Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-09-24
,s1'sht. by shortsiory PUB. Coz

| He was Dut new Ndltl, anu uOuOtlcos
he felt that to look at that face just
now was like listening at keyhole.
Don't knock the furniture about. IL
you please. Edouard,' suggested Fan
ming, not turning his eyes from the
ceiling. Upon my honor. believe my
nerves are going"
Has monsieur any orders?" asked
the new valet softly 1t was the soft
ness OF his tones that had led Fan
ring to engage him. His former valet
had possessed a hoarse croak that
made excellent service of none effect.
OF what value was money If one could
not buy pleasing voice as well as
ready hand?
"Oh, no ORDERS" said Tanning with
the same unchanging stare. Il am
tired, Enthusiastically tired. If knew
what to do. give you my word Id
do it,
Edouard stood respectfully near,
looking down.
"Why, for instance. does not mon
sieur travel?" he asked with quiet sug-
gestion.
A tired smile curled one corner Of
Fanning's mouth.
Because, for instance, my good
Edouard," he replied, Il have travelled
until am more tired of that than any
thing else Talk of travel to a man
| that knows Port Said by heart. and
could find his way blindfolded about
Teheran! Try something else. man."
Edouard laid his hand on chair
back.
But while monsieur has travelled.
he has, perchance, never seen Aux
ons," he suggested again.
"Auxons? what is that?" asked Fan
ming, turning his eyes for a moment
toward the face of the quiet Edouard.
1T is but little town, monsieur
little town in the mountains of my
country" Edouard hasteped to assure
him; but 1t is very ord. and is not
without interest
Then for the first time Tanning
laughed.
Now, why should you imagine" he
said. that ! have any desire 10 see
every little old garlic-smelling French
town on the map-or not on it? Give
me my coat. Edouard-and don't be
an idiot"
Receiving his coat, and being duly
brushed, he went down to his club
from whose almost empty windows he
stared vacantly at the street outside
and was consumed with WEAKNESS. NJ
one was there whom he cared to meet
and he avoided the smiling old clul
Nestor with a haste that was almos
rudeness. He was on the point o
leaving when a certain Mr.. Clermon
strolled in and met him with eviden
pleasure. Mr.. Clermont had brough
European letters of introduction to TIT
club three days ago.
well met" cried Mr.. Clermont. g
have wished TO see you to say good
, bye. as 1t may be that / shall leav
New York for my own land tomorrow
. And when shall see you in PARISH
II do not think of going soon, sal
Tanning, with weary smile that wa
scarcely at the trouble to smile at al
: "You see, have visited Paris so man
times"
. "Ah, but have you seen Auxoas
: asked Mr.. Clermont with enthusiasm
n Depend upon II. my friend. il is wort
8 the visit to France merely to sc
l. Auxons.'
: A fash OF interest lit flaming
= eyes. Twice within an hour, this plac
n OF which he had never heard befor
is had been mentioned by men of vel
D different stations in life. He wou
g have asked further, but at that m
ment Mr.. Clement was called ava
=. and he did not see him again.
The unutterable dullness of the eli
= drove him out, and in his wanderin,
q he passed public library, hesitate
. and turned back. A dark young ma
~ who seemed to be a stranger went
n the marble steps after him. Fannir
= chose a book and sat down. Som
9 times a book might be found that WI
r. fairly endurable.
= A while later he was aroused by
n. voice at his side.
= Pardon, monsieur" the dark your
l man was saying in French, but W
you assist me In finding IL there is
paper here, published in the lit
town Of Auxons?"
II For a moment Tanning was dun
with amazement. Then he courteous
arose and began the search But the
was no such paper. as he present
communicated TO the stranger.
/ "Ah," said the young man with
Il look of disappointment; double
NJ that Is because Auxons is not one
NJ the large cities. You have, by chan,
II seen it, monsieur? True. 1t is We
small, but 1t is very old. and not wit
4 out interest, monsieur"
The repetition of Edouards wor
gave Tanning a sudden, uneasy sen
j that all this had happened long Al