The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-11-30

in 4 Partisan ouvrier's French, ''that
m'sieur will be back in time, to keep
his appointment. fear l must pro-
pose to myself to accompany m'sieur."
Once again Lepelletiers face went
grey and his eyes seemed to bulge,
and once again he swallowed some
thing with extreme difficulty.
"Alors!" was all he answered, and
he turned away in the direction of his
lodgings, followed little distance by
the man who had accosted him. AS
his unsteady fingers fumbled with his
latch key he took backward glance,
and saw that the man was sauntering
slowly by. He let himself In at last,
and mounted the steps slowly, climb
ing to the banister, and shuddering
strongly at every step as II he had
palsy.
When he reached his own room he
took bottle of Cognac from q cup
board there, and poured out and drank
full half-tumbler Of the neat spirit.
The draught set him coughing violent
ly, and he dropped into an armchair.
When the paroxysm was over he rolled
and lit cigarette, his fingers bungling
at the task and spilling quantity OF
tobacco on the floor. The cigarette
went out, and he at on there, still As
stone, and staring straight before
him. In while, recovering from his
trance, he poured out second liberal
draft of Cognac, qualifying it this time
with water, and aftcG sip or two got
up and rummaged about the room for
a cigar, and finding one at the bottom
of a box, he lit it carefully, turning 1t
about and making sure 1t burned level.
Then he resumed his seat, throwing
rings of smoke into the air.
"Eh bien!" he said at last. Mon
sieur Brangwyn must bleed for this.
1t is lucky thing for him that = few
hundred sterling year will make no
difference to him."
He had quite recovered his sang
froid by this time, and sat slipping and
smoking at ease, when knock at the
door announced the arrival Of M. Ri
bot He listened at the door and heard
him proclaiming that he was expected
by M. Dubois, with whom he had an
appointment of importance. He con-
tinued to listen until the ascending
footsteps reached the final stair OF the
flight Immediately below him. Then
he closed the door softly and returned
to his armchair, where he composed
himself anew. There was knock at
the door.
"Entrez," cried Lepelletier.
"a gentleman to see Monsieur Du-
bois."
"Let him come in. All. c'est tot! Be
seated"
M. Dubois, attired in his customary
fashion, hated, gloved, booted with
perfect hneness, passed forefnger
between an immaculate collar and his
neck as if it CALLED him little after
q period of disuse, adjusted his we'll
cut frock coat with a double-handed tug
and seated himself leisurely, carefully
parting his coat tails as he did so.
"Ohe," said Lepelletier. "a metamor-
phosis."
something in that nature" Ribot
answered. "But let us come to busi-
ness, M. Dubois. My comrade report
ed to me minute since. I hope, for
your sake, there was no evasion In
tended"
"Yes," said Lepelletier. Let US
come to business. There was no eva
sion meant. My dear sir. l recognize
the position and submit. But l had
supposed my own needs to be provided
for the present week at least. That
supposition was roughly upset this
morning, and I was on my way to re-
plenish my resources. Nothing more,
parole d'honneur!"
s Things prosper with you" said RI
bot, looking round the apartment,
which. though not luxurious, was COM
modiously furnished.
"They would be well enough II they
would last" Lepelletier responded.
: 1T is rather sucden to have done 30
much, n'estce pas?"
Perhaps" the other answered,
flicking at his cigar ash.
"You have found friend?" said RI
bot, inQuiringly.
Precisely"
Ito ss continued.)