The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-04-26
CHAPTER v.
The Second One Franc Piece

The Second ons.rrsne Piece
The merit morning NJ fefevre
kept hts appointment with Mr.
Germaine and announced that he
would undertake tho case.
Later IN the morning he received
caller In hts hotel apartment in
the person OF Captain Wood. OF
the New York detective force
The project gave him a detailed
account of tho casa and added
The murdered man was Belgian
physician practiclnE in Paris. Ills
nam. was Victor Relnhardt lie
formerly wor. a pointed red beard.
but recently shaved II off You.
OF course. know that he arrived
hero yesterday. with his compan-
ion. on tho Hiehelieu."
Yes. And who was his com.
panion. tho fellow with the rheu-
matinmT'
THAT am unable 70 tell you. :"
Have YOU any Idea of the mo
tive for the crimeg"
Yes. IL 10 my opinion that
Hartmann killed his companion In
q quarrel over n franc which they
had Jointly stolen"
Tho captain cared euriousiy AT
his companion. "A one-franc piece.
worth 20 cents, impossible"
They talked moment longer
and the captain left.
icfeyre smiled ~ tho man went
out Then he went into his bed
room and began TO change his
clothes
At half past two that after
noon an elderly Frenchman reg.
istered at th. Hotel Roehsm.
beau as NJ. Raoui Dumas. Paris
~. carried small satchel In his
hand and . roll OF music under
one arm.
Its room was on the third floor.
In tho rear.
Upon the wall near the door was
an electric push button together
with a card instruetins tho guests
as to the number OF rings neces
hary 10 summon tho waiter. the
bell boy. or the maid. Three rings.
Il appeared. were required to &c
cure the presence of the latter
Raoui Dumas pressed tho button
three times. In four or five min.
utes there Was knock on the
door. and there entered an atfrnc.
tive.lookinR French Rirl OF g or 20.
her arms filled with towels.
Have the pleasure. NJ. Dumas
inquired. TO address Mile. Mer.
cier7"
Tho girl started Yes. mon.
sleur." abe replied. Blu, how
should you know my namef-
Il was sure I could not be mis-.
taken. Your father has 30 often
described ron 20 me"
You know my father"
Very well. We met often in
Paris before his death. Like him.
self I have the little hobby OF col.
leeting old coins"
"Ahi" The girl started violent.
~ And what do you wish with
me7"
Il will tell You. A few weeks
before your father died he came
into possession OF valuable old
COMA one.franc piece. OF the
time OF tho first Napoleon. His
first intention was TO sell II and
send you the money-In fact, I
offered to buy IL from him--for
the account OF wealthy patron |
occasionally serve I'm that way. lie
refused. claiming that the price !
offered was not enough. was
obliged 10 leave Paris shortly after
for several weeks. On my return
was grieved to learn that your
father was dead and that he had
sent tho coin TO You. My patron
meanwhile Increased tho amount
OF his offer. and in his anxiety to
possess tho coin. authorized me to
come here from Paris and pur.
chase II from you"
The Girl drew back frightened
and confused. II am afraid |
cannot sell you tho coin" she
said
why not, mademoiselle7 ?"
"Because-I-I have already re.
ceived another offer"
Tho girl drew a letter from her
pocket Here In the letter, mon.
sieur. Since you are a friend of
my father. you win perhaps advise
me what should do"
NJ. Dumas read tho letter with.
out replying. II said:
MY DEAR MILE. MErcrERi
I am informed that you have IN your
popse ssion a ons-frano pieces Of the period
Of the first Napoleon, Tho matter has
come TO my attention thru the unfortu-
nate death OF my brother. George Yer
non, formerly purser Of tho steamship
Rieheiieu. desire to purchase thia
niece for the account Of wealthy col
lsotor IN tn. city. and am authorized
20 offer you tho sum Of ~, 900 for H.
provided Il Ia Of the date and character
represented n you will bring the coin
10 my apartment No. 10th st.. this
.vsntns at 800 o'clock. I will examine IL.
and II satisfactory, pay you tho money.
Very sincerely. CHARLES VERNON.
"A very fair offer. mademoi.
selle," remarked M. Dumas. hand.
ing the girl back tho letter.
"You advise me to accept Il,
Them"
yes, unless the coin is an ex-
ceptionally fine specimen.
but. monsieur. | know nothing
OF such matters"
Indeed" remarked NJ. Dumas
smiling. "If you care to have me
do so ! will examine the piece"
THANK you. / Will get 1t,
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