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Show FISHY JOB, INDEED r BUT IT PROVED UNEXPECTEDLY PROFITABLE TO CARRIER. The True Story of Adventure That Involved a Van Dyck Painting Stolen from Church at Courtral, France. "You've got an honest face, my man," remarked tho antiquary with a gonial smile, "and as carrying's your trade, I'm Inclined to offer you a Job. What do you sayt" "Depends what It Is." wns tho cautious cau-tious reply. Tho two men, an old weather-beaten carrier nnd a self-styled "antiquary," "anti-quary," met as strangers In a recreation recrea-tion hall nt Courtral. Over drinks nnd their pipes they had drifted Into confidences. confi-dences. "I want a case of valuables carefully convoyed to Ilurgcs," continued the first speaker.' "A man will bo waiting wait-ing at thb Rate of St. Catherlno to receive- It, nnd you will bo well paid for your trouble." Tho carrier ncccptcd tho commission commis-sion with alacrity, but his heart mis-gave mis-gave him somewhat upon certain conditions con-ditions of transport being shortly divulged. di-vulged. Tho packago wns not to bo called for, but, In tho early, dark hours of a January morning, It was to bo brought to him at soma cross-roads outsldo tho town of Courtral. "A fishy Job," reflected tho carrier on his way home. IIo kept tho tryst, howovcr, and w.lted long In tho chill gloom before the welcome, sound of steps nnd wheels preceded tho arrival of a man with a hand-barrow, who, stopping beside him, apologized first for tho delay, and then for the fnlluro of the nntlquary himself to keep tho appointment. appoint-ment. Having nsslstcd In hoisting tho pnekngo, which wns ten fcot long, round, nnd thlckfy wrapped In sackcloth, sack-cloth, Into the cart, ho paid tho feo In advance, onco moro ropentcd that the consignee, a rich collector of antiquities, an-tiquities, would bo waiting nt tho aforo-said aforo-said St. Catherine's gate, and, bidding farewell to tho carrier, trundled Ills .harrow In ono direction as tho cart Jolted off In another. The old horse, stilt and sleepy nttcr Ills long wait In tho chilly nlr, wns hustled along In a quito unaccustomed manner, nnd presently enst a shoe. "Moro haste, worse speed," quoth the carrier. In tlmo a blacksmith's forgo was reached, another long pauso ensued whllo n new shoe was fashioned nnd (lttcd, nnd the two men chnttcd. Naturally, Natur-ally, tho subject was that of tho parcel, about which hung now an nlr of mystery. mys-tery. "Seems a bit queer, don't yo think?" Inquired tho carrier, with the usual elucidating scratch of tho head. "Queer! I believe you," replied the smith, who, having completed his task, released tho horso's foot, and then straightening his bnck, winked nt his companion. "I say, lot's havo a smell at It." "Eh?"-grunted tho uncomprehending uncompre-hending carrier. "A smell at It. A feel of It, It that suits you better." "What? Open tho parcel?" "Certainly. Why not?" Unrolling a largo canvas upon which appeared the llgurcs of Christ The Two Men Inspected the Package, nnd of Soldiers, they had no dlfllculty In recognizing from n description tho famous painting by Van Dyck, stolen from tho church of Notro Dnmo nt Courtral six weeks back. Thoy at onco sent messcngors both to Courtral ond llurgcs, and that ovcnlng waited In Joyful anticipation 04 tho promised rownrd of 800 to tho finder of tho celebrated picture |