River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-01-09

What's the fun?" asked.
Why" he roared, "it's Sally and
Sampson Brass come to life!"
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 copy of "The Old Curiosity
Shop" | appreciated the joke. Like
Dickens's famous but INSCRIPTIONS
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 considerably to their
income by lending money at fabulous
rates.
After 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 q servants registry Of
flee. 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 card was brought in
to me bearing the name of Madame
dc Saint-Florent. 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
a hat set Takishly on one side.
Il have something to tell you, M
Goron," she began in her gruff voice;
Robert is back"
Your brother?"
She nodded
II am sorry to hear it," l said. Il
have quite enough criminals on my
bands, and could well have dispensed
with him. But why did you come to
tell me that?"
Because / 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. l 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," I replied,
You have only to go to the police
commissary in your district; he will
take the matter up"
RS no use of my going there, M.
GorOn. / do not bear the best of
populations"
"Tf1at you do not"
u
police commissary will not trouble
about me; nor would Robert mind
lin much But the very mention of
your name frightens my brother, and
were you but to say word to him it
would bring hin to his senses. Please
do this for me. M. Goron."
told her that this affair did not
concern me in any way. Sally, how
eyer, left me no peace. She said her
life was in danger; and she begged
so hard that l at last promised to see
her brother and, to use her own
words, brighten him to death"
4 shall be away from Paris for a
week." l said, so 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 81 gave MIN a
good talking to, and he promised to
leave Sally alone In the future, al
though he asserts that all she told you
about his threatening her was a pack
OF lies"
why did he not wait for my re-
turn?" l asked.
'I reckon, sir, he was too frightened
of you, and preferred me to deal with
him"
Several months elapsed, when the
news reached me that M. F. had
been found dead in hotel in the Rue
Lafayette. He was a widower, highly
respected. and a member of two fash
ionable clubs. The postmortem show
ed he had died from poisoning, and
everything pointed to a suicide, al
though neither his married daughter.
his valet or cook could assign any
reason for the act
At the hotel | learned that NJ F.
had come there the previous evening
at about ten o'clock, and had paid for
his room in advance. He had not
locked his door, and was found the
next morning lying fully dressed on
the bed. The most careful examina-
ton of his papers failed to throw any
light on the affair, and at the official
inquest a verdict of suicide was re-
turned.
1t transpired that NJ. F. had
withdrawn large amounts from his
bank. no trace of which could be
found. He neither speculated nor
gambled, and he always noted down
every cent he spent Yet of the hun
bred thousand francs that had disap-
peared no record could be found.