The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1928-03-08

|
thought desperately about how he
could get rid of the collectors; then a
smile spread over his face and he said
to the bailiffs: "Your expression re-
minds meas Richelieu said to Ma
dame du Barry just as she was about
to-if you have heard this priceless
story, stop me-de Barry was on the
point Of" With friendly hand on
each mans shoulder Fabien lowered
his voice and continued the point of
his story as he craftily guided them
toward the door without their realiz-
ing what was happening.
Fortunately they enjoyed rare bit
of gossip as much as glass of fare
wine. Deeply absorbed in the scandal
they were oblivious to their sur
1oundings until they found themselves
in the open entrance of the house.
Immediately they recalled their duty
and began noisy protestations.
Next week." Fabien said with
disarming smile, word of honor" and
closed the door in their faces.
1t was a narrow escape and good
radiance. However, Fabien was wor-
ried because that sort of thing could
not continue indefinitely. His credit
was exhausted and he had postponed
payments 50 many times that it could
not be done again. 1t would have been
comforting to share the worry with
Manon, and, although Fabien longed
for her sympathy, he had sworn never
to make her practice enocomy; he
must handle the matter alone. His air
of carefree raillery vanished with the
departing bailiffs.
Dejectedly entering the library, he
, sbegan sorting over great sheafs of
UNPAID and long overdue bills. Among
them were a number of extravagant
tones incurred by Lescaut. 1t was an
imposition. Aside from his income,
Lescaut had CLEANED enough from the
gaming tables to live in luxury, but
he spent enormous sums indulging his
various appetites and a big amount
was boarded away for an indolent old
age. Lescaut was crafty.
After the inhuman way he had
treated his sister neither she nor Fa-
bien had any desire for his society.
But unfortunately the house they
leased was in the very neighborhood
selected by Lescaut, after the Comte
ousted him following Manon's uncere-
monious departure. One day he chanc-
cd to see Manon leave her carriage.
Immediately he followed her into the
house and not many hours elapsed be-
fore he established himself in their
midst.
Lescaut was rude and without the
slightest principle Of honor, SO it
meant nothing to him that his pres
ence was undesirable. He was deter
mined upon friendly relationship, be-
cause it meant reduction in personal
expenses. By preference he was card
sharp and a gambler but recently his
hand had grown unsteady so that
good fortune was as tickle and elu-
Isiye as luck. Money became the most
| desirable Of all possible possessions
and he took all he could get whenever
possible. AS long as Fabien coud pro-
vide handsomely after the manner of
the Comte, Manons choice of lovers
was agreeable to her unscrupulous
brother.
Lescaut sauntered into the library
while Fabien was bordering over fl
nances. Having secretly been through
the bills himself, merely as matter
of curiousity, he knew that matters
were painfully pressing.
what are you going to do about
llt2" he inquired.
what is there to do?" Fabien
shook his head hopelessly and looked
into space. He had promised the bail
ifs that money would be Forthcoming
on the following week, but there was
no more chance Of having it then than
there was of seeing it appear on the
desk before his very eyes in the next
five minutes. One was exactly as
hopeless or possible as the other.
Lescaut shrugged his shoulders.
There was something that could be
done if Fabien would agree. Picking
lup deck of cards from the table, his
expert fingers casually divided the
pack and shuffled them quicker than
the eye could follow.
"You are clever enough to make