The Washington times., 1919-02-08

Jewels Of the Comte DAbazoIi-viscOsa
excttes considerable comment through
Of thieves, the "a Band, plots to get
them They lease an adjoining apart
ment.
DAY after tomorrow, at o'clock,
he will be here. To examine the
jewels, with the little million taS
the commission in his pocket:''
And" questioned the HIndoo.
does he come alone?"
Entirely alone: Things have
turned on: even better than ] ey-
pected. He'll bring a small va
lise ."
"WcE planned"
so VIC have nothing more TO do
except make ali the necessary ar
engagements not to fail in our job.
Oh, my good Man," he added, throw
ing up his arms, Il long at last to
have the fortune! For ten years we
have lived, day after day, on eN-
pedients and expeditions, with the
perpetual fear OF being pinched.
/ shouldn't be sorry TO retire."
"Pshaw!" replied the other: "the
trade has risks. it's truei But
wouldn't you prefer to lead the
pleasant life Of a society man ratl-
er than have remained a poor little
boiIifTs clerk in the depths OF a
province? For my part. don't you
think I am better off to- be serV-
ant in a good house than breaker
up OF boats on the wharves OF Mar
settles? Whatever may happen TO
you in the future, you've had ten
years of comfort. Life is short. We
must enjoy it!''
Yes. You certainly had a bright
idea when you invented the, MahaTn-
tah and his Jewels. T. gives us
unlimited credit everywhere We
owe all the good shops. The rest
are only waiting for our orders!
Nevertheless, there are days when
l feel strangely weary OF playing
this part and long for peace OF
mind. I assure you that IL we
hadn't found this Insurer Plucke and
his million. I would have sent my
countship and the Maharajah to the
deuce and dropped everything"
"YOu know very we'll that
wouldn't have been possible! You
will now remain all your life COmte
d'AbazolI-ViscOsa. had trouble
enough in manufacturing your Off
ciaI papersr
Granted! But when, in conse-
Guence OF the events OF which VIC
shall talk presently, His High
ness has withdrawn his confidence.
I shall be able to. disappear from
Partisan society and live as = gem
tleman farmer in some quiet corner
and devote myself to agriculture
and breeding. At heart, you see, I
have always had rural tastes
dream Of But" he interrupted
himself. this isn't the time to dis
cuss such questions! Let us attend
TO figures. How much is our float
ing debit"
do you mean to settle it?''
al consider that absolutely nee
essary, Nam. We must go without
leaving anything connected with
the past behind US. Some day 1t
might create useless trouble"
Agreed. About two hundred
thousand francs
"As much as that?" cried the
comte in surprise. What has be-
come of the eighty thousand francs
from the Bank OF Hayti last year?'
The Hindoo began to laugh: ...-
You have the soul OF a born gen.
ueman! You spend without reck-
oning. and then ask where the
money has gone! Oh!' he went on,
'I'm not approaching you for any
thing. When a position is to be
maintained, the necessary Sacri-
fees must be made!"
III put up two hundred then
and how much of the million do
you want for your share?"
acting, am -"
"It's a fortune in your country.
You will buy an immense conces-
sion and raise rice on a tremendous
scale. In ten years you will have
ten times the sum-
The only misfortune Is that 1
might not 90 back there"
Why" asked the young girl
who, until then, had remained ST.
lent.
But Nam undoubtedly had reasons
which he considered it prudent TO
keep to himself, FOR his eyes wan
dered and he answered vaguely:
political causes ."
There will be six hundred thou
sand francs leis for Juliette and
me-" said the comte. AT per
cent that will give an income o.
eighty thousand francs. But we
are reasonable. aren't we, Juliette?"
She threw herself into his arms:
"Since we love each other, shall
we not always have enOugh?"
Come. come" cried Nam, no
IdyIs just now There are more
urgent matters to be discussed.
The great AFFAIR is to come OF day
after tomorrow. We must examine
carefully to see that there IS no
important point we may have over
lookedr'
NAM" SAID the eomte, "it's fear