The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1908-12-31
CHAPTER XII

startling. 1t was certainly Jacuue
,Danttn. The painting was signed "P
u, Bordeaux, 1871" 1t was ova il
shape; the frame was gone; the edge
was marked, scratched. marred. as II
the frame had been roughly torn from
the picture.
Have you had this portrait a Ions
sime?" he asked of the ~shopwoman.
Il put 1T in the window today for the
first time" the huge woman answered
oh, it is a choice bit! 1t was painted
by a wicked one"
Who brought 1t here?"
Some one who wished to sell it-a
paoserby. If 1T would interest you to
know his name
Yes, certainly it would interest me
TO know it." Bernardet replied.
The shop woman looked at Bernardet
defiantly and asked this question:
DO you know the man whose por-
trait tina is?"
resembles one of my relatives. 1t
lpleases me. How much is it?"
"A hundred francs" said the big
nm
Bernardet suppressed al the same
time a sudden start and a smile.
~ hundred francs! Diable, How
Iast you go! 1t is worth sous rather
than francs"
That" cried the onla very in
,dtgnant. That! But look at this ma
terial, this background. 1t is famous, L
tell you. | took 1t to an expert. AT the
public sale 1T might perhaps bring 1000
france. My idea is that it is the picture
OF some renowned person, an actor or
a former minister--in fact, some his
toric person.
but one must take ones chance"
Bernardet replied in a jeering tone.
But 100 francs is 100 rancs Too
much for me. Who sold you the paint
fng?"
The woman went around behind the
counter and opened a drawer, from
which she took a notebook, in which
she kept a daily recor of her sales.
She turned owe the leaves.
November II, a small oval painting
bought She readjusted her specta-
cles as il to better decipher the name.
Il did not write the name myself.
The man wrote 1t himself" She spelled
out:
"charles-charles Breton, Rue de la
Condamine, 16"-
Charles Breton" Bernardet repeat
ed. Who is this Charles Breton? 1
would like to know il he painted this
portrait. which seems like a family por-
trait, and has come to sell it.
You know, " interrupted the wom-
that that often happens. 1t is
business. One buys or one sells all in
good time"
And this Breton. how old was he?"
Oh. young. Abou 80 years old.
beard"
.:pid anything about him especially
"Nothing!" the woman shortly re-
Piled. She a become tired of these
questions n looked at the little man
with a troubled glance.
Bernardet readily understood, and.
a paternal, a beaming air, he
said with his sweet smile:
Il will not fence any more. will
tell you h truth. ] am a police in
epector, and l find that this portrait
strangely resembles a man whom we
under lock and key. You under
stand that 1t is very important that T.
mould know all that is to be ascertain
ed about this picture
But / have told you all I know.
monsieur aid the shopkeeper.
Charles Breton, Rue de la Condamine
Is the name and address. 1
paid ~ francs for it. There is the re-
ceipt. Read 1T, beg. It is all right.
We keep a good shop. Never have we.
my late husband and /. been mixed
with anything unlawful. Sometimes the
oflc-a-brac lis soiled, but our hands
md consciences have always been
ciean. Ask any n along the street
epout the Widow Colard, ] owe no one,
every n esteems me-
rs ~ 4ao AoldIa NOuluH lave 2Onej
on indefinitely IL Bernardet had not
stopped her. She had, at first mention
of the police, suddenly turned pale. but
BOW she was very red, and her anger
Itself In a torrent OF words.
stemmed the flood of verbs.
i do not. accuse you, Mime. Colard.
l have said only what / wished to
say. | passed by chance Your shop. I'll
saw In the window a portrait which re-
sembied some n / know. / ask you
the price, and / question you about Its
advent into your shop. There is nothing
mere which concerns you personally.
40 not suspect you OF receiving stolen
! repeal my question. How
much do you wan for this picturea.
"TWenty francs. IL you please. That
q what 1t cost me. I do not wish to
nave It draw me into anything trouble
ZONE. Take II for nothing, IL that
pleases you"
Not at all. ! intend to pay you. OF
what are you thinking, Mime. Colard?"
The shopwoman had, like all people
q certain class. a horror of the POI
h presence Of 81 police inspector
u ner mousse seemed at once a dishonor
Ind q menace. She felt herself vaguely
Under suspicion, and she felt an Inn
pulse to shout aloud her Innocence.
Always smiling. the good man. with
: gesture like that of a prelate blessing
his people, endeavored to reassure her,
~ S<AilAA AlSIS. DuI ne CQulQ 90 nothing L
With her. She would not be appeased.
IA b long run this was perhaps as
Tor she unconsciously, without
Any Intention OF aiding Justice. mt
clews into Bernardet's hands
which finally aided him In tracing the
nan.
n Nine. Colard still rebelled. Did they
think she was a spy, an informer? She
had neyer-no, n~eyer--played such a
part She did not know the young
She h bought the picture as
she bought any number OF things.
And what III they should cut Off his
because he had confidence in en-
tering my shopg ! should Il for
give myself, never"
u IL not going to bring Charles Bre-
TO the scaffoid. Not at all. NOT at
ut Is only to- find III who he is.
End OF whom he obtained tllisaportrait.
more, did npthing In his face
sS-sNothings" Nine: Colard responded.
She refiected IA moment.
yes, perhaps. The shape Of his
hat. felt Int with wide brim, some
Ehfnt like thoseworn IN South Amer
lczEsuf Kareros. know, the kind
thcy#cau soInbrero. The only thing
gaid NtQ myself was, This Is probably
Gpx1easretnrned traveller, and IL / had
not seen at h bottomaof the picture
SNAA - ~ ET aANftE i W1--E ~ - NJ