The evening world., 1914-02-09

rather lonely spot. he ala not hesitate
to have II guarded by the three good.
for-nothings. Now this was q stroke
or genius. Old Coriolis stlll chuckled
when he thought Of II T 10 protected
by thieves; there was al idea for
youl
They're safer than the sendarmes."
he would say to people who were sur
prised that he had given the vautrins
tn, right to walk about his property
with their guns on their shoulders.
And here was this fool OF an 81.
aiming Magistrate. who knew nothing
OF the habits OF that district. pretend
Ing that they had tried to kill his
nephew.
HUBERT simeoni E,,si The tripists
whom Mother vautrin mad brought
into the world. at one birth. like .
litter OF wolves: the three who at hrst
a. little chaps. had amused tho coun-
tryside. ana who were now Its terror.
Everybody had long ago proclaimed
himself their friend, 90 great was the
fear which they inspired. And even
now those who met them on the roads
showed every eagcrness to shake them
BY the hand. Only people preferred
not to run across them In the evening;
and those who came TO Saint Martin.
des-Bois avoided the way that led by
the skirt Of tho forest. near tho low
roofed roadside cabin whore old
Mother Vautrin lay paralyssd. dying
by inches. telling horrible stories
about tho father. who had been 10
penal servitude
This last detail had not prevented
the Vautrins from cutting a figure In
local politics. And Il was no secret
that. Tor three parliamcnts, tho Three
Brothers. by distributing prospectuses
and professions OF faith In all the vii.
lagos In the division OF Belle ftabls
and creating disturbances at public
meetings and making q stay in thu
district impossible to rival candidates
had influenced voters
All three resembied ono another
vita the Same gait and tho same trick
OF manner. Hubert. however. was the
strongest and biggest. Simeon and
Ellie were OF much fairer red. THESE
two were known a. tho aibinos."
That day pat,:co went for q walk viii
Madeleine. They passed through IN,
wood. not far from the Brothers hut. A
sight OF u PAtrics said with . shudder
now can you stay in such q part
Oh. l am longing to take you away
my dear little Madeieinsi Hasn't YOU
father said anything to you YETI
never dare speak to him. he's AWAY
30 cross"
"I'ii toll you a secret: papa y ire
Of this part - we'll"
"Reallyf'
"Yss. We are going 20 settle 1,
Paris. The wedding viii be In Pasis.
Il hope TO goodness Il will BE- soon
J and ] shan't bring you back to Saint
Martin In . hurryi don't know VIVA
your father me to DO In Paris. bu
anything 10 better than staying here
What are you waiting for. before isav
mgr
Papa stiiI has few experiments {.
make with the bread-piant. He say
II 10 not quite ready yet" said Mahs
isins. blushing slightly and turninl
They were walking along. isanin,
toward each other very prettfly, o.
changing their condolences. and feeiinl
happy ana at ease In that regular para
disc. that neglected garden In wa,iol
things grew anyhow: for Coriolis 70
fused TO have any servant 20 help oil
Gertrude to look after his big mano,
except his native boy" . tail. YER,
quiet lad. as gentle a. q lamb. who dit
not speak twenty words . day. and whc
had been brought from the Far East
together with the brsad-piant III
was known a. Noel.
NOw, ENOSi Huu no UNIV u 6ttSUU
the Garden. He spent his days Win
Nis master at tho end OF tho property
IN corner whore stood . rathsI
weather beaten building with . con
servatory In front OF II. This Wal
where the mysterious plant was tend
ID. which Patrice had only once OF
twice set eyes on. without understand
ing q thing OF what mis- uncle WA
doing.
The two young people had not vel
Kissed. They remembered II suddenly
and called each others attention to this
lovers omission: ana Patricia very
properly, a. behooves a good little 90
iicitor's clerk from the Rue Dc fBcu
imprinted q chaste salute on Made
leine's brow.
Forthwith there was . clap d
thunder!
Madeleine started visibiy. turned Z
little pale. and looked at her rwess'
heart with anxious eyes. while Patric(
raised his to ire sky. which was with
out a cloud.
This II too much" ne said. That's
the second time IT'S happened"
"WhatT asked Madeleine ineen'
uousiy. blushing all over her race
without apparent reason.
"why. that II thunders when kisa
you"