Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-10


and the thing was done"
$50 you see that NJ. Poligny saw
hint"
NO. not any more than did; but
he heard him. The ghost said word
in his ear, you know, on the evening
when he left Box Five, looking so
dreadfully pale"
Moncharmin heaved a sigh. What
a business!" he groaned.
"Ahi" said Nine. Giry. Il always
thought there were secrets between
the ghost and NJ. Poligny. Anything
that the ghost asked NJ. Poligny to do
NJ. Poligny did NJ. Poligny could re-
fuse the ghost nothing
You hear. Richard: Poligny could
refuse the ghost nothing"
Yes, yes, 1 hear" said Richard.
an. Poligny is friend of the ghost;
and, as Nine. CRY is a friend OF NJ.
Poligny, there We are! But l
don't care a hang about NJ. 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. CRY looked into the envelope
with lack-luster eye, which soon re-
| covered its brilliancy.
''Thousand-franc notes." she cried
Yes, Nine. CRY, thousand-franc
notes! And you knew it,"
81, sir? I? swear
| Don't swear, Nine. Giry! &.
And now I will tell you the second
reason why I sent for you. Nine.
Giry, 1 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-
ti0n; as for the bonnet itself, 1t
swayed in menace on the old lady
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 NJ. 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 it into Richards face.
NJ. Richard behaved like a hero. He
retreated no farther %f1is threatening
forefinger seemed already to be point
ing out the keeper of Box Five to 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, be
fore Mr.. Manager Moncharmin had
time to intervene. But it was not
the withered hand of the angry ole
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 shout
and the same thought made then
both go on their knees, feverishly
picking up and hurriedly examining
the precious scrape OF paper.
Are they still genuine. Monchar
min?"
Are they still genuine. Richard?"
Eyes, they are still genuine!"
Above their heads, Name Giry's
three teeth were clashing in a noisy
contest, full of hideous interjections
But all that could be clearly distin
guished was this Leit-motif:
81, thief! l, a thief, II
She choked with rage She shouted
II never heard of such a thing!"
And, suddenly, she darted up t.
!, Richard again.
I'm any case" she yelped, you, M
Richard, ought to know better than
where the twenty thousand franc.
went tot"
> T?" asked Richard, astounded
i, And how should l know"
: Moncharmin, looking severe ant
: dissatisfied, at once insisted that tn,
good lady should explain herself
: What does this mean, Nine. CRY?
he asked. And why do you say tina
M. richard ought TO KNOW better Lnal
you where the twenty-thousand francs
went to-"
As for Richard, who felt himsei
turning red under MoncharnIin's eyes
he took Nine. CRY by the wrist ant
shook it violently. In a voice growing
= and rolling like thunder, he roared:
Why should | know better thai
you where the twenty-thousand franc
: went to? Why? Answer me-"
. Because they went into your pock
. et!" gasped the old woman, looking
J at him as if he were the devil in
. carnate.
= Richard would have rushed upol
. Nine. CRY. if Moncharmin had no
: stayed his avenging hand and hastene
to ask her, more gently:
How can you suspect my partner
|. n. Richard, of putting twenty-thou
a sand francs in his pocket"
. Il never said that" declared Nine
|. CRY, seeing that 1t was myself VIII
= put the twenty-thousand francs int
: NJ. Richards pocket" And she added
; under her voice, "ThereI It's out
And may the ghost forgiv
= mel"
. Richard began believing anew. bJ