-Z-: , , , ,3
i
t
I
:
Secret of tk Plundered Safe
By IS MILE
CIIAPTEK XII. (Continued.)
As M.. Verduret spoke Prosper reeon
eldercd hi resolution to emancipate Mm
elf from hi guidance. Ho felt hope nuit
confidence returning to Mm.
"If I couM only be bum that oi are
right." he murmured.
"Obstinate man, wh will you shut your
eyes to the eloarest evidence? Don't
jou understand that Madeleine knows
the namo of the thief!"
"Impossible."
"It Is a fnct; but we mny be sure that
no humnn power can extract It from her.
Yen, she sacrifices you. but she hs al
most n rtcht to do so. for she sacrificed
herself fiist."
"Alnsl" cried Prosper, shaking M. Ver
duret' hand, "I must seem mad ami
ridiculous In your eyes; but you do tint,
cannot know what I suffer."
The red whiskered man shook his head
aadly; hi face altered In a moment, and
his voVco trembled as lie spoke.
"What yon are now suffering." he re
plied, "1 also have suffered. I.Ike jou.
I onee loved; but, nof like you. a noble
girl; still, 1 lorod her. For three years
I was at her feet. AH at once sue icn
mo. who adored her. Tltrn. like jou. I
wished to die. Neither my tear nor my
prayers could liuluco her to come back
to mo. Iive does not reason, and she
lived another man."
On that very day Prosper, true to his
wonl, sold oCT his furniture, ond wrote
to Ills friends, announcing his early de
parture for San Francisco. That even.
Inn l.oth he and M. Verdure t took up
their aobde at the Great Archangel Ho
tel. Madame Alexandre had allotted to
Prosper her very best room, which, how
ever, was verV Inferior to his pretty
drawing room In the Hue Chaptal.
About 11 o'clock, feeling the want of
fresh air, he tried to open the window;
It was blown too directly. Hut a puff of
wind had entered the room and disturbed
a piece of paper lying on the floor. Me
chanically Prosper picked up his paper
and examined It. It was covered with
writing in the hand of Nina Gypsy; he
could not be mistaken In the matter. It
wa a fragment of a torn-up letter, and
If, the disjointed sentences failed to con
rey any exact meaning they were sum
dent to set his Imagination to work. This
la an exact reproduction of the frag
ment. . of M. Haoul I have been Imp . : : :
. . plotted against Mm of whom never
.... warn Prosper and then . . . .
best friend he
hand of Millie. Ma
CHAPTER XIII.
Not far from the Palais Hoyal, 111 the
line St Honore, with the sign of Good
Faith. Is a little establishment, half
cafe, half fruiterer' shop, much fre
quented by tho clerks of the neighbor
hood. It was In one of the rooms of this
modest tavern that on the Friday after
hi release Prosper was waiting for M.
Verduret, who bad promised to mtt him
there at 4 o'clock.
A the clock struck M. Verduret, who
waa punctuality Itself, appeared. He
wa more ruddy than ever, and appeared
perfectly satisfied with himself. A oon
an the waiter had left the room he said
to Prosper:
"Well, have all our commission been
executed! Have you seen the coatumer?"
"I gave him your letter. Everything
that you require will be brought to-roor-
row to the Archangel."
"Then everything goes well, for I have
lost no time, and I bring you plenty of
new. While waiting for two of our
emissaries whom I have appointed to
meet me," be aid, "let u occupy our
nelve a little with M. de Lagor. Do
you know, my dear friend," continued M.
Vanduret, "from what part of the coun
try this gentleman come from professes
to be a friend of your!"
"From the same part a Mme. Fau
vel, from St. Hemy," answered Prosper.
"Ah!" ald M. Verduret, "that i very
singular," and he whistled oftly, which
with him was a sign of Infinite satisfac
tion. "I wrote to St. Hemy aud receiv
ed answer. Ah, here 1 number one."
Ho then read;
" 'Lagor . Very old family, originally
from Mallues, settled at Bt. Itemy about
a century ago. The last of the Lagor
hearing without warrant the title of
count, married In 1820 Mademoiselle Ho
hsIIo Fontanet, of Tarascon; died Decem
ber, 1818. leaving po male heir, but left
two daughter.'
