Putnam patriot., 1910-02-11

II.
wizened little man.
Monsieur has nothing 70 declaFeY
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 Merit
hew.
Monsieur has nothing to declare?"
be 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 Kiiligrew. as | liver shouted
Merrslew making dash for the door
But the inspector blocked the way.
beckoned to eendarme. 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 cllmsily.
II is ever thus when one is in a 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 hurry" Knocked
the inspector Nothing. nothing.' He
took out two boxes of cigars.
why the devil didn't you tell me
YOU had themg' 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
maddening.
The inspector went through Merri-
hew's possessions with Iremeditated
leisure. Everything had 10 come out.
collar box. the pin cascs and the tie
bag.
xviii you hasfeny' asked billiard
I'VE do not wish to miss This train
"Others follow said the inspector
laconicaiiy.
Hillard produced q IRE franc piece
The inspector laughed without noise
and shook hts head This one inspector
is impervious to money or smooth
Il a. lA> AS>8
memorable
HiiIard strained his eyes. hut saw
neither Kitty nor the yelled lady again
Doubtless they were already ON the
train. Had Merrihew been an old
traveller he would have teft him to gel
to Monte Carlo the best way he could
but Merrihew was as helpless as n
child. and he hadn't the heart to desert
him. though he deserved to be desert
ed
Ding-ding, went the bell. Vince
vince. went the whistle. The frair
for Monte Carlo was drawing out and
they were being left behind Hillard
swore and Merrihew went white with
impotent anger. II only he could hit
went on with his deadly work. When
be was certain that they could not pos
sibly catch the train be banded the
cigars to their owner and pointed to
a sign the other side OF the barricade.
What shall do now. Jack" Aerri-
new 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 hill and presented II with hun
ared lire note at the little window la
the of room.
Procuring bis change. he found Hi
lard sitting discGHsolately on the bar
ricade.
Il hope you are perfectly satisfied"
said Hillard. with an amiability which
wouldn't have passed muster any
where
"Oh. I'm satisfied answered Merri-
hem. He stuffed his pockets with CT
CARS. slammed the boxes into the case
and locked them up.
II warned you about tobacco"
II know TT
~You should have told me-"
Il know that. too. but didn't want
Jou to lecture me-"
"a lecture would have been better
than waiting here In this barn Tor
three h0ues"
Three hoursr' despondentiy.
-Oh. there's q restaurant. bot if's not
much better than this. It's bad-dies
an1 greasy gaafes~
And by the dime they had found the
Rlstorante Toenaghi = miserable and
uninvifing-fhey we're laughing
Only | wish ! knew where they
we're going" was Hillard's regret
They r said MerFshew.
.Yes. The woman with Kitty u the
woman I'm going to 6nd II stay In
Europe ten years And when Ind
her I'm going TO marry her"
Sounds good said Merrihew. pour
ing himself third glass Of very indff-
serent Beaune-
-Aasl they may be going anywhere
Aut 10 Monte carlo-Paris. Cherbourg-
Calais. In my opinion. Monte Carlo b
he last place two such women are
| kelly to 60 10 alone."
So they sat in the dlssy restaurant
smoking ard laughing and gTumbilns
/ III the next train vas announced At
| that sfserpoon they arrived withcut
| surther mishap at The mast tDtsrestins
- g. nano h 0,sev1n Mnmae