Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-13
CHAPTER XVII.
The safetN.Pin Analn-

DOuuu 10 cause stormy explanation
At the end OF which il was agreed that
Richard should yield to all Monchar
minis wishes, with the object Of help
ing him 70 discover the miscreant
who was victimizing them.
This brings us 70 the interval after
the Garden Act, with the strange con
duct observed by NJ. Remy and those
curious lapscs from the dignity that
might be expected of the managers
1t was arranged between Richard ano
Moncharmin, first, that Richard should
repeat the exact movements which ne
had made on the night OF the disap
pearance OF the first tWentythousano
francs. and, second, that Moncharmin
should not for an instant lose sight
OF Richards coat-taiI pocket, into
which Name CRY was to slip the
twenty-thous1nd francs.
NJ. Richard went and placed him
self az the identical spot where he
had stood when he bowed to the un
der-secretary for fine arts. VI. Mon
charmin took up his position a few
steps behind him
Name CRY passed, rubbed VI
against NJ Richard, got rid of hel
twenty-thousand francs in the mana
gers coat-tail pocket and disappeared
Or, rather, she was Conjurec
away. In accordance with the instruc
tons received from Moncharmiu a few
minutes earlier. MERCER took the
good lady 10 the acting-manager's
Office and turned the key on her, thus
making It impossible for her to com
municate with her ghost
Meanwhile. NJ. Richard was bendins
and bowling and scraping and walking
backward. just as If he had that higt
and mighty minister the under-secre
tary for fine arts. before him. Only
though. these marks OF politeness
would have created no astonishmen
II the uuder-s scretary OF state haC
really been in front OF NJ. Richard
they caused an easily COMPREHENSIVE,
amazement to the spectators OF thi
very natural but quite inexplicabI,
scene when NJ. Richard had nobody il
front Of him.
NJ. Richard bowed to no
body: bent his back befor,
nobody; and walked backward
before nobody And, a few
(. steps behind him, NJ. Moncharmin die
the same thing that he was doing IL
addition 70 pushing away VI. Rem,
and begging NJ. de La Borderie, tn,
ambassador and the manager or tn,
Credit Central. not to touch NJ. Il
directeur"
Monchsrmin, who had his owl
ideas did not want Richard to com
20 him presently. when the twenty
thousand francs were gone, and say
Perhaps It was the ambassado
or the manager of the Credi
Central or Remy."
The more so as, at the time OF tn
FIRST scene, as Richard himself admit
ted. Richard had met nobody in tina
part OF the theater after Ma.le Cir
/. had brushed up against him.
Having begun by walking backwar
IN order TO bow. Richard continued 4
30 so from prudence, until he reach
cd the passage leading to the OF
fees OF the management In this way
he was constantly watched by Nor
charmin from behind and himsel
kept an eye on any one approachin
from the front. once more. thi
novel method OF walking behind tn
scenes. adopted by the managers c
our National Academy OF Music. q
tracted attention. but the manager
themselves thought of nothing bU
their twenty-thousand francs.
On reaching the hslf-dark passag,
Richard said to MoncharmiD. in a lo'
voice:
Il am sure that nobody has touche
me. You had now better kee
at some distance from me and watc
me till / come to the door OF the o
nee; IL is better not 70 arouse susp
cion and We can see anything tbs
happens"
But Moncharmin replied, No. Ricl
ard. mo- You walk ahead and L
walk Immediately behind you, ! won
leave you by step"
But. in that case exclaimed Ricl
ard. they will never steal our twent
thousand francs
Il should hope not, indeed" d
clared Moncharmin.
Then what We are doing is a
surdl"
We are doing exactly what We d
last time. Last time. ioin'
you as you were leaving the sta,
and followed close behind you dow
this passage.
That's true" sighed Richard. sha
ing his head and passiyely obeyiE
Moncharmin.
Two minutes later. the Joint ma
ayers locked themselves into the
office. Moncharmin himself put q
key in his pocket:
We remained locked up Ike tn
last time" he said. until you IL
the opera 20 go home"
That's SO. No one came and d
turbed us. l supposeg
"No one"
Then" said Richard. who was II
bng 70 collect his memory, then