"Now, what do you think of this In
formation?" queried the stout man, with
a triumphant smile.
"Hut why did M. Fauvel treat Haoul
a M nephew!" asked Prosper amazed-
If.
"Ah, you mean a hi wife' nephew!
Let u examine note number two; Mules-Itene-IIenri
de Lagor, last of hi name,
died at Bt. Heiny In a state of great pov
erty. He at one time wa possessed of
a moderate fortune, but invested it In a
silk warm nursery, and lost It all. He
had no on, but left two daughters, one
of whom is a teacher at Air, and the
other married a retail merchant at Or
gan. His widow, at Moutagnette, Is sup
ported entirely by one of her relative,
ttie wife of a rich banker In Paris. No
person of the namo of Lagor live In
the district of Aries.' That Is all," said
M. Verduret; "don't you think It
enough!"
"Heally, monsieur, I don't know wheth
er I am awake or dreaming. Borne peo
ple may assert' that the Widow Lagor
married and had a child born after her
husband' death. Thl objection I de
stroyed by the age of your frieud. Haoul
la twenty-four, and M. de Lagor ha not
beta dead tweuty year."
OABORIAU
"Hut," said Prosper, thoughtfully,
"who can Haoul be!"
"I don't know. The fact Is, 1 am
more perplexed to find out who he Is than
to know who be Is not. There Is one
man Vho could glvo us nil the Informa
tion we seek, but he will tako good euro
to keep his mouth shut."
"You mean M. de Cliimcrau!"
"Him, and no one else."
"1 have nlwaj felt the must Inexplica
ble exendon toward Mm. Ah, If wo
could only get his account In addition
to whnt you already have!"
"I hnvo been furnished with a few
notes concerning the Clnmernn family
by your father, who knew them well;
they nre brief, but I expect more. I will
read jou the synopsis of his Information:
"'Louis de Clamernn was burn nt the
Chateau de Clnmerau, near Tarraston.
He had an elder brother named Gaston,
who, In consequence of nu alTrnj in
which he had the misfortune to badly
wound two men, was compelled to tly the
country In ISI'J. Gaston was an honest,
noble youth, universally beloved. Louis,
on the contrary, was a wicked, despica
ble fellow, detested by nil who knew
him. '
" 'Upon the death of his father Louis
came to Paris, and In les than two
years had squandered not only his owu
patrimony, but also the share of his ex
lied brother. Hulncd and harassed by
debt, Ioul entered the army, but be
hnved so disgracefully that he was dis
missed. After leaving the army we lost
sight of him; all we can discover Is that
he went to England, thence to a German
gambling resort, where he became noto
rious for his scandalous conduct. Later
we find him again in Paris. He wa
In great joverty. aud his associates were
among tho most depraved classes. Hut
he suddenly heard of the return of a
cousin who had made a fortune In Mex
ico; but being still a young man, and
accustomed to a very active life, he pur
chased, near Oloron, an Iron foundry.
Intending to spend the remainder of his
life in working it. fix month ago he
died In the arms of I.ouls. His death
provided our De Clameran an Immense
fortune. "
"Then," said Prosper, "from all this
I Judge that M. de Clameran was very
poor when I met him for the first time
at M. Fauvel's! And atout that time
Lagor arrived from the country! And
al-out a mouth after his appearanee
Madeleine discarded me!"
"Well," exclaimed M. Verduret, "Warn
glad you arc beginning to understand the
state of affairs."
He wa interrupted by the entrance of
a stranger, a "swell" coachman, with
black whiskers, shilling hoot with fancy
tops, buff breeches, aud a yellow waist
coat with red and black stripes. After
cautiously looking around the room he
walked straight up to the table where M.
Verduret sat.
"What wa the new, Joseph Dubois!"
said the stout mau eagerly.
"Ah, governor, don't speak of It!"
answered the servant; "things are getting
warm."
CHAPTHIt XIV.
Prosper concentrated all his attention
upon thl showy domestic. Hn thought
he recognized hi face; that retreating
forehead and 'those little restless black
eyes, but where and when he could not
remember.
