Evening star., 1921-05-29

II you're kind to them they come and
eat out Of your hand"
you've forgotten the pictures" said
MIR. Smith.
"Ah: the pictures cried Aristide.
with a wide sweep Of his arms. Gal
angelo Wiert1. Reynolds-"
He paused. not in order to produce
the effect of A dramatic aposiopesis.
but because he could not for the mo-
ment remember other names of paint
erS.
1T is a truly historical chateau"
said he.
II should love to see it," said the
girl.
Aristide threw out his arms across
the table. ut Is yours. mademoiselle.
for your honeymoon" said he.
Dinner came to an end. Miss Chris
label left the gentlemen to their wine.
an excellent port whose English quail
tiles were vaunted by the host. Arfs-
tide. full Of food and drink and the
mellow glories of the castle in Langue-
doc. and smoking an enormous cigar.
knew he should like the kind Mr.
Smith. hospitable though somewhat in
sular man. He could stay with him
for a week-or a month--why not a
year?
After coffee and liqueurs had been
powerful electric light al the end of
the large room, showing a picture on
an easel covered by a curtain. He
beckoned to Aristide to join him. and.
drawing the curtain, disclosed the pic
ture.
There" said he. Isn't it a stun
ner?"
1t was picture all gray skies and
gray water and gray feathery trees
and little man in the foreground
| wore a red cap.
"It Ia beautiful, but indeed 1t is mag
nificent!" cried Aristide. always i'm
pressionable to things of beauty.
Genuine Corot. isn't it,"
without doubt" said Aristide.
His host poked him in the ribs. Il
thought I'd astonish you. You wouldn't
believe Gottschalk could have done it,
an natural. II you or any one else can
tell 1t from genuine Corot I'll eat
my hat And all for eight pounds"
/ Aristide looked at the beefy face and
caught look Of cunning in the little
pigs eye.
Smith.
More than satisfied" said Aristide.
| though what he was to be satisfied
| about passed, for the moment, his COM
| prehension.
"1f it was a copy of an existing pic
| c.
derstood it-that. of course. would be
dangerous-but for man to go and
get bits out OF various Corots and
stick them together like this is mi
raculous. II it hadn't been for mat
ter Of business principle I'd have
Instead Of pounds-haneed if 1
wouldn't: He deserves it."
He does. indeed" said Aristide
Pujol.
| And now that you've seen it with
your own eyes. what do you think
ed something between two and three
| thousand-shall we say three? You're
| the owner. you know" Again the
process Of rib-digging. Came out OF
that historic chateau of yours. My
] eye! you're a holy terror when you
me il was real"
ITEMS" said Aristide to himself.
~ don't seem to have chateau after
ialI.'
Certainly three thousand" said he.
with grave face.
lot. but he doesn't said Mr Smith.
! All" said Aristide. with singular
laconicism
Not II blooming thing" continued
his host. But he'll pay three thou
sand. which is the principal, isn't it?
Hes partner in the show. you know.
Ralston. Virgins and Wix's Brew
ery"-Arist1de pricked up his ears
and when his doddering old father
dies he'll be Lord RanelaRh and come
into a million of money"
| Has he seen the picture?" asked
Aristide.
"Oh. yes. Regards 1t as a master
piece. Didn't BraunebeyRer tell you
OF the Lancret we planted on the
Americana Mr. Smith rubbed hearty
hands at the memory Of the iniquity
Same old game. Always easy.
have nothing to do with the bargain
ing or the sale. Just an old friend
| OF the ruined French nobleman with
the historic chateau and family treas.
ures. He comes along and fixes the
price. l told our friend Harry
"CooD." thought Aristide. ''rhis IL
~ the same Honorable HAIRY. n
p. who 10 engaged to the 1avlshino
Miss ChristaboI"
IT told him." said Mr.. Smith. that
Il might come to three or four thou>