Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-11-10
Copyright. 1908. by the Bobbs.
Merrill Co.

their belongings. They would have to
be patient.
Among the inspectors at Ventimiglia
Is a small, wizened Frenchman with a
face as cold and impassive as the sand
blown sphinx. He possesses. among
other accomplishments, a nose pecul-
lar less for its shape than for it's smell.
He can "smell out" tobacco as a witch
doctor in Zululand smells out a devil
Fate directed this Individual toward
the Americans. billiard knew him Of
old, and he never forgets a face, this
wizened little man.
he asked.
Hillard made a negative sign and
opened his cases. With scarce a
glance at their contents and waving
aside the coupons the inspector ap-
piled the chalk and turned to Merri-
hew.
Monsieur has nothing to d%eclare?"
he repeated.
Merrihew shook his head airily.
"Niente, niente!!" 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 cabalistic chalk marks,
were two women. One Of them was
yelled; the other was not.
kitty Killigrew, as | live" shouted
Merrihew, making a 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 billiard,
"be patient and open the cases at
once"
Merrihew handled his keys clumsily.
1t is ever thus when one is in q hurry.
Finally he threw back the lids, feeling
that in 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 hurry!w Knocked
the inspector. Nothing, nothingy' He
took out two boxes Of cigars.
"Why the devil didn't you tell me
you had them?" Hillard demanded
wrathfully. To find the women by this
stroke of luck and then to lose them
again for two boxes of cigars! 1t was
m%addening.
The inspector went through Merrl-
hew's possessions with premeditated
leisure. Everything had to come out.
He even opened the shaving sets, the
collar box. the pin cases and the tic
bag.
"Will you hasten?' asked Hillard.
I'VE do not wish to miss this train"
"Others follow" said the inspector
laconically.
Hillard produced a five franc piece.
The inspector laughed without noise
and shook his head. This one inspector
is impervious to money or smooth
speeches. He is the law %personifed,
inexorable.
Hillard strained his eyes, but saw
neither Kitty nor the yelled lady again.
Doubtless they were already on the
train. Had Merrihew been an old
traveller he would have left him to get
to Monte Carlo the best way he could,
but Merrihew was as helpless as a
child. and he hadn't the heart to desert
him. though he deserved to be desert
ed.
Ding-ding.. went the bell. Vince
-,L@1f -,ar% Il- -la~k1- MI 49,
for Monte Carlo was drawing out, and
they were being left behind. billiard
swore and Merrihew went white with
impotent anger. If only he could hit
something! The inspector smiled and
went on with his deadly work. When
he was certain that they could not pos
sibly catch the train he handed the
cigars to their owner and pointed to
a sign the other side of the barricade.
What shall I do now, Jack" Merri-
hew asked.
Il refuse to help you. Find out your
self"
So Merrihew, hopeless and subdued,
went into the room designated. saw
the cigars taken out and weighed, took
the bill and presented it with a hun
dred lire note at the little window in
the off room.
Procuring his change. he found Hill
lard sitting disconsolately on the bar.
ricade.
II hope you are perfectly satisfied
said Hillard. with an amiability which
wouldn't have passed muster any
where.
"Oh. Pm satisfied" answered Merri.
hem. He stuffed his pockets with Ct.
gars, slammed the boxes into the case
and locked them up.
II warned You about tobacco"
q know tt"
: aYcu should have told me-"