Charlevoix county herald., 1914-10-31


tune on my own account.
"At first | thought of going into
partnership aith NJ. Calesse, but our
have been broken Ii is question of
capital upon which we cannot quite
agree"
eff my commercial influence can be
of any use to you, you have only to
command me-" said John j. Smith.
"You are very obliging."
They talked for some minutes
about the commerce in India; then
Merseins interrupted to say:
"Mr. Smith might advise us about
our money"
Smith wheeled around in his chair
and looked at Merseins.
GAS we are going through Central
India" continued Paul, 1--WE do not
want to take with us more money
than is strictly necessary. So we
thought of leaving some with you"
How much ?"
Five thousand francs apiece. Isn't
that it Jacques ?"
81 suppose you have an agent or
banker in Kashmir who could reim-
burse this sum to us when we get
there? You could give us letter of
credit to that effect
"Oh, certainly. have an agent in
Kashmir. The matter can be easily
arranged" replied Smith.
Jacques opened his note book and
took out five notes of one Thousand
francs. Paul did the same, and the
ten thousand francs were handed to
the commission agent, who beamed on
these new clients who were ready to
confde such a respectable sum into
his keeping.
"Then that is all right" said
Jacques. "We shall be in Kashmir
about two or three weeks from now,
and we can get the money there to
continue our journey. | do not like
carrying large sums of money with
me-"
eve are expecting some more cash
from France. Our families are send
ing about fifteen thousand in all
Now, as we shall have left Calcutta,
we thought of telling our people to
address the letters to us here in your
care"
"Why, certainly! You say about
fifteen thousand will come? Very
well. | will give you a receipt for
this ten thousand" said Mr.. Smith.
"The letter of credit on your agent
in Kashmir will be sufficient"
"Ill write it at once"
Smith sat down at his desk, ack-
nowledged the receipt of the money,
and wrote the letter to his agent.
He showed it to his clients, then put
it in an envelope and handed it to
Jacques.
81 hope, gentlemen" he said affa-
bly,, that you are not leaving Calcut-
ia at once"
"No; we shall spend few days
here. We are leaving the end of the
week"
"Then, until you start on your
travels, you will permit me to do the
honors of Calcutta ?"
Merseins and Velizay looked very
hattered and pleased.
81 do not ask you" exclaimed
Smith, "to leave your hotel. because !
know young men like their liberty;
but insist that you make use of my
house, and make yourselves quite at
home there"
The two friends thanked MIN. but
assured him that they would not like
to put him to any trouble. In the
middle of his polite talk he said cas-
ually:
"If you want to write to France,
you can do it here at my desk"
Write? What for? ?"
"For the rest of the money that
you are having forwarded here"
"Oh there is no occasion just now;
we can do that later"
Smith smiled, but it was easy to
see that this reply did not please
him.
81 hope you will dine with me to-
night" he continued. 81 have little
business to finish, and then ] will
come round to your hotel. You are
probably at the European ?"
"Yes," replied Jacques; 81 always
stay there"
Every well; I'll come around after
business. and we will dine at my
home. have villa on the Ganges."
Jacques and Paul had expected this
invitation, and they were pleased to
be alone to talk it over. At the foot
of the stairs Merseins took out his
handkerchief and wiped his eyes.
Good Lord! What's the matter ?"
asked Jacques.
"I'm weeping for the loss of our
ten thousand francs. Well never see
them again"
"Did you notice how eager he was
to have that letter sent off to
France ?" inquired Jacques.
"Parbleu! Once this letter is sent,
he has got u.s."
eyes; he has only TO give us little
of his Chartreuse to appropriate the
ten thousand francs already given
and the fifteen thousand that is COM
ing"
"A practical man is Smith" said
Jacques.
Eyes, but we have not vet proved
that he is Calesse's accomplice."
They went to their hotel and
changed into their dinner suits.
Jacques took the receipt that Smith
had given them out of the coat that
he had just thrown eff, and placed it
in tiny pocket in the lining of his
vest.
at is safe there he remarked to
Merseins.
Night was falling when Smith
strolled into the gardens of the Euro
pean Hotel. Jacques and Paul were