The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-12-31

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Some accomplish" thought Bernar-
He again asked Nine. colard the
price of the picture.
Anything you please" said the wo-
man, still frightened. Bernardet
Come. come! What do you want
for 1t? Fifty francs. Ell? Fifty"
Away with your 80 francs! 1 place
1t at your disposal Tor nothing IL you
need IT,"
Bernardct paid the sum he had
named. He had always exactly. as IL
by principle, a 80 franc note in his
white plcces-but always this note in
reserve. One could never tell what
might hinder him in his researches. He
paid, then. this note. adding that in
all probability Nine. Colard would soon
be cited before the examining magis-
trate to tell him about this Charles
Breton.
II cannot say anything else. for I
do not know anything else" said the
huge widow. whose breast heaved with
emotion.
h wrapped up h picture in a piece
of silk paper, then in a piece of w
paper, which CHANGED to be the very
n In which Paul Revere had pub
lislled his famous article on THE Crime
of the Boulevard de Clichy." Bernardet
left enchanted with his find" and re-
peated over and over to himself: ut
is very precious. 1t is a tidbit."
Should he keep on toward the pre-,
or should he go at once to hun up
Charles Breton at the address he had
given?
Bernardet hesitated a moment: then
he said to himself that in a case like
this moments were precious; an hour
Last E,vy1x Af~N~ --k- .-rJ AA-A ~- kI,~
address which Breton had given was
not far away he would go there first.
True de la Condamine, 16"-that was
only a short walk to such q tramper as
he was. He had good feet. a sharp eye
and sturdy legs. He would soon be at
the Batignolles. He a taken some
famous tramps In his time, notably one
night when he had secured Paris in
pursuit of a malefactor. This, he adj
mitted, had wearied him a little, but
his walk from the Avenue des Bons-
Enfants to the Rue de Ia Condamine
was but q squirt. Would nc find that
a false name and a. false address had
of art. If, however, he found that
this Charles Breton really did live at
that address and that he had given his
true name. 1t would probably be a very
simple matter to obtain all the infor-
nation he desired of Jacques Dantin.
LIE udI uO u FlShs "A SLuFL Wdlh,
thought Bernardet, "a little fatigue.
That can be charged up to profit and
loss."
He hurried toward the street and
number given. 1t was a large house.
several stories high. The concierge was
sweeping the stairs. having left a card
bearing this inscription lacked on the
front door: .The porter is on the
staircase" Bcrnardet FASTENED up the
stairs. found the man and questioned
him. There was no Charles Breton in
the house: there never had been. The
man who sold the portrait had given
a false name and address. vainly did
ual who a visited Nine. Colard's
shop. The man insisted that he had
lever seen nyone who in the least re-
sembled this toreador in the big felt
hat. 1t was useless to insist! Nine.
Colard had been deceived. And now
Paris this bird of passage who had
cllancad TO enter the ~bric-a-brac shop.
Tho old a6age OF ''the needle In the
haystack" n to Bernardet's mind
and greatly irritated him. But. after
all. there had been others whom he had
looked for. there had beer others whom
he had found. and probably he might
still be able to find another's trail. He
had a collaboration who seldom failed
him-chance! It was destiny which
had aided him.
Eernardet took an omnibus in his
haste to return to his chief. He was
anxious to show his find" to NJ. Lee
he was Immediately received. He I'M
wrapped the portrait and showed 1t to
M. Leriche.
But that is Dantin." cried the
chief.
rs 1. notn"
without doubt. Dantin when young
or, but assuredly Dantin: And where
did you dig this up?"
Bernardet related his conversation
with Nine. Colard and his fruitless
visit to the Rue de la Condamine.
oh, mind" said NJ. Leriche.
This discovery is something. The man
who sold this picture and Dnntin are
must let M. Ginory know"
The examining magistrate was, like
the chief and ~Bernardet. struck with
the resemblance of the portrait to Dan
tin. His first move would be to ques-
tion the prisoner about the picture. He
and Bernardet might accompany him.
The presence of the police spy might be
useful. even necessary.
The magistrate and the chief entered
q ffacre. while Bernardet mounted be-
side the driver. Bernardet said moth
ink, dlInOuEu lnc man tfleO TO OBTAIN
some information from him. After one
or twO m~onosyllabic answers the driver
mockingly asked:
Are you going to the souriciere
(trap) to tease some fat rat?"
NJ. Ginory and M. Leriche talked to-
gether OF the Valkyrie, of Baireuth
and the chief asked. through polite
ness. for news about his c%andidature to
the Academy of Moral and Political
Sciences.
30 not let us talk of the institute
the magistrate replied. ut Is like the
beginning of a hunt to sigh for the
prize that brings unnappiness."
The sOmber pile, the Mazas, opened
Its doors to the three men. They trav.
ersed the long corridors. with the heavy
air which pervaded them in spite Of al
efforts to the contrary. to a small room
sparsely furnished "a table, few
chairs, Il glass bookcase). which served
as an office for the examining magis'
trates when they had to hold any in.
tervleWs with the prisoners.
h guardian in chief walked alont
with NJ. Ginory; M. Leriche followed
them, and Bernardet respectful,
brought up the rear.
Bring In Jacques Dantin," NJ. Gil
nory ordered. He seated himself at til,
table. NJ. Leriche took a chair at on,
side. and Bernardet stood near the lit
tie bookcase. which was next the onl.
window in the room.
II IaC0llp0 narftr SC0p nDDooro,l 10,