The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-06-07
Drawings by FRED PEGRAM.
Copyright. 1895. 1906, by Little,
Brown * Co.. Boston.
CHAPTER VIII.
JNCOMBE's "HOLDUP."


led his hand and exchanged a meaning
look with the man who sat opposite.
Surely the poor fool was ready for the
plucking? But Madame, who sat be-
side her, frOwned upon them both. She
had seen things which had puzzled her.
She signed to them to wait.
She leaned over and flashed her great
black eyes upon him
Monsieur enjoys himself like this ev-
cry night in Paris?"
A soft, a very seductive voice. The
woman who enVied her success COM
pared it TO the purring of a cat Men
as a rule found no fault with it, es-
pecially those who heard it for the
first time.
Duncombe set down his glass. now
almost empty. He looked from the
stain on the table cloth into the eyes
of Madame and again she thought them
very unlike the eyes of a drunken man.
Why not? It's the one city in the
world 10 enjoy ones self in. Half-past
four, and here we are as jolly as any
thing. Chucked out Of everywhere in
London al half-past twelve. Time,
gentlemen, please And out go the
lights. Jove, I wonder what they'd
think of this al the Continental! Let's
let's have another bottle"
The fair-halred girl-Flossie to her
friends. MademOiseHe MermillOn until
you had been whispered in
his ear. He shook his head vaguely.
She had her arm around his neck. He
removed it gently.
Wen have another here first any
how" he declared. Hi, GarcOn! Ring
the bell. there's a good chap. Mon
sieur-dash il, I've forgotten your name.
No. don't move I'll do it myself"
He rose and staggered toward the
door.
"The bell isn't that way, Monsieur"
Madame exclaimed. 1T is to the right.
Louis. quick"
Monsieur Louis sprang To his feet.
There was a queer grating little sound,
followed by a sharp click. DuncOmbe
had swung round and faced them. He
had turned the key in the door and was
calmly pOcketing it. The hand which
held that small shining revolver was
certainly not the hand of a drunken
man.
They all three looked at him in won
der-Madame, Monsieur Louis and
MademoiseIle. The dark eyebrows of
Madame almost met, and her eyes were
full Of the promise of evil things. Mon
sieur Louis, covering back from that
steadily pointed revolver, was white
with the inherited cOwardiCe Of the de-
generate. FlOssie. who had drunk more
wine than anyfOf them, was trying TO
look as though it We're joke. Dun
Combe, with his disordered evening
clothes. his stained shirt front and err
rant tie, was master of the situation.
He came and stood a few feet away
from them. His blundering French &C
cent and slow choice of words had de-
parted. He spoke TO them without hes
itation, and his French was almost as
good as their own.
i want you 10 keep your places.
he said. land listen 10 me for a few
minutes. l can assure you l am neither
mad nor drunk. 1 have a few ques-
lions TO ask you. and if your answers
are satisfactory you may yet find my
acquaintance as profitable as though
I had been the pigeon I seemed. Keep
your seat, Monsieur lie Baron"
Monsieur Louis, who had half risen,
sat down again hastily. They all
watched him from their places around
the table. 1t was Madame whom he
addressed more directly-Madame with
the jet black hair and golden earrings.
the pale cheeks and scarlet lips.
7 invited YOU into a private room
here" he said, because what l have
said TO you three is between ourselves
alone. You came. 1 presume, because
il promised TO be profitable All that
! want from you is information. And
for that I am willing TO pay"
Monsieur Louis interpOsed. He stTOked
his little black mustache with a much
beringed hand. With the other he ges-
ticulated.
Monsieur talks reasonably" he de-
olared, but why all this mystery? Why
this feigned drunkenness? Why the
show of arms? If we can help Mon
sieur-it is an affair OF pleasure. and
If he chooses TO make d present to these
ladies in return-why, no doubt, they
will be charmed. Ne, l presume, he
has no intention TO insult. Permit me,
Monsieur"
He drew a card from a small gold
case, and presented il TO DuncOmbe,
who accepted it with little bow.
If I can aid you in any way" Mon
sieur Louis continued, Il am entirely
at your service, but 1 require first of
all that i'm addressing US you recognize
ny position as a French nobleman,
who amuses himself in this place as
you, Monsieur. also do, and also that
You unlock that door"
Duncombe smiled quietly.
Monsieur le Baron" he said, Il
think that we are very well as We
are-secure from interruption. l have
sent others here on this same mis-
sion, and they did not succeed. Both of
these ladies, 1 believe, have been ap-
preached for the information I desire
ana lHEg nave ll4ouELl wen 10 Will
hold il. ] have set my heart upon sue
cess this time. and l wish 10 secure at
least the opportunity of being heard. 8"
Monsieur Louis shrugged his Shout
ders.
There are secrets" he murmured;
"affairs of honor"
DUncOmbe interrupted him.
Monsieur Louis" he said, Il am not
so young as 1 look. and l have lived
in Paris. I know that this cafe for
all its outward smartness, bears per
hans the worst reputation in Europe
I have heard of you three many times
the Trinity from He'll they call you
sometimes, I think You see l know
where ] am and the risk I run. Even
this little room has its secrets-secrets
which / don't suppose there is gold
enough in France 10 buy. Well. 1 don't
want to buy them. You can go your
wav so far as ! am concerned There
is only one thing 1 want TO know from
YOU, and for that I offer yOu-the la
diae If course / mean-fiVe thousand