El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-02-29
The Search
CBy J. Joseph Renaud)

~ HE bent gentleman. with the
tired expression, with the old
\ and even disgusting manners,
who is slipping whisky and soda in
the corner Of this cafe at MarseilIes?
I cannot be mistaken. It surely is
Jacques Neville, whom everyone
thinks dead and who was one Of my
best friends. And stin my eyes meet
his and he shows no sign Of recog-
mixing me.
Waiter, please give me some pa
peri Thanks. And then take this note
to the old gentleman who is sitting by
himself over there"
had written: Dear Neville. won t
you come ana have few moments
The writer hands him the note. He
opens IT and scribbles down an
answer.
He pays. tips his hat to me and
walks out slowly, almost dragging his
legs after him
His answer, written in a trembling.
unsteady hand. like that Of habitual
drunkard. reads:
NO. do not exist any more Thank
you"
The waiter tells me that he is an
old crank, who never speaks 10 any
BODY ana who often drinks too much
And g story Of 20 years ago comes
back to my mind in all its. detail
me library OF a Danker-4 Will call
him DesueuX-L umnaille, as 1 cannot
give his real name-after dinner. We
are eight people there Our hostess
has left US and we are smoking.
Christian, the explorer. has taken a
large, uncut diamond the size OF a
nut from his pocket and is telling Us
its history
Jacques Neville. a tall, handsome,
athletic looking fellow, is leaning
against the marble mantelpiece. He
connected %
eign affairs and his future looked
brilliant charming talker, an eX-
cellent dancer and man OF the world,
he was well liked by everybody.
The diamond passes from hand TO
hand. 1 am the last to examine il
and, having done so, place it on a
table near US.
Suddenly the electric light goes out.
We laugh. There were no strikes in
those days, but accidents OF this kind
were quite common. This one did not
last long and after about Is seconds
the light comes hack.
But the diamond which everybody
had seen me put on the table is no
longer there. We are surprised and
look for it everywhere, but it cannot
be found.
Nobody has left the room and no
body has entered We look at each
other.
MY friend" says Destieux-Lumna-
lille. there is no thief here. but this
FERROUS manner and there is only one
way to prevent US having an uncom-
Portable feeling toward one another
which must be avoided We must act
as If we were all strangers TO each
other. I will be the first"
Not only was his proposition greet
ed with Joy, but It dissipated the feel
ing Of uneasiness and gloom. Des-
tieuX-Lumnaille empties his pockets
and turns them inside out Then he
undressed completely and asks Us to
search his clothes, his shoes and his
person.
I do the same after him. asking
them to search very thorough, as I
was the last one who had the diamond
The others follow suit, but no dia-
mOnd Is found. Only Jacques Neville
IS left
turn toward him. He is very pale
and trembles.
Gentlemen" he said, Il cannot con-
sent to being searched. Il have not
taken the diamond, Of course, but I
prefer to pay for IL rather than submit
to any such humiliation. I will send
you my check tomorrow, Monsieur
Christian"
There was a dreadful silence.
One Of US, a hOtheaded southerner
exclaims:
But we must know. though"
He walks I'D to Neville and lays his