The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7908, 25 August 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

CHECKMATED. Sill,'. Daurel stopped in front ol the PesL oflicc. i.er nglit hand he d up : tr .-.kiru. Sher-kasci Um with a sudden move-nu-nt an.! turusl li-.r hand into her n.uii, which s..e W iu hd left hand. At the same moment she uttered a cry of t The little pur.,e which s..e had al ways carried in her mutt was to longer there. , A few feet awav stood a man ol iArjl lift* years of afte, clean sha*.•n, stout," and well-dressed. Vie was looking at her attentively, li-cn hs suddenly cauie towards ber and sai-. "Mademoiselle, 1 live neat ly. -n lite I:ue «c la Michodiere, No. 60—M Chouinot ; man ol business. II you desiiv to h-ve news regarding the purse you have been so unfortunate to U-se I can lumish it to you."

M. Chouinot was a fin* specimen ol a " rogue. That day he was walking behind Mile. Daurel. Was he lcolving at lur ? It is probable that he v:as, for Mile. Daurel deserved it. Rarely was a mere charming woman to fce seen. Suddenly he saw that she had droppel something on the pavement. He was 'about to call her attention to the fact when an idea prcsentrd itself in his mind. M. Chouinot picked up and open:d the purse. For it was the purse that Mile. Daurel had let (all —a pretty little purse with her nam* on it in silver letters. It contained a fifty franc bank-note, and several letters all bearing the same signature—"Henri." The letter in the envelope was addressed to M. Henri <ie Prejailles. So the owner of the purse was answering love-letters ! Then he found some cards bearing the name "Mile. Daurel," and M. Chouinot began to think deeply. "Mile. Daurel to a male friend. Henri dc Prejailles, who is bltterli opposed by her lather. Excellent affair !" Talking thus to himself. M. Chouinot kept following Mile. Daurel. When he saw hor stop in front ot the Post Office he stopped tew. It Was the decisive moment. "She wants to post her letters bow, and discovers she has lost her purse." continued M. Chouinot, in monoloßihv "1 will anpra'x-h her very politely and beg hi-r to come t< my office for news of the lost article. There I shall tell her my conditions," and he carried out his p!a--As soon as she recovered hrr selfpossession, M. Clir.uii.ot, who h -ti torrid ppi's fccel soon as his little speech was co-'.ciudcd. wss aia realv disappearing down the strrer. "There is no use hesitating." fliv saw! to herself; "I must go to tM> man." M. Chouinot was waiiing for h'-r *r.d ;.s soon as she had nndf known htr nam-? she was introduce! intc. the private office-oi the ,man of bus: ' aess. M. Chouinot rose to meet her ar.d bowed. ' Here is your purse," he said to her, holding out the article he h picked up shortly befrre on the pave ment. "But I thought it wis imprudeut of you to le?p your letters there An indiscretion is so casi'v committed. Therefore I will take care cf them (or you—oh, the utmost' care, I assure you !" Mtle. Daurel understood. The man had laid a trap for her, and tinbad tumbled into it. "For twenty thousand francs 1 wii l return you your letters. Otherwise 1 will give them to your father." She was frightened now, panting and overwhelmed. She sank down on

a chair with Int eyes on ihc ground « listening to this man as if she was hoinc; wntenepl t 0 death. Then that was a silence, and Mile. Daurel rose and walked towards the door slowly arnt went out. A; tin- 1 hough! of this M. Chouino! rubbed his hands. "I am a lueky man ; twenty thousand francs for merely picking up a pure."

■V.-anwhile, M. Chouinot t-ang 1(j himself while In- waited. Presently an uuplovee of the o'l'ci Cine in. '• "Monsieur, there is a genlicir.au asking for you outside." "A gentleman ? Show him in.''

The visitor came itilo the office. '.Monsieur,' lie said, • lookina; M. Chouinot in the eye, "I am Henri de Frejailtcs I" The nun of business took a stc] * backward. "Oh, do r iot lie ail. 1 have r< intention of administering to you th thrashing you so rightly deserve. It gi\es mc pleasure, however, to say that you are an infamous villain. Having said this I ask you now t< fellow me." Henri de l'rejajlles took a pisto out of his pocket and put Ihc en.: of it under M. Chouinot s nose. "Will you follow me ?" "1 will follow you, monsieur ; but remember one thinp—that your letters are in a safe place, and that you cannot force me to give then: up. and " "Kxactly ; meanwhile, walk ir front of me, and not a word, or I will -shoot you liVe a doc IVlow a carnaia-was in attendsn'-o. and M. Chouinot got in. Henri d Pretailles took the seat beside him. "Coachman, drive to Ku- Rembrandt, No. 31, tile house of M Daurel ?"

M. Chouinot trembled, but said no There M. de l'rejajlles said to his companion as he opened the door :

"Monsieur, you may gef out ; the moment to execute vour tl.iea't ha arrived. Take my letters io M. Tau rcl !"

M. Choui.mt sprang out. He r--j-.il,■ scarcely believe his ears. What v.a loini; to happen r.est ? At the door stood a tenant rirrd in h'aek, with a v-I.jitje. M. Chouinot we.it toward-. him. "Monsieur Dan: el he "What. monsieur ''' said the scr van', "hue you t.o! h.\,rd "What ?'' "Mrnsieur Daurel died th.s a:'er noon !"' M. Chouinot was fairly stunned. "Oh he Rioaned ; "what c-;i-,;| luck He was about to -y.ilk awav viw!l H.nn de I'rejaille:, st>i. r ,,l out of th ■ carnace and he'd him b.icfc. "You s:t," he said, "that c »>- •"! ffri'.-n? .lots not always com' to vi 1 - laitis of your st.imp. You lv .l| re- tore to j,;.- j|, f . lett-p, y< u have V,e Mil] . E , v Jo y.iin i.JT, . ■l'd Mil. them. and. whatever vou no. do ti.-i keep its Poor *l. Chouinot • What r-oulil.. do ' |'e went ti. his office wjlli |(r:iri de I're'ailles at hi> lee|; ; | ;l . i,,, j. tie 1.-tt- rs oi:t ~ ;,-t \j' H. nj| too'v them at.il placed them j,, his po<kol. '"Now. M. Chouinot." he --aid "I will fell you that M. Paurel t,ev,-r felt belter -in his life. He is alive and well Thr -rervant at tin- door was my own valet.''