The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1913-02-06

H< AN 1ard Oulcldi happened 10
~ I'D be in my Office when
WkS&E they were ushered In,
i and at the sight OF them
IL he leaned back in his
ONJ chair convulsed with
laughter.
. What's the fun" | asked
. Why" he roared, Its Sally and
Sampson Brass come to lifei"
/ had not read Dickens, and there
fore did not understand the allusion.
But when after his return to London
my English colleague sent me an IL
Illustrated COP of The Old Curiosity
Shop" | appreciated the joke Like
Dickens's famous but interruptions
characters. the Perrichons were red
haired, tall and sallow-skinned, and
curiously like each other, the resem-
blance being all the more striking be-
cause the woman wore her hair short.
Hortense was christened Sally, a
name that stuck to her.
The father of Hortense and Robert
kept a 'reach-me-down" shop in the
Rue Faubourg-du-Temp and had sew
eral times been convicted of dealing
in stolen goods. After his death his
son and daughter carried on the bust
ness, but, more cautious than the old
man, managed to keep clear of the
law, and added cons iderably to their
income by lending money at fabulous
rates
After a few years together, brother
and sister accused each other-prob-
ably with cause-Of robbing the TILL
whereupon they gave up the shop, and
Sally started a servants registry Of
fee. Robert committed forgery, was
sentenced to three years imprison-
ment, and after the expiration of his
time left the country. Sally also
graced the dock in connection with a
case Of swindling, but was acquitted,
and for a long while nothing was
heard of her.
One morning a card was brought in
to me bearing the name Of Madame
de Saint-F1orent. It was Sally; and
If her English godfather had been
there he would have INDUCED in an
other laugh, for above her dowdy
dress she wore a costly sable cape and
hat set rakishly on one side.
"T have something to tell you, M.
Goron," she began in her gruff voice;
Robert is back"
your brother?"
She nodded.
81 am sorry to hear it," said. 81
have quite enough criminals on my
hands, and could well have dispensed
with him. But why did you come to
tell me that?"
Because 1 am afraid of him. He
looked so shabby and hungry that
bought him a rig-out and allowed him
to take his meals with me. The other
day I came home Unexpectedly and
found him busy with the lock Of the
cupboard in my bedroom. I forbade
him to come to the house again, and
then he threatened me, and became SO
menacing that l gave him money to
get rid of him He will murder me
one of these days"
eff Robert threatens you," replied
"You have only to go to the police
commissary In your district; he Will
take the matter up"
ITS no use of my going there, M
Goron. I do not bear the best o.
regulations"
''That you do not"
ct know it, sir. And, therefore, the
police commissary will not trouble
about me; nor would Robert mind
him much. But the very mention Of
your name frighteDs my brother, and
A,,k 70
would bring him to his senses. Please
do this for me, M. Goron."
I told her that this affair did not
concern me in any way. Sally, how
ever, left me no peace. She said hel
life was in danger; and she begged
90 hard that at last promised to see
Aer brother, and, to use her own
words, brighten him to death"
'T shall be away from Paris for
week" I said, $50 you had better send
me Robert in ten or twelve days"
On my return from Cherbourg my
secretary informed me that Robert
had called.
"He has not grown handsomer,'
laughed my assistant. II gave him
good talking to, and he promised to
leave Sally alone in the future. al
though he asserts that ali she told you
about his threatening her was paca
of Hes"
). 'Why did he not wait for my re
kurn?" I asked.
'T reckon, sir, he was too frightened
at you, and preferred me to deal witt
him."
Several months elapsed, when The
news reached me that a M. r hat
Seen found dead in hotel in the Rue
Lafayette. He was a widower, highly
respected, and a member OF two fash
sonable clubs. The postmortem show
ad he had died from poisoning, ant
everything pointed to q suicide, al
though neither his married daughter
kis valet or cook could assign AM
season for the act.
A. +ho bo+o} learned that M F.