The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1915-07-28


took all the papers relating to the
Simon case with me, and gathered
from them an interesting fact. While
under remand, Simon-probably TO
curry favor with the authorities-had
denounced youth named Berger, as
having been concerned in a burglary
In the Rue des Saints-Peres, In con-
nection with which three men had
been sentenced to long terms of i'm
prisonment. Berger was arrested, but,
as it was proved that he had thus far
borne an excellent character, and had
been fooled by his companions, he got
off very lightly.
had reason to suppose that Ber-
ger, knowing 1t was Simon who had
betrayed him, would not be sorry to
get even with his enemy, and there
fore decided to have a talk with him,
without, of course, letting him know
more than was strictly necessary. In
fact, l had to be very careful how
went to work.
So far. everything was only suppo-
stion. The official report about ST.
mons death might have been true,
and my theory about the likeness be-
, tween the two men-the financier and
the convict-altogether wrong. In that
case a mistake would have proved dis
astrous.
Twelve years had elapsed since the
trial Of Simon, and 1t was possible
that Berger had disappeared. For
tunately had a clue. Berger at the
time Of his arrest, was counting a
woman who kept a tobacco-shop in the
Latin Quarter, the widow of a man
| called Samson, for which reason the
students had christened her "Delilah."
When l called at the little shop in
the Rue Saint-Andre-des-Arts, found
it had changed hands, and in the place
of the buxom Madame Delilah was a
thin, good-natured looking little wom-
| an, fond of gossip. l bought some Gig
arettes, and she was soon giving me
the biography of every member of her
family. Then l DETECTED our talk to
Madame Delilah, whereupon the lady
tobacconist looked severe.
did you know that person?" she
| asked. .
"No, no." hurriedly replied, 81 have
only seen her once or twice, when she
was engaged to mana mani
can't remember his name."
The lady-tobacconist continued to
look severe and, with scorn in her
voice. remarked:
Engaged, engaged-who do you
think would have engaged himself to
Delilah?"
81 fancy l heard she was going to
marry somebody called Burger or
Berger"
Berger, you mean. That jailbird?"
"Yes. What has become of him?"
when he was discharged from
prison he took up photography. and
migrated to Belleville; but that's sew
eral years ago."
In Belleville, the populous quarter.
there are several establishments
where the Paris workmen celebrate
/ their weddings, and, according to Gus
tom. have themselves photographed
on the important day. The restaurant
| of the Las SaintFargeau, at the top
| of the steep Rue de Belleville. is the
most famous place for this kind Of en-
! tertainments, and ! decided to go
there first. When l reached the es-
| tablishment, at two in the afternoon,
several wedding-parties had taken pos
sion of the garden, and pho
tographer was busy with his appa-
! ratus, while his assistant arranged the
groups.
"What is the name of the artist?"
inquired of the proprietor.
"Mas son." he replied.
At that moment the assistant
passed us to fetch a chair from the
house. / stopped him, and asked
whether he knew photographer
named Berger
He eyed me curiously.
my name is Berger"
had reason to congratulate myself
on my luck. And, looking at the man,
| | detected likeness to his portrait
| had seen at the Prefecture.
/ waited till the rush of work was
| over, and then beckoned to him.
When / told him who l was, he frown'
ed.
IN. Goron," he exclaimed, II hoped
, this horrible affair was forgotten. !
| am earning my living honestly. Why
am / again to be troubled?"
"You have nothing to fear. my
good fellow. Your affair. as you call
It, is dead and buried. All ask you
is to call on me. tomorrow morning at
half-past ten. l have a question to
put to YOU"
J "All right. sir" he sighed.
| On my return to the office ! sent
a note to Charles Vernet, with the re-
quest to come to me the next morning
at eleven, as l wanted some more In
formation from him regarding the Bel
gian sw!nd!er.
At half-past ten. punctually. Berger
was announced.
Berger" l began. "you need not
look SO miserable. give you my
word nobody will hurt you"
He smiled family.