"In the first place, I must say that the
position of valet and coachman to M. de
Clamerau I not a bed of roses. Vertcr
day my master walked out at 2 o'clock.
I, of course, followed him. Do you know
where he went! The thing wa a good
a a farce. He went to the Archangel
to kep Ui appointment made by Nina
Gypsy."
"Well, make haste. They told him she
wa gone. Then!"
"Then! Ah, he wa not at all plsRsed,
I can tell you. He hurried back to the
hotel where the other, M. de Lngor,
awaited Mm. And I hnvo never heard ho
much swearing In my life. M. Haoul
naked him what had happened to put Mm
In such a bad humor. 'Nothing.' replied
mj master, 'except that little sprite ha
run off, and uo one knows where sho Is;
li Ima ullfined throtiah our fincer.'
Then they both appenred to be vexed and
uneasy, Lagor nskel lr she knew any
thing serious. 'Bhe know nothing but
what I told you,' replied Clamernn, 'but
thl nothing, falling lu the ear of a man
with any suspicions, will be more than
enough to work on.' "
With breathless curiosity Prosper list
ened to thl report, every word of which
seemed to throw light upon past event.
Now, he thought, he understood the frag
ment of Gypsy'a letter. He saw that this
Haoul, lu whom he had confided no deep
ly, wa nothing more than n scoundrel.
Master Joseph continued hi report;
"Yesterduy, after dinner, my master
decked himself out llku a bridegroom. I
shaved Mm, curled his hair, ami perfum
ed him with especial cure, after which
I drove Mm to call on M. Fnuvcl."
"What!" exclaimed Prosper, "after the
Insulting language lie used the day of
the robbery, did he dare to visit the
house!"
"Yes, monsieur; he not only durrd this,
but he nlso Htuyed there until midnight,
to my great discomfort, for I got a wet
a a rat waiting for him. When he came
out he certainly looked less pleased thuu
when he went In. After putting awny
my carriage, and rubbing down my
horses, I went to ee If ho wanted nu--thiug;
I found the door locked aud he
raved at me like a trooper through the
keyhole." .
"I that all!" questioned M. Verduret.
"All that occurred yesterday, but this
morning my mnster rose late, still In a
horribly bad humor. At noon Hnoul
arrived, also In a rage. They nt once be
gan to dispute, mid such a row! The
scamps spoke English, so I could nut un
derstand them. Hut after a while the
rascals began to talk lu French again,
but they only spoke of n fancy ball to be
given by some bunker. When Haoul
was leaving my master said, 'Since this
thing Is Inevitable, and must take place
to-day, you had better remnln it t home,
nt Veslnet. this evening.' Haoul replied,
'Of course.
"It I time to go." said M. Verduret.
"Your master will wnnt you, Joseph;
besides, here I some one conic for me. I
will see jou to-morrow."
The newcomer wns none other than
Cavalllon, more troubled and frightened
thnn ever. He looked uneasily around
the room, n If he expected the whole
police force to appear and to carry him
off to prison. He did not sit down at M.
Venluret's table, but stealthily gave his
hand to Prosper, and after nssuring Mm-
I self that un one was observing them,
handed M. Verduret a package, saying:
"Gypsy found this."
It was a handsomely bound prnjer
iKxik. M. Verdurel rapldl) turned over
tho leaves, and soon found the pages
from wit loli the words pasted on Pro
per's letter had been cut
"I had moral proofs," ho said, handing
' the Uwk to ProH'r, "but here Is ma
j terial proof sulllclent lu Itself to save
l you."
When Prosper looked at the look he
turned pale as a ghost,. He recognised
tills prayer look Instantly. He had given
It tn .Madeleine 'hi exchange for the
medal. He opened It. and on the llyleaf
Madeleine had written, "Souvenir of
Notre Dame de Pourvleres."
"This iHHik belong to Madeleine." he
cried.
M. Verduret did not reply, but walked
toward a joung man dressed like a truck
man, who had Just entered the room. He
glanced at the note which this person
ha ruled to him, ami hastened lek to the
table, and snkl. In an agitated tone:
"I think wt hae got them now!"
Without saying a word to Cavalllon,
he seised Prosper' ami a ih! hurried from
the room.
