DARLEY BRIGAT. “How far is it to Barley Bright?" “Three score miles and ten." “Can 1-get there by candle-light?" “Yea, and back again; But I pray you, have a oare, sir; If you're going to the fair, sir; There are witches over there, sir, ‘Who will catch you as you pass. You'd better far stay where you are.” Thus e the little lass. He looked at her, half doubting If he'd better go or stay, When her sweet red lips a-pouting In a most enchanting way Made him alter his decision, And in spite of all derision Linger where he met that vision On the road to Barley Bright. She raised her ayes and caught him With & secret charm she knew. The glances from her sparkling eyes Pierced his poor heart quite through. And hours went a-fiying, And the blossoms lay a-dying, And the autumn wind was sighing, As he lingered by her side; Until, they say, it chanced one day He made the lass his bride, Hoe gloried in her sweetness And the beauty of her face, In ber womanly completeness And her unsurpassed grace; And experience never taught him That tho’ many a one had sought him This witch alone had caught him On the road to Barley Bright. THREE CLEVER ROGUES. The Pot of Mons. Jouffroy’s Clerks | Monsieur Richard Jouffroy was a general agent and broker, and had his offices on the Rue d’Augout near Rue me“ Captain Vouille berein informs Mon- sleur Jouffroy that important business will prevent his being in Paris before July 2d, on which day at noon, he will do himself the honor to wait on Mon- sieur Jouffroy. This letter has just been received, and I have Opened it, as I am instructed to do all letters which come during Jouffroy’s absence.” “But on June 24th Vouille will be here,” said Emil. “*And so will I," said Favart, ‘ready to receive him and transact any busi- ness he may wish to do with Jouffroy. For that occasion only I shall be Au- gustin Jouffrov.” “How will vou get Jouffroy out of the way?’ asked Emil “I have tuought of that also,’’ was the reply. “Youbad no idea I was such a good business man, had you?— and so full of resources?’ “You are a genius,” said Emil, “but I see great difficulties in the way, and If the thing should miscarry?”’ A CLEVER TRICK, ‘‘Have no fears,” answered Favart, “You remember that last month Jouf- | froy was robbed in the bank of his pocketbook, containing 4,700 francs, and that he offered a reward of 1,000 francs for its recovery and no questions asked? Well, on June 24 Jouffroy will receive a letter by the first mail, asking him to meet the writer at the railroad | station ut Versailles, at one o'clock, | when his pocketbook and its contents | will be restored to him. He will take the 11:30 train and cannot return until | nearly four. In the meantime I will be | Jouffroy, receive Vouille, take his! Montmartre, Paris. He was over | sixty and a bachelor, and boasted that ! he had risen from the guiter, and had | pot a relative in the world. He was | vich and mean. He had picked from | the street an arab, Emil Cadran, and, after giving bim a little education, had | taken him into his employ as an office | boy and then as junier clerk. His | clerk was named Augustin Favart, aud was thirty-six years of age, twenty of which he had passed in Jouffroy’s employ. Emil Cadran was in his nine- teenth year at the lime Lhis narrative ins. t was the afternoon of June 20, 1879. Jouffroy was out on business, Favart, who was a well-made, good- looking fellow, with a deep black eye | and ruddy checks, stood with his back to his desk, talking to Emil, who was tall, slender and pale, with a soft, dreary eye and a languid air. “Yes,” said Favart, *‘for twenty years have I been cenfined to this hole, receiving just enough to enable me to keep body and soul together and keep myself decent in second-hand clothes, and you, Emil, are going in the same direction. When 1 studied stenography it was at his suggestion. ‘Do it,’he said, ‘and then you will be a great ad- | ditional help tome, and I will double | your salary.’ When I became expert, | so that I could take down ail that | passed between Jouffroy and his clients, | I asked for the increased pay. ‘I have | increased it already,’ he said, ‘and am | investing it every month for your | benefit.’ i **That’s what he said to me when he | promised to raise me and I reminded | him of it," said Emil WINE, WOMEN AND JOLLITY. *“Yes, just so; and do you believe | him? 1 think not. There is this com- forting thought, Emil, he has no reia- tive in the world, and one of these days he may go off and you and I may | benefit. Then for wine, women and | jollity] Won't we make up for lost | time—eh, my child?” “Ah, if it would only happen soon!” | exclaimed Emil, with a flush of excite- ment in his face, “Would you run risks to have it hap- | pen soon?’ asked Favart, looking in- | tently at the youth's face, *“] think I would run almost any risk short of committing murder,” was the reply. : Favart had turned to the desk and was taking down in short-hand all the conversation. “What are you doing that for?" Emil asked, suspiciously. “You know it’s my habit,’ replied Favart,” and I did it unconsciously, | Still it is not a bad idea,” and he went on taking down all that had passed, “Emil,”” he said, after a pause, “a great chance presents itself just now, Are you ready to listen?” “To listen and to act was the reply. | t 14" Bravo!” Favart exclaimed; *‘then | attend, See, 1 have but to turn overa | fow leaves of my notebook and I have all the facts to my hand. On June 10th, Captain Paul Vouille, of Brest, wrote to Jouffroy, saying that he had 150,000 franes which he wished to in- | vest in real estate in Parie, and that he | nad been recommended to him as a most person to act as his agent, Jouffroy wrote back, telling him that this was a most favorable time for in- vestment, and asking him to come here at once and arrange the matter, Cap- tain Vouille replied that he would be in Paris on June 24th, and call on Jouf- froy here at noon precisely, with the money in his possession. How do you like it so far as I have gone?" “It is magnificent!” Emil exclaimed, “but I don't gee—eewt’ A PLOT. “Just so,” interrupted Favart: “I didn’t expect you to see all at once. Now, listen! On June 24th, at noon precisely, Captain Vouille will be here, in this office, with one hundred and fifty thousand francs in his i n to over to Jouffroy. He doesn’t know Jouffroy any more than he knows you, and any man who sits here and received him, and says, ‘Lam Jouffroy,’ will be satisfactory to him. Do you scent an now?" “f have a faint odor of ” said Emil, with interest; "pray go on.” “Emil,” sald Favart, ‘how do you think I would make up as Jouffroy?” “Capital splendid!’ was the reply” “I begin now to understand. Go on— dogoont* -.. “First of all, we must induce Jouf. froy to Uelieve that Vouille has post his visit to Pans for a few days. He drew from his pheket-book a let rporting to be written by Voulille and it beside a un that gen. mirable, ved i observe,” sald Fava:t,” that money and not leave him until I see nm safe on the train for Brest.” ‘‘But suppose he stays in Paris a day | or two?" “In that case, I will quit the office on the afternoon of July 24th, sick, you | understand, and you must inform Jauffroy of the fact, You don't know my address and 1 don’t know yours | that. You complain also of very unwell—mind, very wawe!l, Then in the evening you must come to my | room. Now, what do you think of 1t?"’ | “It is a gigantic plot, and I hope in heaven it will succeed,” Emil swered, i When Monsieur Jouffrey returned from his business outside, Favart showed him the letter, purporting to be from Voulle. “Write to him and right,” said Jouffroy, On the morning of June 24th, the | day for Vouille’s visit, au anonymous letler was received by Jouffroy. It ran thus: “If Monsieur Jouffroy will be at the railway station at Versailles at 1 o'clock on June 24th, a man will meet him there carrying a red handkerchief in his left hand, who will hand him the pocketbook and the contents, as stolen from him some time ago at the bank.” Jouffroy handed the letter to Favart who said; “Of course vou will go.” “Then 1 must start at once,” was the reply, “or 1 shall not catch the train.” Monsieur Jouffroy departed at once, feeling an- | it will be all | followed him and saw him enter the car. On his return Favart retired to the inner room, and, with the help of a ened his hair and beard and seated him- self with much dignity in Jouffroy’ chalr, CAPTAIN VOUILLE. Emil gazed at him with admiration and remained silent. At noon an el- derly gentleman descended froma cab and entered the office, announcing him- self as Captain Voullie. The counter feit Jouffroy received him with polite- ness. He pointed out on a map of Par- is various localities where he said. there were excellent chances to invest money in real estate. Monsieur Vouille was charmed with the business tact and knowledge of Monsieur Jouffroy, and said that, from the recommendations | he had received, it was nothing more | than he expected. “To-morrow morning,” said Jouf- froy, “I will invest at least 130.000 francs, that no time may be lost.” : The power of attorney was executed, and the money handed to the supposed “When are you returning to Brest?" asked Favars, illy concealing his anx- “Immediately,” was the reply. “There is a train at 4:30, and 1 shall take hat.” Vouille departed, and Emil watched him safely on the cars for Brest, as he had watched Jouffroy on the cars for | Versailles