Twill promise to let yor
both off from the drubbing you so richly
deserve"
Jules the giant, grinned and said calm
". "We know you well, Vicomte. And
your nice brown curls are as pretty as
ever"
"If my hair got me in this mess"
said, angrily, 'tthat's soon remedied, i'd
lots that you arel I am wearing wig.
Under it you will find my own crop Of
short black covering
They made hurried investigation.
"C'est vrai," sat the fat man, dismally;
''it is not our man at all n
"And why was monsieur wearing a
wig over his own hair ~ inquired the
giant, in his thin little voice, absurdly
out Of proportion to his size.
''It's none Of your business" retort-
ed; "yet, that you may not make noun
tain out Of molehill, | will tell you that
/ wear it because / was at fancy ball
last night in X, and finding my
self 50 changed by the wig, and for the
better, too, resolved as boyish joke to
keep it on and see if my comrades at
Paris would know me. | had no desire
to resemble your yicomte, can assure
youp'
''Yet the resemblance is there to very
wonderful degree" observed the fat man,
thoughtfully. "Jules, he might do quite
as well as tile original for our purpose"
"For what purpose | inquired,
bIankly. There was calm assurance
about the speaker which | did not like, a
sort Of greasy certainty that his own
ideas were capital conceptions.
He did not answer me.
"Eh, Jules?" he queried.
"Why not?'' said the giant, laconCally.
"For what purpose?" shouted. "How
dare you discuss me in this manner?"
monsieur need not excite himself"
said the fat man, politely. "If monsieur
will agree quietly to array himself in tile
suit which | shall bring, then monsieur
shall have an explanation"
After some parleying I agreed, and un-
der the cover Of pair of pistols in Jules
hands | disrobed completely and got into
a new suit Of clothes, beginning with the
finest body-linen with an embroidered
crest on it, and ending with very ele-
giant suit that fitted me amazingly.
But monsieur is handsome in that
dress r. observed the fat man, rubbing
his palms together. "Monsieur's fine fig
ure is set off to perfection And mon
sieur should congratulate himself on that
wig-it is SO natural, SO absolutely copy
of the Vicomte's admired curls ~
"Curls be damned?" | said, sulkily.
"NoW will you explain p
Monsieur forgets,a returned the other,
civilly, 'that he promised to remain as
he was before. Jules would much rather
tie your hands, monsieur, than perforate
you with one of these balls. Yet if per-
forate he must-he never misses. Cut
the button, Jules, from my sleeve here"
He held up his arm with admirable
GOODNESS, and Jules, with yet mere ad-
mirable steadiness of nerve, fired ond one
Of the under buttons fell to the floor.
After that little exhibition, was fain
to keep the promise extorted, and allow
ed my hands to be rebound. There was
no use calling for help. The fat man was
the inns Boniface, and had the whole
lonely little place to work his will in. /
trusted rather to chance Of escape later
on, for they could scarcely intend me SER
ious harm by this enforced masquerade.
So I reasoned, but literally without my
host. For no sooner were my hands fast
ened than Jules and his adviser fell on
me, and in three minutes, despite my
violent struggles and protests, had me
tied hard and fast to long bench near
the fire place.
Monsieur ought not to have so-disar-
ranged all bis costly ruffies," reproached
the Boniface, painting as he sat himself
down before me. Fortunately, how
ever, have Strengthened out monsieur's
suit again, and he looks quite CONNIE il
faut."
"Your explanation - | asked, fierce
ly.
Boniface rubbed his hands. Assured |
lyl NameNof pig, did one ever know
Gratien to fail Of his word? Repose
yourself, Jules, while | make the affair
clear to monsieur. You see, monsieur,
but, mile pardons, might be SO honored |
as to know monsieur's iaine?o
Il am Capt. Clanle Garenne, bound to
Do.:a -. t<x,x,<. ~ =, t...,,,,oS - II ec.5