"What a fatality!" he sM. as he hast
ened along the street: "we may utl
them. We shall certainly reach the St.
Lazare station too late fur the St. Ger
main train. Hurry!"
Headline the Palais Hoyal M. Ver
duret stopped before one of the hacks
and examined the horses at a glance.
"How much for driving us to Vesl
net!" ho asked of the driver. "I will
point out the road." I
"Well." salt! the driver, "at this time
of night, lu such dreadful weather. It
ought to hi twenty-five francs."
"And how much more for driving very
rapidly!"
"Why, monsieur, I leave that tn your
generosity; but If jou (nit it at thlrt)-fiv
francs "
"You shall have a hundred," Interrupt
ed M. Verduret, "If you overtake a car
riage which has half an hour's stait of
us."
"Whew!" cried the delighted driver;
"Jump In quick, we are hntlag time!"
Ami, whipping up his lean horses, hn
galloped them down the Hue de Vuloli
at lightning speed.
CHAITEH XV.
Leaving tho little station of Veslnet
we route upon two roads. It wa at Ike
Junction of these two road that Prosper
stepped the hack. The driver hail gain,
cd his hundred franca. The horses were
completely worn out, hut they had ac
complished all that was expected of
them; M. Verduret could distinguish th
lamp of a vehicle similar to the one lis
occupied about fifty yard ahead of Mm.
He Jumped out, aud handing the driver
a banknote, said:
"Here Is what I promised yon. Go to
the first tavern you find on tho right as
you enter the vllluge. If we do not meet
you there In an hour you are at liberty to
return to Paris."
Tho driver was overwhelming In his
thanks; but neither Prosper nor hi
friend heard them. They had already
started up the new road. M. Verduret
and Prosper had been running along th
muddy road for about five minutes, when
suddenly the latter stopped and said-
"Thl 1 Haoul' house."
Ilefore the gate of nu Isolated hous
Mood the hack which M. Verduret had
followed. Heclinlng on hi seat, wrapped
In a thick cloak, wa the driver, who,
lu spite of the pouring rnln, wa already
asleep, evidently waiting for the person
whom he had brought to thl house a
few minute before.
Once In the garden attached to the
house, M. Verduret looked about him to
study the situation. The house occupied
by M. de Lagor wq narrow, two stories
high, and with garret. Only one whi
dow, In the second story, was lighted,
"A you have often been here," said
M. Verduret, "you must know all about
the arrangement of the house; what
room i that where wo see the light?"
"It I Haoul'. He I waited on by a
man and hi wife, who live nt Veslnet;
they come In the morning and leave nfter
dinner."
"That suit our plans exactly," said
M. Verduret; "there Is nothing to pro
vent our hearing whnt Hnoul hn to say
to tht person who ha come from Pari
at 10 o'clock at night to see him. I must
rfct a peep into that window!"
(To be continued.)
Good Time for Forgiveness.
Missionary (out Wont) Did jou ever
forglvo an enemy?
Had Mun WuiiBt.
"I am glnd 1" lic-i tMit. What
moved your Inner will to prefer oeuco
to strife?"
"I didn't have no gun." Modern So
duty, Cheerfulness makes love of life, and
lovo of llfo U half of hcultb. On tho
contrary, sadness and discouragement
huatcu old age.
&sHfs
EsE:'r - 1
omN
Guct I wnnt n good porterhouse
aleak. Waller -Gent whnt order por.
terliotiso stonK nre reqturrii to miiko u
deposit, sir. Chlcngo Tribune.
Swatter I ace you nre mentioned In
one of tho hooka Just published. Prim
ly Indeed! What book? Kwittter
Tho directory. Chicago New.
Gabber You ought to meet Dyer.
Awfully clover Imitator. lie can tnko
off anybody. Mlsa Dtincnn (wearily)
I wish he wna hero now. Tit lilts.
Stringent Say, do you wnnt to get
next to n sehemo for making money
fast? Nibbles Sttro I do. Stringent
Ohio It to tho Moor. Chicago New.
At tho Art Exhibition: First Judge
i DiiiiMi-IkIi I n proilllc pnlnler, Isii t
no? How would you estimato m
work! Second Judge lly tho nuwrt.
