Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-07-06
THE RED MARK.
g A poacher."

Inc genQarlneS stopped 90 n ana UTleu
to crawl through the busl es without
making any noise, but the poacher had
already heard them. He was looking
around to all sides, holding his hands
over his eyes, and Immediately saw the
head of an officer who was crawling on
the ground. Immediately he started off
as fast as his feet could carry him. The
two gendarmes jumped to their feet and
ran after him, but the man ran like a
deer; to be able to run faster, he threw
off his shoes. The two gendarmes, who
We're quite stout, soon got out of breath
and had to give up the race. The Grim
inal had escaped.
That is what one might call bad luck, !"
said Jumel.
But, if we did not get the rascal him
self, we at least got his Shoes" replied
Sehgourd, quite well satisfied. Jumel
told him that he might as we'll throw
them away, but he looked them over care
fully and certainly seemed to get an idea.
for a smile came into his face.
Now, my dear friend, just look at
these shoes; they will surely enable us
to catch their owner"
Il should like to know how"
You just let me handle the case," re-
piled the other, and pulled from his coat
pocket a strip of red paper, a small part
of which he pasted carefully on the edge
of the shoe. Now, we just leave them
here. Surely the fellow will come back
for them, as soon as we have gone, and
then we shall catch him without any
trouble"
Father Francru of Sotteville was sit
ting together with Madhurin Chante,
from Vilerouet talking about the sale
of a COW.
-Four pistoles for such a young cow
which had never had a calf yet! Why
that is ridiculous, and 1 cannot sell it
for that price"
'WeIl, then, six pistoles and it is
yours"
NO? Then l will make another offer.
Give me six pistoles, and | will let you
have my shoes besides"
This offer pleased the old man. He
smiled, and said Let me see the shoes
irst.'
Madhurin took off the shoes and
showed them to him. They were very
nice looking shoes.
Father Francru looked them over very
carefully and tried them on. "They just
fit me- he said, and once more looked
them over from toe to heel. Suddenly he
said, But what is that red mark?"
You do not mean to say that you do
not know what that isl" replied the
other with smile. But is it possible
that YOU do not know that this is the
highest fashion IN PARISH"
us that so?'
"Well, thought everybody knew that.
But it certainly is sure that in Paris
they know how to dress"
When Father Francru heard that he
immediately decided to buy and paid
over the six pistoles, and a few moments
afterward he was walking toward his
home, very much satisfied with his bar
gain, carrying the shoes in one hand and
with the other leading the COW. When he
came home he lost no time telling his
wife of his remarkable bargain, and,
pointing to the shoes, he said, ''Now, just
look close. Do you see that red mark?
That is very fashionable just now"
He could not resist the temptation of
showing them also to his neighbor, the
blacksmith, i'll whose smithy a number
of peasants were gathered.
Father Francru had everybody admire
his shoes. Eyes, that red mark there is
the latest Paris fashion"
The next Monday, there was a fair at
Argentan and the gendarme Sehgourd
was slowly walking through the streets
of the town, without once looking up.
For more than two hours he had walked
thus, and did not grow tired looking on
the ground. Suddenly he stopped, his
eyes sparkled, and he smiled happily.
Just in front of him he saw the shoes
with the red mark. Father Francru had
not been able to resist the temptation
to wear the shoes at the fair. He had
also the COW with him. He did not in
tend to sell it, out whenever he took
walk now he always took his COW along,
Just as another would take along his cane
or umbrella He was exceedingly proud
of his new shoes.
He was stopped by Seligourd who with
a hooking smile asked him IF he would
not please tell him if those shoes be-
longed to himself"
"Why, of course, they belong to my
SELF the peasant replied Indignantly.
well, | do not mean offense, but will
YOU please tell me what does that red
mark mean there? May be you can tell
me that, too Z!
Father Francru seemed exceedingly
surprised at the ignorance of the gen
darme and replied CURLY, That Is the
latest fashion in Paris"
rs that so? Well, l shall show you
the latest fashion You seem to be just
as ready with your tongue as you were
with your feet the other day" Father
Francru was astonished when he heard
that he was supposed to be poacher.
and that he had nearly been caught in
the woods the other day; his surprise
was boundless. But the gendarme did
not give him any time in which to ex-
plain. He began to cross-examlne HIM,
however, in his own way. Having put
few questions to him he exclaimed, with
a laugh: "Your shoes give you away,
nv dear friend / know them too well,
and you will have to follow me to the
Iock,1D -