The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-04-05

holding the lantern, then anoCner crouching figure moving before the lantern. Then he recognized Caesar.
 'Phee-et, phee-et!' he whistled softly.
 Good old Caesar. There, there!'' murmured Coquenil, fondling the eager head. Its all right, Bonneton, 9 and, coming forward, he held out his hand.
 Wondering, Bonneton led the way to small room adjoining the treasure chamber.
 ing figure on a cot bed. Its time to make the round.''
 Francois looked stupidly at Coquenil, and then. with a yawn and a shrug of indifference. he called to the dog, while Caesar growIed his reluctance.
 It's all right, old fellow,' encour- aged CoQueni. ''IIl see you again. g whereupon Caesar trotted away reas- sured.
 .'Now, then" began M. Paul, q want to ask about that girl who sells candles. She boards with you. You know she's in love with this Amert can who is fin prison?"
 'I know"
 'tshe came to see me the other day. and the result of her visit was-wel,
 
 I'm going to say you mustn't tell southeast of all your wife,"
 ''You can trust me-"
 gro begin with, who Is the man with the long little finger that she told me aboutF''
 .swhy. that's Groener." answered Bonneton simply.
 "Groener? Oh, her cousin?'
 ~Yes"
 sfTm interested, because have a collection of plaster hands at my house, and there's one with long lit tie finger that the candle girl noticed. Is her cousins little finger really very 1ong?"
 "Its pretty long, said Bonneton- '1 used to think it had been stretched in some machine. You know he's wood carver.''
 "Bonneton." continued the detective mysteriously. 'I don't know whether it's from her dream or in some other way, but that girl knows things that that she has no business to know"
 Then, briefly and impressively, Co- quenil told of the extraordinary reve- lations that Alice had made not only to him, but to the director of the 1 Sante prison. She's possessed of dan gerous knowledge, and I want to know where she got it. I want to know all about this girl.'' Bonneton shook his head. ''We know very little about her, and the queer thing is she seems to know very little about herself. l believe she is per- fectly honest. Anyhow, her cousin is a stupid fellow. He comes on from Brussels every five or six months and spends two night with us-never more, Lie nIe. %@n7r6 r6cSf to his commissions for woodcarv1ng, takes Alice out once in the afternoon or evening, gives my wife the money for her board. and that's all. For i've years it's been the same. I've noticed she's nervous just before his visits and sort of sad after them. My wife says the girl has her worst dreams then" 'I have it" Coquenil exclaimed presently. s@Tel me about this man Francois 'sFrancofs?" answered the sacristan in surprise ''Why, he helps me with the night work here. He takes two meals with us a day" "AhI Do you think he would like to make a hundred francs by doing noth- ing? And you would like to make 5oO?" stF1ive hundred francs? cried Bonne- ton. Don't be afraid,' laughed the other. .sWhen do you expect the wood 1 carver?'' Hell be here next Wednesday,"
 ''Next Wednesday," reflected Coque- 1 nil. He always comes when he says 1 he will?' Always He's as regular as clock 1 work @:And he spends two nights with you?'
 'EYes." '.That will be Wednesday night and Thursday night of next week?'' stYes.'' Good! Now I'll show you how l you're going to make this money. I | want Francois to have little vaca- | tfon. He looks tired. want him to go | into the country on Tuesday and stay | until Friday "And his work? Who will do his 1 work?'
 Coqueni1 tapped his breast sI will take Francois place. I'll be the best assistant you ever had, and I l shall enjoy Mother Bonnetons cook 1 ing. None of them will know me. You won't know me yourself
 +tAh, I see,'' nodded the old man wisely. ''You will have disguise"
 q shall come on Tuesday. When do | you want me?''
 'At o'clock answered the sacris- tan doubtfully. "But what shall I say if any one asks me about it?''
 ''Say Francois was sick and you got your old friend Matthieu to replace him for few days. I'm Matthieu!
 'sYou wouldn't get me into trouble, M. Paul ?'' he appealed weakly.
 ssPapa Bonneton,'' answered CoQue- nil earnestly, sshave I ever shown you anything but friendship? When old Max died and you asked me to lend you Caesar did it didn't IF And you