Life.
Hooscvclt and Pnrker outdistanced:
Stolln Mun iiro sn ntiinld. Holla-
Yes. Indeed; do you stipivose It would
ttiktf ino weeks to wrlto u letter of ac
ciitHiiri"! Kvlinngc.
Customer The last fish I bad from
jou didn't seem very fresh. Fish
Dealer Well, mum, iw can you ex
pevt fresh llsli to en mo out o' salt
water? Now Yorker.
Flrat Physician Ho the operation
wa Just In tho nick of time? Si-coud
Physician Yes, In another twenty four
hour tho patient would have rocownsl
without It Harper' Haar.
At tho seaside: .She Ob! George,
what lovely wnvo-i! Ilo Very nice;
but, poor thing, they're Just like me--wo
Iwtli nrrho at the shore In splen
did style ninl go luck broke Judy.
Visitor (at Putin llaj ) What do you
do lu hero all summer? Native Loaf
aud fish. Visitor And what do jou
do In the winter? Native -Wo don't
fish. Cincinnati Commerfial Tribune.
"I auiiimnc." said tho drummer, "ton
lalwir on the Sabbath, and rent tho re
mainder of the week." "No," replied
tho vlllago parson: "I try lo collect
my salary on weok daj." OhU'ago
New.
More Troublesome: "If pretty hard
to bo worried by n lot of debt you
can't pny." "Nonsense! Tlmt' until
Ins; to being worried by n lot of debt
you almply have to Kiy." Plilhulel
phla Ledger.
Dlainiosl: Pntletit Do you con
sider tbl trouble fatal, doctor? You
know my menu are limited, and
Doctor Well, a a nite, the patient
succumbs to It after alout two thou
nnd dollar' worth of treatment.
Life.
Sure enough: "Of course. I don't
wnnt to criticise, but I don't think It
wa altogether right for David to say
all mnn are liar. Well; nt any
rate. It wa safer thnn to pick out ono
man and ny it lo him." PhllndolpliU
Pro.
ArtUt Have you tnkrn my plcttiro
to tho exhibition? Porter Ye, sir;
l: seemed to plense the gentlemen
u-ry much. ArtUt What did they
say? Porter Oh, they didn't say
notblnir. but they laiiKhed that
Varty. Glasgow Evening Time.
"Did you ever make any money on
the bonrd of trndo?" "Yc. I made ono
hundred nnd aeventy-flve dollnra thero
one day In le thnn twenty minute."
"Whowl What did jou do with It"
"Oh. they got It bnck before I lint! a
chance to eo It." Chlcnu'o Hecord
Humid. Teacher Have you looked up tho
meaning of tho word "Imbibe," Fan
ny? Fnnny Yea. ma'am. Teacher -Well,
whnt doca It menu? Fanny To
take In. Teacher Ye. Now kIvo a
sentence using the wonl. Funny My
mint Imbibe Iwnrder. Woiiinn'a
Home Companion.
"Mr. HenvywclKht," said the min
ister, "I willing to subscribe J(),KJ
for a new church, jinnldcd we cuu net
other subscription imiklut; up tho
name amount." "Yet you eem dis
appointed." nlil hi wife. "Ye. I
wns in hope ho would contribute $100
in cash." Brooklyn Life.
Jonea It U Jut Impossible for mo
to keep ft lead pencil. People nro al
ways borrowltiK, you know, anil they
always forget lo return. Hrown
Why, I nover have any tronblo. See,
I've got a whole vetpocketful of pen
ell. Jones Docn't that prove Jtikt
what I said! Boston Triuucrljit.
The Elder Ml Spinster (nppcnrln
nt the back door) Tell me, my good
man, aro you tho person who culled
hero Inst week? Knight of tho I loud
You donf mean the hloko wot you
glvo tho 'omndo plo to? No, mum, I
ain't Mm. 'E left mo his olo tog
when 'e pegged out, that's all. Judgo.
"There's mighty fow people," sulil
Farmer Corutossel, "that knows whnt
to do with a farm after they get ono."
