Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-04-01

So saying, he drained his wine to the last drop, and. picking up his hat and drawing forth his handkerchief, waved a perfumed farewell to the two men and left the room.
 For a moment there was silence in the room. Then Pompon spoke: Fortune is . woman; if you neglect her to-day, expect not to regain her tomorrow. She knocks once at every mans door; he is fool who does not invite her in."
 "True, mon ami" replied the other, land in this case, if we once get her in, we will bolt the door behind her SO she, cannot escape. But tell me. why did you offer the 10000 francs when we have not SO much as half louis left-unless perhaps you found the pockets of those clothes I gave you lined with rouleaux of gold?"
 "The sea is not measured with a bushel, neither is a man always known by his looks," was the enigmatical re- ply. Wait for me here," and Pom pon glided out of the door and stole silently down the stairs. He was back within half hour, bearing in his hand mildewed bit of parchment. He summoned Tonti to the window where the light was good and carefully un- folded it.
 "This happens to be parchment written upon with a secret ink that dampness will not blur. The day be- fore M. Bouquet was taken I learned of his proposed arrest, and at consid- erable risk warned him of his danger and begged him to flee while there was yet time. He only laughed and said he would not run. He wrote on this piece of parchment and handed it to me, saying: Mon brave Pompon, have buried the sum of 50,0O0 francs in the place described here. Take this, and if am arrested. go and get the money and leave France at once.' He was arrested the very next day, and I the day after, before I had time to get the gold. managed to hide this pa per with my friend, the cabaretier. who furnished you with the dye, be- fore I was imprisoned. You see he has been faithful to my trust and has kept it safe for me all these years"
 So saying, he thrust the paper before the astonished eyes of Tonti, who read the first line as follows:
 "Emrmrfctgjjyecm
 "'Tis all in cipher!" he exclaimed.
 "Yes, the same that M. Bouquet used, and in which I wrote his secret messages" responded Pompon. But it is very simple. Each letter is two places in the alphabet removed from the proper one. So all you have to do is to count ahead two letter each time. The first line will then be:
 "'Go to the village of Ecouen to the."
 'Bravo!" cried Tonti, 'let us finish reading it."
 They went on, and, after the whole had been deciphered, the hidden mes- sage read:
 .''Go to the village of .Ecouen to the inn called the Striped Ass. Take out the middle floor brick in the row next to the hearthstone and pull on the iron ring beneath it. Then go to either end of the stone and bear your weight upon 1t. The stone will turn, and in the hole beneath it you will find two bags. each containing a thousand pis- toles. They are yours in token of many years of faithful service"
 "Corpo di Bacco! Two thousand pistoles!" exclaimed Tonti. That will leave 30,0O0 francs, after paying M. de la Salle. What will you do with it"
 "I think we can find a way to spend it."
 We"
 "Yes, certainement. Have we not druN to the health of M. Tonti and Company? We have much to do before we leave France, and both of us may need to have goodly sum of gold. It will be powerful ally in danger"
 Devil take me. Pompon, if you are not right. A full purse is better than ten friends"
 We shall need it, too. when wo reach the new world, for there will be many difficulties there to be overcome. Money will make the pot boil, though the devil pour water on the fire" con- cluded Pompon.
 Ma foi! mon ami. accept your contribution for the adventure. I shall repay you my share out of the first load of beaver-skins I sell. But, what am I saying? The money is not ours yet. Ii may have been discovered be- fore now or we may find the inn de- stroyed. Iris now IA years since he gave you this paper" and from state of exaltatiOn, Tonti became suddenly sober and crestfallen.
 'Tt is good to fear the worst; the best saves itself" said Pompon. "The only way 10 settle the question is to go there. Do you know where Ecouen is?"
 Ma foi. No"
 'It Is distant about four leagues from Paris. By leaving here at eight o'clock tonight. We can ride thers easily in two hours. do what we have to do. and be back by day. It is for you 10 borrow loo livres from your friends and hire horse and an ass Leave the ass with the cabaretier in the Rue de la Tanerie. and be yourself near the Porte Dauphin. If you see monk pass out by the gate mounted on an ass. follow him. but do not address nor try to come up to him. until he