The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-02-23

give it, an idea came to HIM and he
quickly drew it back.
T. Look here, you're not going to try
any hanky-panky tricks, are you?
won't sell you tile copy unless you give
'me your word that yon won't try and
pass~it off as an original"
| A quiet smile passed across the deal
er's lips.
"Y9u can easily reassure yourself
Just paint out the signature and put
your own name on the top of it,
Without a word, Bartle did as the
old man suggested. and presently his
own name was neatly painted in place
of the masters.
II don't mistrust you,'' he said. as
he handed the receipt, but it's we'll
not to put temptation in the way of
| willy dealers"
Monsieur Leir laughed as he pock-
eted the document and took the Wat
teau in his hand. He pointed with a
Slightly disdained finger at Bartle's
pictures.
Pm going to take the copy along
with me. and I'll send my femme de
menage for the Others" he said. But
at the door lie stopped. II: like your
pictures. my friend. and when Rudolf
knows that l take all interest in you,
l dare say he'll b, able to sell them
! Don't be surprised if in another mon h
l come and tell you that -ol1 can marry
your fiancee.'
Monsieur Leir packed the Vatican
with his own hands, and dispatched it
without delay. He wrotes discreet
little letter to his son-in-law announc-
ing its immediate arrival and suggest
ing that they should share the profits
o. its Gale. 1t was growing late, so
| ne went to his cafe and drank the
,, absinthe with which he invariably pre-
pared for the evening meal. Then.
| with a chuckle, he wrote the following
note:
To the Chief Officer, U. S. A. Customs.
New York
Sir: An attempt will shortly be mace
to pass through the Customs COPY
OF a picture by Watte:u. 1t is signed
Charles Bartle. If, moreover, you scrape
away tno name, you will find the sig
nature of a French painter. I leave
you to make what inference you
choose. Yours Faithfully.
AN HONEST MAN.
Less than this was necessary to ex-
cite the suspicious of the least trust
ing section of mankind. 1t was scarce
~ to be wondered at, therefore, that
when Rudolf Kuhn went to the Gus
tom House at New York to pass the
picture that had been cent him, he was
received with incredulity. He asserted
with conviction that it was only a
copy, and produced the receipt which
Monsieur Leir had been so cautious as
to send him. But the officia, who saw
him merely laughed in his face. He
was quite accustomed to the tricks
whereby astute dealers in works of
art sought t. evade the e-uty.
Il suppose you'd be surprised if l
told you that the picture was signed by
Antoine Watteau," he said, with a dry
smile.
''More than that. 1 should be
amazed beyond words" answered Ru-
dolf Kuhn confidently.
Silently the customs officer took
palette knife, scraped away the name
of Charles Bartle, and there. sure
enough, was the French artists sig
nature.
'What have you got to say now?" he
asked in triumph.
A curious light passed through the
Dealers eyes as he stared at the can
vas, but he made no other sign that
Monsieur Leir's astuteness had sud-
denly flashed across him.
Nothing" he replied.
With meekness he paid duty on the
estimated value of an original Wat
teau, and a very heavy fine into the
bargain for his attempt to defraud the
customs. He took the. picture away.
But when he reached home that night
he kissed his wife on both cheeks,
with Unusual warmth.
"You fathers still the smartest
dealer in Europe. Rachel" he said. But
when she asked for an explanation
of his words, he merely shook his head
and smiled.
In New York the newspapers learn
verything, and perhaps it was not
strange mat within twenty-four hours
Of these events an important journal
had an amusing account Of how Ru-
dolf Kuhn, the well-known dealer, had
been foiled in his attempt to pass
through the customs, as a copy of some
obscure painter, a very perfect ex-
ample of the art of Vatican. It was
triumph for the officials, and the
newspapers gibed freely because they
had go. the better Of willy Hebrew.
Now Rudolph Kuhn lad a client who
chose y spend much Of his vast wealth
in the acquisition of Old Masters, and
no sooner had he read these entertain
ing paragraphs than he hurried to the
dealers shop. When he. saw the pic
ture he burst out laughing.
Il like your .impudence, trying to
pass that off as j copy"
II showed them the receipt smiled
Rudolf, with a. depre eating shrug OF
the shoulder. Il propose to sell it IS
a copy. It was sold to my representa-