"I havo noticed that," answered tho
girl with frizzes; "they always Insist
on filling tho whole place tip with corn
and oats and things, when they might
havo such lovoly tennis courts and ao'.t
links." Washington Star.
-ii'. ..' vmmr.m .-
iJSCTMV,
1 Sf -v.. ' " SJj
imrs. Atiucrsoii, jncKHunviuc, i
Fin., ilniiRliter of Recorder of
Deeds, West, who witnessed her
siKiinturc to the following letter,
prniscs Lydia I:. Piukliam's
Vegetable Compound.
"Dkau Mil. PiNKitAMt There- m
but fow wive nnil mother who Jinvn
not nt time cudurod ngotile and aucli
pain aa only women know. I wish
such women knew tho vnluoof Lytlltt
I). IMulcliiim'N ViT'tHllo Coiu-
IMHIllll. It la n rcmiirknblu lacdluliie,
different In action from nuy I oer
knew nod thoroughly reliable.
" I hnvo mvii many oasen vrlirro
women diotored for jenra without per
manent boucllt, who were cured lu Irs
than three uionthn after taking your
Vegetable Compound, while ulhera who
were olironlo uud lin'iirabln emtio out
cured, hnppy, nnd lu perfect health
nfter n tliuniuirli treatment with thtt
medicine. I hnvn never used It myself
without gaining great IkmioIU. A few
dose restores my strength and appe
tite, and tone tin tho entire system.
Your tuedlcluo ha Wen tried and
found trim, hence I fully endi rso It,"
Ma. H. A Axnm", J9a Washing
ton St, Jacksonville, l"l, ftooe
If tfltlnal f hn4 Itittr Ft4mj pafM M.
No other mcdlolnn for women liM
rrenlved such widespread ami umiimll
tied endorsement. No other mcdlelna
iina sueli a record of euro of feiimta
trouble. Kef iuo to buy any subitlluU.
Hn Needed Asslslanoo,
They bad boon pressing hint hard
the wiMile week. 'I he house wns full
of widow ami pretty girls ami alt tho
other men hut himself had down lo
calise they couM not stand the pace.
He refused lo be dlstrulied In hi sum
mer arrangement ami so he stayed on.
Sunday night they had him In the
corner and the Mme begun to wane
wIihii some one started the game of
"what you'd rather be If you had your
choice." There were a lot of answer
and a chorus of laughter and the usual
noise that goe with summer resort
pastime, ami Uiey saves! the lone man
for the climax. Wheu It llnally reach,
ed him, ny the New York Time, It
found him not only ready, hut willing.
"What would you rather lm If you
could have the powerof changing your
self?" "A yndleate," wa his reply.
IMso s Curs f rin(1y fur toughs, cold
andeontumptlQii, Try It, l'tteo'JAceuU,
stdruxcliii.
Davis Tint Han Mithl Train.
Henry Gawway Davis found hi
first advancement when he secured th
coveted position of hrakemati on a
freight train on the Haltlmore and
Ohio Hnllroad. It wa not long be for
he wa advanced to tue more respon
sible position of freight conductor, re
sponsible In these day, but far mora
so, relatively, lu those. At -I ho wa
agnlu promoted, till time to the posi
tion of luperlnteiideut In charge of tho
running of all the train. Ho Intro
duced an Innovation which marked a
decided advance step In railroading.
Cp to that time, It had not been con
sidered practicable to run train at
night; when nightfall came, freight
train and pnseuger I rnln alike wero
"tied up," their Journey to ho resumed
only when daylight nunc. Dnvl held
there wa no good reason why they
should not he run by night a well a
by day, aud proved It. Ill first night
train from Ctimbirlnud to llnltlmoro
marked an Important cimicIi In railroad
lug. Ioslle's Monthly Mnguzlne.
Positions fluarnntccd.
IVXU forfeit I'l '! with National Itsnk la
make (ool any fsllur nn our part. laon
by mall, practically I rso, Writ today for
catalog.
Hcutel limine Collozo,
TACOMA, WASH
BUY
FROM YOUR DEALER
I'. N. U. No, 42IIU4
n
HEN yr Tiling to dvrtlir pUM
wvNiinn wna iisvr i