The Detroit times., 1913-09-01

But II came to be, by the time bis
bargain was closed, three O'Clock In
the afternoon, and he had had no
dinner. With the cattle on his hands
and the money In his pocket he ieit
a sense of leisure and OF wealth.
Hungry as a wolf he felt also. ana
he turned into the inn OF Delesmon'
ties. where the sign Of huge bear,
cut out OF tin and painted BLACK
swung before the door.
1t was pleasant inside in the great
clean hall Of the inn, twenty feet vice
by forty long. Bars OF yellow AFTER
noon sunlight patterned the wnte
scrubbed floor; at the tables Of black
oak a number of men sat on benches.
bottles and glasses before them. anu
pulled at their pipes. and the ciouos
OF smoke rose to the dark WOOD cell
ing, blush already with much smok-
ing. against the whitewashed walls
hung engravings OF battles framed IN
red cherrywood. Doors and windows
we're open, and through them one
saw harvest fields lying gold IN sun
light. AS Francois sat down ne
faced a window through which, down
the allow slope from Delesmontes
perchine on the mountain, beyond
stretch Of tranquil country, hiteo'
three miles away, q bunch OF roois'
red.tiled and brown.sbingled, and the
red spire of a church with q newly
eilded ball--his village OF Vicques.
He sighed hungrily and happily. In
half an hour. after q glass of wine
ana a little bread and meat, he would
be on his way there with that com
Portable purse OF nine hundred francs
in his pocket, eager to tell his good
comrade and dear wife OF the days
success.
He was alone at his table, nut
three or four men whom he knew
slightly nodded with friendliness
across the room; he was q man who
inspired friendliness. In the big hall,
In all Delesmontes, in all the country
was no one happier or more satisfied
with life than Francois Beaupre when
he entered the Inn Of the Bear al
three o'clock on that sunshiny after.
noon OF September the eighth. Be
fore six he rose up TO leave II q man
ruined and broken-hearted.
A waitress approached him.
sommelliere-trim In her short calico
skirt and white apron, her hair done
In the picturesque fashion OF the
place-braided and turned around the
head in the back, in the front parted
and laid In two great puffs with
wide blue ribbon between to hold 1t.
The girl took his order; as she
turned to 20 man just coming in
knocked against her, and apologizing
With many words, caught sight OF
Francois.
Good day" ne saluted him heart
ily. Good day, Monsieur Beaupre,
and Francois, friendly always, an
swered Good day" but with q re-
serve, for he did not recall the man.
YOU don't remember me? That 10
natural, for we met but once. Yet
I have not forgotten you. 1t was at.
the house OF my cousin. Paul Noir-
Jean OF Devillier-he who also deals
in oxen, though not SO fortunately AZ
you. perhaps. We met there. i saw
you only q few minutes, but ! have
NOT forgotten you, and my cousin also
speaks very often Of Francois Beau
pre He has a great opinion Of your
judgment"
Now Paul Noirjean was an old &C
ouaintancs and q solid man. and
though Beaupre did not see him Of
ten, living six leagues away. he re-
spccted him highly. A cousin OF his
was TO be considered, and Francois
was embarrassed that his memory
could not focus on the meeting. lie
tried TO cover this with cordially. and
invited the stranger TO share his
meal.
Not at ALL not at ALL" the other
answered. yet we must have
bottle of wine together. but 1t shall
be my bottle"
Francois objected; the man insist
ed. At length: See. we will play
cards for that bottle" the unknown
man suggested. and the cards were
Thought. and a game OF La rams
euchre--was In progress In two min
utes. :.
Meanwhile the wine had come. and
Francois, touch more generous and
more cordial for II, was genially sorry
when he won and the stranger must
pay.
c'Tiens. We will play again for an
other bottle" ne announced with
BIT Of swagger. He was conscious