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[Illustration: Poland, the Parisienne. Page 123. Frontispiece.]

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THE BILL-TOPPERS

By
ANDRE CASTAIGNE

With Illustrations
BY THE AUTHOR

A. L. BURT COMPANY
Publishers--New York

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Copyright, 1909
The Bobbs-Merrill Company

August

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TO MY LITTLE FRIENDS
THE STARS!

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THE BILL-TOPPERS

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THE BILL-TOPPERS

OVERTURE

All around stretched the great blue sky and the blue sea of the Gulf of
Bengal.

Mrs. Clifton lay dozing at full length on a pillowed bench and her husband
sat near her and followed his Lily, his daughter, with his e