El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-08-14
(By George Dufresne.)

n QdOBnIer OF a general WIZ Hdu
- - retired from the army to spend
his remaining years on "a small estate
in Touraine Having lost the greater
part of his fortune, the general died
when Rachel was IA years Of age.
When Rachel had become of age and
had received the 100000 francs left by
her father, she went TO Paris and es-
tablished herself in a flat without as
much as a chaperone to guard her. In
vain her aunts and friends protested
and told her she made herself impos-
sib1e socially; she was stubborn aid
refused to listen. She had her own
ideas of what she wanted to do and
did not permit anybody to interfere
with her plans.
OF her adventures in Paris, Trouvil1e,
Nice, Monte Carlo and Ostende. the less
said the better. but when she returned
to Touraine five years later she had
dissipated her fortune, besides quite
a few thousands which she had raised
In various more or less honorable
ways. Stunned by society and even
by the members of her own family, she
was finally forced to return to Paris,
where she soon became the notorious
money lender, EzekiePs most valued
and trusted assistant
The office of the usuer was most
luxuriously furnished. Ezekiel had a
lawyer whom he paid a small salary
and who always made out the neces
sary legal documents. He had, besides,
a whole army of agents. male and fe-
male, who were busy chasing flies
into the spiders web. These agents
were people of all classes, some of
the members Of the most fashionable
clubs, while others were beautiful
young ladies like Rachel Beaumont.
The first time you borrowed the money
from Ezekiel, you had to make out a
90 days note with interest payable at
the rate of 60 percent. This was gen.
orally followed by renewals" or new
business, and the interest grew to such
size with the inevitable result, that
the borrowers position was ten times
worse than when he applied for the
first loan.
One afternoon in May the little bald
headed Jew had just returned to his
office after a sumptuous lunch. He was
in very jolly mood, for q most doubt
ful note of 10000 francs had just been
honored. He had hardly sat down
when Mile. Beaumont was announced.
Ezekiel stood up and greeted her cor
daily We'll, Racheal," he said, for
they were on a very familiar footing.
What is in the air today? You look
as If you had good news. May 1 offer
you a little refreshments"
yes, let me have a glass OF cham
pagner
We'll. what is 1t then, Rachel. 1
am very anxious to- listen to you"
II have caught a young officer Of a
good family, lieutenant Perrier. He Is
only %. OF course I need not tell
you I can twist him around my little
finger. His father is nearly so and
half dead with asthma and when he
gives up the ghost. the young man will
have an income of about a million
francs a year.
GOOD Fine Ezekiel exclaimed.
Have another glass of champagne.
dear
Thank you; no. The thing is this:
I am to dine with him tonight and 1
don't doubt 1 shall get him up here
tomorrow for some cash. If 1 succeed,
1t will be good for you, and you may
bet your boots / am going to get my
share out of him, too. 1 have gowns
enough, but I am rather shy on jewel
rys and that is why 1 dropped in to
ask you to lend me some. You have
G. lot, 1 know"
Ezekiel had to admit that he had.
Suppose you let me have a look"
Ezekiel brought out couple Of trays
full from his spacious safe.
Here is just the thing for you" he
said, and produced a rather inexpensive
chain.
Meme Of that for mine" said Rach-
ell. Here is something more like my
style Of beauty. That diamond sun
burst would just do 1t, I bet''
No, you can't have that. 1t is worth
more than $4,000 francs"
What is the difference" Rachel re-
Piled IF 1t were worth ten times as
much 1t would have been better.
mean to squeeze that fellow good and
hard, and I can't do that without a
swell front. Let me have It."
We'll, I suppose you must have il
your own way as usual, but 1 hope you
will hit him good and hard and get