Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1909-10-28
mere was change Of cars at Rome
and whit NJ txUo honrc

and n wait of two hours.
After luncheon Merrihew secretly
J bought two boxes of cigars to carry
along. They were good cigars and cost
} him S15 He covered them with some
newspapers and at the station succeed.
ed by some legerdemain in slipping
them into one of his cases. Hillard
would have lectured him on his ex-
, ;ravagancc. and this was a good way
! to avoid il. But some hours later he
wa going 70 be very sorry that he
had NOT made Il confidant of his guide.
AS they We're boarding the train they
noticed two gentlemen getting into the
forward compartment OF the carriage.
'HumpE Our friend with the scar
said Hilla"d. We do not seem able to
shake him"
I'D like to shake him. He goes
against the grain somehow" Merri-
hew swung into the compartment. Il
wonder why the Sandfords dropped
him.
For some good reason. They are
liberal pair. and IL our friend forward
offended them ii must have been me
thing outside the pale of forgiveness.
But should like TO know where old
Giovanni is. | miss him.
Poor devil said Merrhew. with
careless sympathy.
The train started.
Monte Carlo, Gold. gold. little
round pieces of gold" Merrihew rub
bed his hands like a miser.
Hard to get and heavy to hold"
quoted Hillard. Il suppose that you
have system already worked out"
"Of course. l shall win If | stick to
It,"
''Or If the money lasts. Bury your
system. my boy. 1t will do you no
good Trust to luck only Monte Car
10 is the graveyard of systems
But maybe my system Is the one.
You can't tell till | have tried it,
Soon the train began to lift into the
mountains. the beautiful Apennines.
BY the time they arrived in Genoa,
late at night. both compared favorably
with the coalers in the harbor of Ma
pies.
Early the next morning the adven-
turers set out for Monte Carlo-more
tunnels: compartment filled with
WoIleII anu CUuuTeI. But the beauty
of the Riviera was compensation.
Ventimigia. or Vintimille. has sin
lister sound IN the ears of the traveller
If perchance he be man fond of his
tobacco. The train drew in. dozen
steps more and one was virtually in
France. But there is generally slight
hitch before one takes the aforesaid
steps-the French customs. porter
popped his head into the window.
Eight minutes for examination of
luggage" he cried
"Come, Dan" cried Hillard; lively ii
we want good seats when we come
out. We change trains.'
After a short skirmish they located
their belongings. They would have to
be patient.
Among the inspectors at Ventimiglia
is small. wizened Frenchman with a
face as cold and impassiye as the sand
blown sphinx. He possesses. among
other accomplishments nose pecul
lar less for its shape than for its smell.
He can smell out" tobacco as Il witch
doctor in Zululand smells out devil"
Fate directed this individual toward
the Americans. Hillard knew him OF
old, and he never forgets a face, this
wizened little man.
Monsieur has nothing to declareY,
he asked.
Hillard made a negative sign and
opened his cases. With scarce
glance at their contents and waving
aside the coupons the inspector APP
piled the chalk and turned to Merri-
hew
Monsieur has nothing to declare?"
he repeated.
Merrihew shook his head airily.
"Niente, nientei'' he said in his best
Italian. He did not understand what
the inspector said He merely had
suspicious.
Look suddenly exclaimed Hillard
Passing out of the door which led to
liberty and to France. their luggage
guaranteed by cabaistic chalk marks,
were two women. One Of them was
yelled: the other was not.
kitty Killigrew, as liver shouted
Merrihew, making dash for the door
But the inspector blocked the way,
beckoned to a gendarme. who came
over, and calmly pointed to Merri-
hew's unopened cases.
"Open" said the inspector.
But Merrihew struggled to pass
For heavens sake" cried Hillard,
"be patient and open the cases at
once"
Merrihew handled his keys clumsily.
1t is ever thus when one is in hurry
Finally he threw back the lids, feeling
that i'm another moment he must have
spouted Italian or French out Of pure
magic simply to tell this fool inspector
what he thought of him.
"Oho. monsieur in a hurryr' Knocked
the Inspector. Nothing, nothingr' He
took out two boxes Of cigars
"Why the devil didn't you tell me
you had them Hiilard demanded
wrathfully. To Ard the woman nv this