Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-04-25

retreated no farther. His threatening
forefiuger seemed already to be point
ing out the keeper OF Box Five 10 the
absent magistrates.
81 am going to have you arrested
Nine. CRY, as thief"
Say that again."
! And Nine. CRY caught Mr.. Manager
Richard a mighty box on the ear, De-
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
fantastic whirl of giant butterflies.
The two managers gave q shout
and the same thought made them
both go on their knees, feverishly
picking up and htrriedly examining
the precious scrape of paper
Are they still genuine, Monchar-
MINI"
Are they still genuine, RichardY
"Yes, they are still genuine!"
Above their heads, Name Giry's
three teeth were clashing in noisy
contest, full OF hideous interjec' ions.
/ But all that could be clearly distin-
guished was this Leit-motif:
II, thief! l, thief, IL"
She choked with rage. She sho' tied:
81 never heard OF such a thin.y!"
And, suddenly, she darted up to
Richard again.
IN any case" she yelped, "yoI. M.
Richard, ought to know better titan
where the twenty thousand francs
went tot"
T?" asked Richard, astounded.
"And how should known"
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
M. Richard ought to know better than
you where the twenty-thousand flames
went TOT"
As for Richard, who felt hi nself
turning red under Moncharmin's eyes,
he 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 mel"
Because they went into your peck
et!" gasped the old woman, looking
at him as II he were the devil in
carnate.
Richard would have rushed upon
Nine CRY, II Moncharmin had not
stayed his avenging hand and fastened
to ask her, more gently:
How can you suspect my partner,
M. 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 tone! We are on the
verge OF clearing up the whole mys-
L. a
You're wrong to behave like that. :.
I'm enjoying myself immensely"
Name CRY, like the martyr that. she
was, raised her head, her face beam
ing with faith in her own innocence.
"You tell me there we're twenty
thousand francs in the envelope which
| put into NJ. Richards pocket; but
l tell you again that knew nothing
about It. Nor NJ. Richard, eth
er, for that matter!"
"Aha!" said Richard, suddenly as
Stunning a staggering air which Mon
charmin did not like. Il knew moth
ing either! You put, twenty-thOusand
francs in my pocket and knew moth
ing either! | am very glad to hear
/ Il, Nine. Giry!
eyes," the terrible dame agreed,
Eyes, it's true. We neither Of US
knew anything, But you, you must
have ended by finding QUIT"
Richard would certainly have swal-
lowed Name CRY alive. II Monchar'
min had not been therel But Mon
charmin protected her. He resumed
his questions:
what sort Of envelope did you put
in M. Richards pocket7 It was not
the one which We gave you, the one
which you took 70 Box Five before
our eyes; and yet that was the one
which contained the twenty-thousand
francs"
Il beg your pardon. The envelope
which NJ. lie directeur gave me was
the one which I slipped into NJ lie di-