The Washington herald., 1920-08-08
BuO. HENRY
By DWIG

to the cafe of Madame Tibault,
two squares away.
1t seemed that madame's mind
had been stirred that day to fresh
recollections OF the past services
of the two young men in her be-
half.
You mustn't sit by those table"
she interposed. as they were about
to drop into their .CcustOmed
seats. ''Thass so, boys. But no.
l mex you come at this room. like
my tres bons amis. Yes. ! goin'
mex for myself one 'anisette' and
one cafe royale' yer fine. All! 1
lax treat my fren' nize. Yes. Pills
come in this way"
Madame led them into the little
back room, into which she some
times invited the especially favor
ed of her customers. In two COM
Portable armchairs, by a big win
dow that opened upon the court
yard, she placed them. with a low
table between. Bustllng hospit-
ably about, she began to prepare
the promised refreshments.
1t was the first time the re-
porters had been honored with
admission to the sacred precincts.
The room was in dusky twilight,
feckcd with CLEANS of the pol
iShed fine woods and FURNISHED
glass and metal that the Creolcs
love. From the little courtyard a
tiny fountain sent in an inslnuat-
ms sound of tricklinG waters to
which a banana plant by the win
dow kept time with its tremulOus
leaves
Robbins. an Investigator by ma
ture, sent a curious glance row
ing about the room. From some
barbaric ancestor, madame had in
herited penchant for the crude
in decoration.
The walls were adorned with
cheap lithographs-fiorid libels
upon nature. addressed to the
taste of the bourgeoisie-birth
day cards, garish newspaper sup
plements. and specimens of art
advertising calculated to reduce
the optic nerve to stunned sub
mission. A patch of something
rnintclligible IN the midst of the
more candid display puzzled Rob
bins. and he rose and took a step
nearer, to interrogate it at closer
range. Then he leaned weakly
against the wall. and called out:
Madame Tibault! Oh, madame ,
Since when-oh! since when have
you been in the habit of paperine Q
your walls with $1,000 United
States per cent gold bonds? Tell
me-is this Grimm's fairy tale.
or should l consult an oCulist ."
At his words, Madame Tibault
and Dumars approached.
H what you say?" said madame,
cheerily. 'Hwhat you say.
Msieur Robin? Bon. All, those
nize lii peezes papier. One tam
I think those wat you call calen-
dair, wiz re li'l day of mont be-
low. But. no. Those wall is broke
in those PLACE. M'sieur Robin.
and l PLACE those lii peezes papier
to conceal Be crack. I did think
the Couleur harmnize so well with
the wall papier. Where I get them
from? All, yes, l remem' YER well.
One day Msieur MORN, he come
at my house-thass bout one
mont before he shall die-thass
long bout tam he promise fo'
tnVes' those money fo' me. M'sieur
NORM, he leave thoze Ill peezes
papier in those table. and say YER
much bout monney .thsss hard for
me to unl-stan. Mais l never see
those money again. Thass YER
wicked man M'sieur NORM, H'what
you call those peezes papIer,
Msieur Robbin'-bonw"
There's your $50. 900. with COLL
pons attached" he said. runninr
his thumb around the edge of the
four bonds. Better get an ex-
pert to peel them off for Won.
Mister NORM was all right. I'm
going out to get my ears trim
med"
He dragged Dumars by the arm
into the outer room. Madame was
screaming for Nicolette and Meme
to come and observe the fortune
returned to her by M'sieur NORM,
that best of men, that saint In
glory.
"Marsy." said Robbins, I'm GO
ing on jamboree. For three
days the esteemed Pic. will have
to get along without my valuable
services. / advise you to Join me.
Now, that green stun you drink
is no good. It stimulates Thought.
What we want to do is to forget
to remember. I'll introduce Won
to the only lady in this case that
is guaranteed to produce the de-
sired results. Her name is Belle
of Kentucky, twelve-year.
Bourbon, In quarts. How does
the idea strike your
chez la femme"