a few hours before. : “Do not return,” said Favart to | Emil before he followed Vouille,” | *and I will say you have gone home | sick—with the small-pox or fever or something. Come to my room to-night at eight o'clock,” Monsieur Jouffroy returned from Ver. sailles ina very bad humor. He had not seen the man with a red kerchief, or heard anvthing of the pocketbook | and its contents. But Favart the clev. | erest of rogues, had a great surprise in store for his employer. Out of Vouille's money he had enclosed 3,700 franes in an old piece of newspaper. This he handed to Mons, Jouffroy and sald: “I think the letter was a trick to get you out of the way, sv that you wight not identify the thief: for you had not been gone an hour when a man came and handed the parcel, saying it was for you, and that it was the money you lost ‘with your pocketbook. The pock- etbook, he said, was thrown away, so he could not return it. He said also that as you had offered 1,000 fraucs re- ward for the coatents of the book, he bat retained that puts.’ ouffroy | and sure on a 8,700 francs, He was 80 pleased that when the office closed he asked Favart to join him in a bottle of wine. Favart declined, saying that Emil had been taken suddenly fil very sick, and was afraid that ne had caught some infectious. disease from TWO ABSCONDERS, That night Emil and Favart met or latter and arranged ir the room of the their plans. They went out bought clothes where they crossed to Dover. They comfronted themselves witu the idea that Jouffroy would think them both sick, and as he dia not know where either lived, he could make no inquiries, As soon as they reached London, they began to live like men who had plenty of money to spend, but they did not seek to attract attention. “After a few days enjoyment,” said Favart, ““we will start for America to- gether, and there we shall be safe from pursuit,’ After a fortnight they began to think that Jouffroy must have discovered their roguery. One day coming by boat from Greenwich, they thought they identified Jouffroy, in company of two men who looked like detectives, on board a steamboat going in the op- posite direction. They were greatly alarmed, and, on reaching Westmin- ster landing, they separated and went to their lodgings by different routes, They packed their valises and started by the first train going north, A MISTAKE, : On reaching Newcastie-on-Tyne, they went on board a steamer just about to start, as they supposed, for Antwerp, but in their haste, as they soon discov- ered after the vessel bad put to sea, they had gone on board a London steamer by mistake. Once more back in the metropolis, they were at a loss what to do. They be pounced upon by the detectives. Liverpool. They went to a boarding- Une The table was close to a window. peared at it, and as suddenly vanisaed. Favart swore 1L was the face of Jouffroy, Then they to suspect and watch would desert li this Favart had carried the money about with him wherever he went. Now Emil suggested that he ought to have the charge of it occasionally. They had exchanged a large sum m French money for English in London, but were afraid to live as they would fain have done, for fear of exciting suspicion, JOUFFROY —~FAVART — EMIT, was afraid that Favart pened, Favart bought ticks self and Emil on an American steamer, and on the morning of sailing imagined. when a strange anxiety induced them, al the risk perhaps of being identified, to go on deck. could observe all who came on board Presently there came a gen!leman ac- companied by a very beau! [ul lady, much his janfor., Tuey immediately went below. A minute (ater three men appeared on the dock. One remained there and two boarded the v Fa- vart identified one of them i. .uitly as Degnier, a Paris detective. They spoke with an officer of the vessel and then went below. Eavart said o Emil: “That is Degnier, the Paris detec tive, We are lost. Three or four minutes passed and the two men were still below. Favart thought of some means of escape. [t was too late, The men came on deck accompanied by the gentleman already described, “Great heavens! “it 1s Jouffroy!l” His white hair had been dyed black, his eyebrows darkened, and his cheeks carefully touched up. What could it mean? vart and Emil, who gazed with fascina- ted eyes upon their former employer. As lie drew pear he fixed his eyes upon them and in spite of their disguise, JOUFFROY RECOGNIZED THEM “Favart! Emil!” he exclaimed, and paused in apparent astonishment, *‘do men?” Degnier asked > wil vs exclaimed Favart, quickly. “Know them, of course I do. They are my clerks who absconded from Paris nearly a month ago,” “You had better go with us quietly,” said Deguoier to the two ex-clerks. They offere