Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1912-04-16

Wnen lie lelL boA rive, Aooh1A6 eo
dreadfully pale"
Moncharmin heaved a sigh. what
a business" he groaned.
"Ah!" said Nine. CRY. II always
thought there were secrets between
the ghost and NJ. Poligny. Anything
that the ghost asked M. Poligny to do
M. Poligny did. M. Poligny could re-
fuse the ghost nothing
"You hear, Richard: Poligny could
refuse the ghost nothing"
Yes, yes, I hear" said Richard.
IN. Poligny is a friend of the ghost;
and, as Nine CRY is friend OF M.
Poligny, there we are! But l
don't care hang about M. Poligny,'
he added roughly. THE only person
whose fate really interests me is
Nine. CRY Nine. CRY, do
you know what is in this envelope"
'Why, of course not she said.
''Well, look"
Nine. Giry looked into the envelope
with a lack.luster eye, which soon re.
covered its brilliancy.
'Thousand-franc hottest" she cried.
Eyes, Nine. CRY. thousand-franc
notes! And you knew it!"e
II, sir? 1? swear
Don't swear, Nine CRY! i.
And now l will tell you the second
reason why l sent for you. Nine.
Giry, I am going to have you ar
rested"
The two black feathers on the dingy
bonnet, which usually affected the at
titude of two notes of Interrogation,
changed into two notes of exclama-
ton; as for the bonnet itself, 1t
swayed in menace on the old lady's
tempestuous chignon. Surprise, indig-
nation, protest and dismay were fur
thermore displayed by little Meg's
mother in a sort OF extravagant move
ment of offended virtue, half bound,
half slide, that brought her right I'M
der the nose of M. Richard. who could
not help pushing back his chair.
"Have me arrested"
The mouth that spoke those words
seemed to spit the three teeth that
were left to 1t into Richards face.
M. Richard behaved like a hero. He
retreated no farther. His threatening
forefinger seemed already to be point
ing out the keeper of Box Five to the
absent magistrates.
Il am going to have you arrested.
Nine. CRY. as thief"
"Say that again!"
And Nine. CRY caught Mr.. Manager
Richard mighty box on the ear, be-
fore Mr.. Manager Moncharmin had
time to intervene. But 1t was not
the withered hand of the angry old
beldame that fell on the managerial
ear, but the envelope itself, the cause
of all the trouble, the magic envelope
that opened with the blow. scattering
the bank-notes, which escaped in a
fantastic whirl of giant butterflies.
The two managers gave shout,
and the same thought made them
both 60 on their knees, feverishly
picking up and hurriedly examining
the precious scrape of paper.
Are they still genuine, Monchar.
MINI"
Are they still genuine, Richard7"
Eyes, they are still genuine!
Above their heads. Name Giry's
three teeth were clashing In noisy
contest, full of hideous Intersections.
But all that could be clearly distin-
guished was this Leit-motif:
II. thief! l, a thief, 1?''
She choked with rage She shouted:
Il never heard of such thing"
And, suddenly, she darted up to
Richard again.
I'm any case" she yelped, you, NJ.
Richard, ought to know better than l
where the twenty thousand francs
went to-"
T?" asked Richard, astounded.
"And how should know"
Moncharmin, looking severe and
dissatisfied, at once insisted that the
good lady should explain herself.
What does this mean, Nine Giry?"
he asked. And why do you say that
NJ. Richard ought to know better than
you where the twenty-thousand francs
went to-"
AS for Richard, who felt himself
turning red under Moncharmin's eyes.
10 took Nine. CRY by the wrist and
shook 1t violently. In voice growing
and rolling like thunder, he roared
why should know better than
you where the twenty-thousand francs
went to? Why? Answer me-"
Because they went into your peck.
et!" gasped the old woman. looking
at him as If he were the devil in.
carnate.
Richard would have rushed upon
Nine. CRY, if Moncharmin had not
stayed his avenging hand and fastened
to ask her, more gently:
"How can you suspect my partner,
NJ. Richard. of putting twenty-thou'
sand francs in his pocket?'
Il never said that" declared Nine
CRY, seeing that 1t was myself who
put the twenty-thousand francs into
M. Richards pocket" And she added.
under her voice, There! It's out!
And may the ghost forgive
mel"
Richard began believing anew, but
Moncharmin authoritatively ordered
him to be silent.
"Allow me! Allow me! Let the
woman explain herself. Let me ques-
ton her" And he added: 1T Is really
astonishing that you should take up
such a tone! We are on the
verge of clearing up the whole mys-
terry. And you're in rage!