The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1907-01-03
III
BrangWyn Mystery

mans face went grey and his eyes
bulged.
"Hola, Charvs Souris!" said NJ. Ri.
bot. 1t was the nickname by which
M. Lepelletier-for the man was no
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 a 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 a most CHASTITY stare.
IF monsieur knows any quiet place
where II would not be too remarkable
to be see in conversation with a man
like me, It might be safer to talk there
than In the street"
Some" said L~epelletier in a croak-
Ing and unnatural voice, and walking
with as falterlng a gait as If twenty
years had been added 10 his age, he
shuffled toward the Tottenham Court
road. There ~shouldering aside a pub
lie house door he entered, with Ribot
close upon his heels. DO you speak
English?" he asked, in a ton not yet
recovered from the effects of the
fright he had received.
Yes" said Ribot. Il speak English
well enough"
Call then" 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-my employer
pays" he said. Il have told him." he
added, turning to his companion and
speaking in his own tongue, that you
are my employer. | would wish mon
sieur 10 make an attempt to control
himself. There is no present cause
for distress. | have no doubt that we
shall find IL easy TO make terms. When
next we meet | think the generosity OF
monsieur may have enabled me to
make IN appearance more worthy OF
his society"
" Lepelletier swallowed something
with great difficulty, but the color be-
gar 10 return slowly to his cheeks,
and his staring eyes grew less CHASTITY.
hand shook so that he spilled half a
6crea coins upon the ~sawdusted floor.
R5oo< gathered and returned them
with q gesture of respect, and the bar
ia retired TO his business in the
: hack quarters OF the house.
To your health" said the detective,
raising his glass.
TO yours" replied Lepelletier, me-
enanicslly. 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.
M. L~epelletier Is certain not to
agree with me in thinking this cou
Ter fortunate. For me, as any one may
see. I am at the end Of my
begin to eat the mad cow. and I 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 finger
Of his left hand. II warn you not to
go too high" Lepelletier continued.
MY are not large"
give me two hundred and fifty
francs" said Ribot. MY clothes and
my watch are In the care Of my aunt,
who Is known In this country as my
uncle. I can redeem them, and can
myself be once more respectable in ap-
pearance II not In fact. l will present
myself at your apartment in two
hours time from now. am sharing
this little enterprise with q friend.
who is now outside, and who will take
up his share of the duty whilst I am
away. BY what name shall I inquire
for NJ. Lepslletier when I do myself
the honor to call upon him?"
Dubois" said the other. plain
Dubois"
He made no struggle and attempted
no compromise. but drawing out q
pocketbook, opened 1t. and produced
from 1t two five-pound notes, which
he passed across to Ribot. He held
the book open to show that 1t was
empty, and Ribot nodded to show that
he understood, folding up the notes
meanwhile and thrnsting them into
n of the pockets Of his tattered
trousers. Then he rose. finished his
glass standing. and went out quickly.
EAU revoir." he said at parting. In
two hours time"
Lepelletier sat alone like a man
stunned, but after q pause OF half an
hour he, too. rose and walked into the