The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1913-12-26

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THE BARON PoKED AT THE FRAGMENTS
WITH HIS CANE.
shops In the capital without unearth-
Ing a single pearl of price within the
limits Of his own.
In short, the worthy baron was at
his wits end and as a last resource
resolved to explore the refuge Of the
destitute, the quay, from the Point
Royal tn the Pont des Arts.
He had already exhausted the DUAL
yoltaire and the Quai Malaquais and
was on the point of retraclng his steps
when the recollection of an old bric-a-
brac establishment In the adjoining
Rue de Seine struck him as hitherto
uninspected locality. Taking, there
fore. the turn opposite the Mazarin
library, he speedily discovered on his
right hand the object Of his search
and entered the shop. A few minutes
examination and question or two suf
feed to convince him that his unlucky
was about to resume his walk when
some broken pieces of china lying In
a corner caught his eye.
''What is tbat?" he asked the dealer.
"What 1t is now, you see, M. lie
Baron, but what 1t was before my
shopman let it fall and smashed 1t to
bits you can have no idea. / never
saw a finer vase. real old Dresden,
worth couple of thousand francs II
it was worth sou. They say 1t once
belonged to Nine. du Barry"
"Ahw said the baron, looking atten-
lively at the heap of fragments and
podng at them with his cane. "Can-
not 1t be repairedw
Impossible. monsieur" replied the
other. 1.-THE cleverest workman in
France could make nothing Of 1t now"
what are you going to do with the
piecesT' inquired M. de Crolx-Martel,
In whose fertile brain a "happy
thought" was gradually terminating.
"What can do but throw them
away?" growled the irate tradesman.
"Will you sell them to me for 8
francsT'
Certainly, monsieur, If you desire
1t. But what possible USE
"Never mind" interrupted the baron;
that's my affair. Now, listen. What
want you to do is this. You will
pack up these pieces just as they are,
mind, put this card of mine with them
and send the parcel this evening, from
8 to half past, to Nine. la Comtesse
de Franchimont, "a Rue de Marignan.
It is not to be taken upstairs, but left
| with the concierge. UnderstandT
Perfectly, NJ. lie Baron" answered
the owner Of the bric-a-brac shop,
glancing at the card as he spoke "All
shall be done exactly as you wish
II can quite depend upon your
"Quite, NJ. lie Baron. At $50 to the
moment 1t shall be delivered"
"Enfinr' said M. de Croix- Martel to
himself as he walked briskly home
| ward "a most brilliant inspira ton,
ma parole! For francs / shall have
| the credit of a present worthy of
millionaire. The fellow who brings 1t
will naturally be supposed to have let
| 1t drop OH the way-the Champs Ely
| sees are always slippery in frosty
weather-and to have bolted In order
to avoid unpleasant inquiries. When
the parcel arrives l shall be there, and
as no one knows where 1 bought it I
can storm away at my ease without
fear of discovery"
| Principally at five minutes before o
| o'clock the baron rang the first door
bell at Ga Rue de Marignan and was
| Immediately ushered into the drawing
room, where the three ladies were as
sembled. Nine. de Franchimont, seat
ed by the fire, was occupied with some
intricate marvel of embroidery, while
her daughters were busily employed in
arranging on a table in the center Of
the apartment a variety Of bonbon
boxes and other objects strongly indie
alive Of New Years day, which had
evidently just arrived.
Look here. NJ. lie Baron" said
Berthe as he entered the room. "See
what a number of presents we have
already received lapis lazuli paper
cutter and such q beautiful flower
stand near the Window
Sand a delicious filigree cardcase,"
chimed in Louise, holding up the OBJ
ject in question for the inspection OF
the visitor
Charming indeedT responded M. de
Croix- Martel, looking more admirfngly
at the speaker than at the cardcase.
There, that will do, girls" inter-
posed her mother, after shaking hands
with her guest "Come and sit by the
fire, baron. and Berthe will give you
some tea"
81 trust" he replied, that when my
humble Offering arrives you will be-
ahem!-equally indulgent."
mo follies. l hope, baron" said