The Argosy, October 1906 — page 135: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“AN: NAGE 0 OF F MADNESS. : oe “ Bring me she ond of the search: “made, on behalf of M. Kaufmann, for Bai Balke g A book was brought. a “ Now, you see,’’ said thé commissaire, ‘Bai Rak lived with M. Kaufmann as - his servant. On the third of October M. Kaufmann claims that he gave Bai Rak two thousand francs to deposit in the bank of M. Martin. Instead of obey- ing orders Bai Rak ran away and has not been found. ‘We made a complete search. A man answering his description left Havre cn the fifth for New York, and was seen in ‘New York. He seemed to be well sup- plied with money. The man had none of the oriental look. He was dark, but -dressed in European fashion and was*not bad appearing. “The man supposed to be Bai Rak,. seen in New York, went by the name of ‘Honore de Bergelot.’ He attracted no attention, traveled some, and pmatey disappeared. ree: “Would it cause you~ ‘much inconve- nience to. ascertain if he ever returned to Saigon?” ~~ “The trouble is nothing.” ‘““T will pay expenses.” “Call to see me in one week.” -Other messages began to come. is one from Pallser:, Here My DEAR One-Time HusBanp Iam home again, thank fea and all is forgiven. My father was de- lighted to see me alive and my mother wept over me as though I was some good. What a fool a man is to do wrong when he has a good father and mother. I went to see your Mr. Poggitt. He = certainly a queer card. I found him _bossing one of the most mysterious _ jobs I ever saw. What is he building —a huge bat or what? — He ts very funny. He was not go- ing to admit me at first, but I sent word that I had been a passenger on that French ship and that was the open sesame. He received me at a forge -and asked me if I had seen any one he knew. I ei J that I must see him alone. We went into a house he has built: 3 eee and sat down. When I told him you were alive and well in Paris I- ‘thought the old fellow would eat me up.. He fussed and fumbled, and wiped his ee es _ eyes, and then I gave him your note. He said_ he would send the aioBey. at crea << He took me over the meet on ‘the ‘ice, for it is very cold here, and the ice is still thick enough to bear. We saw Mile. de-Watines. She received your note with tears and a red face. Say, old man, I’m jealous. I fancy there will be a wife there soon with-— out any masquerade. I see now why you wanted me to keep up the farce . of acting as your wife. You now have a medium through whom you can communicate with Mr. Poggitt and ~ Josephine. Send anything you want done. T x: am at your service. drowning. I have told more lies than I did in Paris. ~ PALLSER. Here is Mr. Poggitt's communication: ~~ To my FrienpD M. La Tour: My very dear friend, your welcome — letter in reference to a small matter of — financial business and other matters. came to my subservient hand in due _ time by channels of which you doubt- less are aware. Permit me to state that the contents of your letter filled — me with joy. As I have before had ~ occasion to remark, the ways of Provi- 3 dence are past. finding out. “I have cabled seven hundred and fifty thousand francs, which sounds tre- mendously large as compared with a hundred and fifty thousand dollars. I sincerely trust that you have not paid — too much for the property you speak of purchasing. ~ Here, I am exceedingly busy. I oe now in all, workmen-and ers, about fifty on the island, and my plans are being carried out with a rapidity that is astonishing. I expect to make an experimental trip in a short time. My present plans are for a small air-ship, but these can be en- larged upon as we make improve- ments. It will assuredly be a success. LAPHYSTIUM PoGGITT. — I received a letter from Josephine, ES but as was the case with the one I - Tote - to her, it was not. necessary to repeat t that 7 * Fs here. In a week I went back to the commis-. = sc I expected some news, of course. saire. “T have been in communication with the authorities in Cambodia,” he said. ‘A complete search fails to reveal any- Rak. He cer- thing concerning Bai tainly has not returned to Cambodia. = “Nor to Paris?” “Nor to Paris. Let me hear from you. _ elp- Of that I am cer People are crazy = hefe to know how I escaped from ae ioe Ts - 7 * tain.” i : ica.’ = Phen he is probably — in Amer- ae ee nominee