The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-11-22


under remand. Slmon-probably &c
curry favor with the authorities-had
denounced a youth named Berger. as
having been concerned In a burglary
In the Rue des Saints-Peres, In con
nection with which three men had
been sentenced to long terms of i'm
prisonment. Berger was arrested. but,
as 1t was proved that he had thus far
borne an excellent character, and had
been fooled by his companions, he got
of very lightly.
had reason to suppose that Ber-
ger, knowing II was Simon who had
betrayed him. would not be sorry to
get even with his enemy. and l there
fore decided to have a talk with him,
without, OF course. letting him know
more than was strictly necessary. In
fact. ] had to be very careful how
went to work.
So far. everything was only suppo-
sition. The official report about ST.
mons death might have been true,
and my theory about the likeness be-
tween the two men-the fnancier and
the convict-altogether wrong. In that
case a mistake would have proved dis
astrous
Twelve years had elapsed since the
trial Of Simon, and 1t was possible
that Berger had disappeared. For
tunately ! had a clue. Berger at the
time Of his arrest, was counting q
woman who kept a tobacco-shop in the
Latin Quarter, the widow OF a man
called Samson. for which reason the
students had christened her "Delilah."
When ! called at the little shop in
the Rue Saint-Andre-des-Art | found
1t had changed hands, and in the place
OF the buxom Madame Delilah was
thin. good-natured looking little wom-
an, fond Of gossip. bought some Gig
arettes, and she was soon giving me
the biography of every member of her
family. Then l DETECTED our talk TO
Madame Delilah, whereupon the lady
tobacconist looked severe.
Did you know that person." she
asked.
mo, no." I hurriedly replied. 81 have
only seen her once or twice, when she
was engaged to a mana mani
can't remember his name"
The lady-tobacconist continued TO
look severe and. with scorn in her
voice. remarked:
Engaged. engaged-who do you
think would have engaged himself to
Delilah?"
Il fancy heard she was going 10
marry somebody called Burger or
Berger"
Berger. you mean. That jailbird?"
yes. What has become OF him."
when he was discharged from
prison he took up photography, and
migrated to Belleville; but that's sew
eral years ago."
In Belleville, the populous quarter.
there are several establishments
where the Paris workmen celebrate
their weddings, and, according TO GUS
tom, have themselves photographed
on the important day. The restaurant
of the Las Saint.Fargeau, at the top
of the steep Rue de Belleville. Is the
most famous place for this kind OF en-
tertainments, and I decided to go
there first. When / reached the es-
tablishment, at two In the afternoon,
several wedding parties had taken pos
sion of the garden, and pho
tographer was busy with his appa-
ratus, while his assistant arranged the
groups.
"What Is the name OF the artist?'
inquired of the proprietor.
Mason" he replied.
At that moment the assistant
passed US to fetch a chair from the
house. / stopped him. and asked
whether he knew photographer
named Berger.
He eyed me curiously.
my namc is Berger"
i had reason TO Congratulate myself
on my luck And, looking at the man.
| detected likeness TO his portrait
had seen at the Prefecture.
waited till the rush Of work was
over, and then beckoned to him.
When told him who / was. he frown-
ed
an. Goron," he exclaimed. II hoped
this horrible affair was forgotten.
am earning my living honestly. Why
am / again to be troubled?"
you have nothing to fear, my
good fellow. Your affair, as you call
II, Is dead and buried. All ! ask you
is to call on me. tomorrow morning at
half-past ten. I have a question TO
put to you"
"All right, sir" he sighed.
On my return to the Office ! sent
a note to Charles Vernet, with the re-
quest to come to me the next morning
at eleven, as / wanted some more In
formation from him regarding the Bel
gian swindler.
At half.past ten, punctually, Berger
was announced.
Berger" began. "you need not
look so miserable. ! give you my
word nobody will hurt you"
He smiled family.
II want you to 60 into the adjoin-
ing room and wait for me-"
A few minutes past eleven vernet
was introduced. apologized for trou-