The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-11-30


mans face went grey and his eyes
bulged.
"Hola, Charve souris!" said M. Ri
bot. It was the nickname by which
NJ. Lepelletier-for the man was nc
other than the assassin Of Grimaud-
had been known among his fellow
convicts.
Name of a dog!" said the quaking
scoundrel. "Who are you?"
Il am the brother of the Black Hog,
m'sieur."
The person who had rejoiced in this
designation was gentleman forcat
who had been chained to Lepelletier
and had been murdered by him as a
prelude to escape. The wretch, who
felt death at his neck already, turned
greyer than before, and his eyes stood
out in most CHASTITY stare.
IF monsieur knows any quiet place
where it would not be too remarkable
to be seen in conversation with a man
like me, it might be safer to talk there
than in the street"
"Some," said Lepelletier in croak-
ing and unnatural voice. and walking
with as faltering gait as If twenty
years had been added to his age, he
shufaed toward the Tottenham Court
road. There shouldering aside pub
lie house door he entered, with Ribot
close upon his heels. "Do you speak
English?" he asked, in tone not yet
recovered from the effects of the
fright he had received.
"Yes," said Ribot. Il speak English
we'll enough"
Call them" answered Lepelletier;
II pay"
The bar was empty, and was fur
nished with chairs and small circular
| tables. Seating himself at one OF
these he touched a bell, and on the
! appearance of the aproned, shirt
sleeved barman, called for two small
bottles of pale ale.
This gentleman-mye employer
pays" he said. Il have told him." he
added, turning to his companion and
speaking in his own tongue, chat you
are my employer. would wish mon
sieur to mako an attempt to control!
himself. There is no present cause
for distress. have no doubt that we
shall find it easy to make terms. When
next we meet think the generosity Of
monsieur may have enabled me to
make an appearance more worthy of
his society,""
| M. Lepelletier swallowed something
with great difficulty, but the color be-
gan to return slowly to his cheeks,
and his staring eyes grew less CHASTITY.
When he came to pay the barman his
hand shook so that he spilled half a
dozen coins upon the sawdusted floor.
Ribot gathered and returned them
with gesture of respect, and the bar
man retired to his business In the
! back quarters of the house.
ITO your health" said the detective,
raising his glass;
ITO yours" replied Lepelletier, me-
chanically. They drank together, and
then the pretended brother of the
murdered convict leaned forward with
his elbows on the table and his chin
upon his hands.
IN. Lepelletier Is certain not to
agree with me in thinking this encoun.
ter fortunate. For me, as any one may
see, am at the end of my resources.
/ begin to eat the mad COW, and do
not like my provender."
Il do not want many words" said
Lepelletier, speaking more naturally;
what do you ask of me?" Ribot
feigned to consider. He allowed his
glance to rest on the others solid gold
watch chain and ON the handsome
ring which sparkled on the third finge,
of his left hand. Il warn you not tc
60 too HIGH" Lepelletier continued
"My resources are not large"
"Give me two hundred and fit,
francs" said Ribot. "My clothes AM
my watch are in the care of my aunt
who is known in this country as my
uncle. can redeem them, and car
myself be once more respectable in ap
pearance If not in fact. will present
myself at your apartment in two
hours time from now. am sharing
this little enterprise with friend
who is now outside. and who will tax,
up his share Of the duty whilst an
away. By what name shall inquir,
for M. Lepelletier when I do mysel
the honor to call upon him?"
Dubois" said the other. "Plail
Dubois"
He made no struggle and attempte,
no compromise, but drawing out ,
pocketbook, opened 1t, and produce,
from 1t two five-pound notes, which
he passed across to Ribot. He he'll,
the book open to show that it wa
empty, and Ribot nodded to show tina
he understood, folding up the note
meanwhile and thrusting them int
one Of the pockets Of his tattere
trousers. Then he rose. finished hi
glass standing, and went out quickly.
Eau revoir," he said ct parting. ii
two hours time"
Ypno11nfanp aot afnann Tire a mo,