The Washington times., 1906-06-17

century-Were good friends, well
proven by years of ups and downs
together. They were seated where
they had habit of meeting-in the
little Creole-haunted cafe of Ma
dame Tibault, in Dumaine street.
If you know the place, you will eX-
perience a thrill of pleasure in re-
calling it TO mind. 1t is small and
dark, with six little polished tables,
at which you may sit and drink the
best coffee in New Orleans, and
concoctions of absinthe Sequal To
Sazerac's best. Madame Tibault, fat
and indulgent, presides at the desk,
and takes your money. Nicolette
and Meme, madame's nieces. in
charming bib aprons, bring the de-
sirable beverages.
Dumars, with true Creole luxury,
was slipping his absinthe, with half
closed eyes, in a swirl of cigarette
smoke. Robbins was looking over
the morning Pic, detecting. as
young reporters will, the gross
blunders in the makeup, and the
envious blue-penciling his own stuff
had received. This item, in the ad-
vertising columns, caught his eye,
and with an exclamation of sudden
interest he read it aloud to his
friend:
PUBLIC AUCTION.-At o'clock
this afternoon there will be sold TO
the highest bidder all the common
property of the Little Sisters of
Samaria, at the home of the Sister
hood, in BOnhOmme stDet. The sale
will dispose of the building. ground,
and the complete furnishings of the
house and chapel, without reserve"
This notice stirred the two
friends to a reminiscent talk con-
cerning an episode in their journal
site career .hat had occurred about
two years before. They recalled the
Incidents, went over the old
theories, and discussed il anew,
from the different perspective time
had brought.
There were no other customers in
the cafe. Aadame's fine ear had
caught the line of their talk, and
she came over to their table-for
had it not been her lost money
her vanished twenty thousand dol
Iars-that had set the whole mat
ter going?
The three took up the long-aban-
1oned mystery, threshIng over II
old dry chaff of il. 1t was in the
chapel of this house of the Little
Sisters of Samaria that Robbins
5nd Dumars had stood during that
eager, fruitless news search of
theirs, and looked upon the gilded
statue of the Virgin.
''Thass so, boys" said madame.
summing up. ''Thass YER wicked
nan, M'sieur Norm. Everybody
shall be cert he steal those money
| Plaze in his hand for keep safe.
Yes. He's boun' spend that money,
somehow" Madame turned a broad
and comprehensive smile upon Du-
mars. II ond' stand you, oI'sieuT Du-
mars, those day you come ask me
fo' tell ev'ything 1 know bout
M'sieur NORM. All! yes, l know
most time when those men lose
money you say, "Cherchez la fem
me'-there is somewhere the wo-
man. But not for M'sieur NORM.
No, boys. Before he shall die, he is
like one saint. You nights well,
M'sieur Dumars, go try find those
money in those statue of Virgin
Mary that Msieur NORM present
at those p'tite soeurs, as try find
one femme"
At Madame Tibault's last words,
Robbins started slightly and cast
a keen, sidelong glance at Dumars.
The creole sa;. unmoved, dreamily
watching the spiraIs of his ciga-
rette smoke.
1t was then 8 o'clock in the
A-A'A AAA.it5 anu a lew minutes
the two friends separated, going
different ways TO their days duties
And now follows the brief story of
Madame Tihault's vanished thou
sands:
New Orleans will readily recall to
mind the circumstances attendant
upon the death of Gaspard NORM,
IN that city. Mr.. Norm was an artis-
tic goldsmith and jeweIer, in the
old French quarter, and a man held
in the highest esteem. He belonged
to one of the oldest French families
and was of some distinction as an
antiquary and historian. He was
bachelor, about fifty years of age.
He lived in quiet comfort, at one of
those rare old hostelries in Royal
street. He was found in his rooms,
one morning. dead from unknown
causes.
WhaO HE n fo;re oo,,,o - - IL