The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-10-05
TRACED In J. BLOOD
The Little Old Man Of the Batignellss.
EMILE GABoRIAU.
CHAPTER I.

When / was finishing my medical stud
ies-it WAS high time, for l was twenty
three years old lived in the Rue Mon
sieur-le Prince, almost at the corner of the
Rue Racine. There, at thirty francs a
month, attendance included, had n fur
nished room which would now be well
worth hundred; it was large that
could easily put my arms through the
sleeves of my overcoat without opening
the window.
Leaving early in tho morning to go to
my hospital, and returning very late, be-
cause the Cafe I.eroy possessed irresisti-
BILE attractions for me, scarcely knew by
sight the dodgers in the house, who were
all quiet people of independent property,
or small trndesmen. There was one, how
ever, with whom / gradually became In
innate
NJ. Mechinst was man OF middle
height, with a commonplace countenance,
always scrupulously well shaved. Tho
concierge treated him with marked con-
alteration, and never failed To hastily
raise his cap whenever he passed his
room.
As NJ. Meehinet's door opened upon a
landing directly opposite TO the door Of
my room. we often met. and on these oc-
casions were IN the habit OF bowling to
each other. One evening he came in to
E5N ASk SOAAAc IAaACncSs one nlSuI DOT
rowed some tobacco OF him; one morning
we happened TO 20 out Mt the same time
rnd walk some distance talking together.
Such were our first relations.
Without being either curious or suspi-
ctous-pSoplc are not at the age l was
then-one likes TO know something about
the persons with whom ono is acquainted.
Therefore, l naturally began-not to
watch my neighbor's life, but TO think Of
his acts and movements.
He was married, and Nine Caroline
Meehinet, n fair, plump, merry little
woman, seemed 10 worship her husband
But this husbands mode OF life Was not
very regular. He often left the house be-
fore dawn, and the sun had frequently
risen when / heard him return TO his
| domicile. Sometimes he disappeared for
weeks.
How pretty little Nine. Meehinet eoaId
| tolerate this was what could not under
stand.
In my perplexity, I thought our con-
ctcr1e, who WAS usually ~ talkativs rs a
magpie, might eniighten me.
WronEl had scarcely uttered the name
| OF Mechinet when he sent nie ab7Ut my
business, saying he WAS not in the habit
OF being = spy upon hi- dodgers.
| This reception 50 increased my c1riosI-
| ty, th5t, hanishing NIL shame, set about
watching my neighbor.
Then / discovered things that seemed
ahoIninahle.
Onco l saw him come home dressed in
| tho latest fashion, his buttonhole adorned
with ilvS or six orders. The next day but
one met him on the stairs Attirrd in u
dirty blouse and with ragged cloth,
| which gave him most sinister Expression,
] wrapped round his head.
This isn't all. One beautiful afternoon,
! - he went out, / saw his wife follow him
10 the thresl.ld, and pa-sionately en-
| brseing him, say:
| II be>eech You, MechInet, be careful;
remember your little wife"
Be careful! Why For what reason,
| What did this meant Was the wife ~
| accomplice,
Ny astonishment was soon redoubled.
was sleeping souudly one night, when
some one suddenly knocked hurriedly at
tho door.
! rose and opened #.
NJ Mechinet entered, or rather rushed
| into the apartment, his clothes torn and
disordered, his cravat and shirt crushed,
his head bare, his face covered with blood.
! 'What has happeued," IeIclainled in
| terror
He signed TO me to be silent.
Lower" he said, somebody might
=.
am suffering terribly. / thought, as you
were u medical student. you could doubt
less attend to me!''
Without saying word, l made him aft
down, hastily examined the injury, and
gave him the necessary assistance.
The wound, although il had bled freely,
was very slight. In fact, il was only a
scratch, commencing ut the left ear and
stopping at the lips.
We'll. Pm safe and sound this time" ="
said NJ. Mechinet, when the dressing was
finished. "A Thousand thanks. my dear
Monsieur Godeuil. Please say nothing
about thiJ little accident to any body, and
good night"
Good night. was very likely to sleepl
When 1 remember all the absurd ideas
,Hd romantic fsncies that passed through
my brain, l can't help laughing.
NJ. Mechinet assumed fantastic proror,
! tiOus in my mind. The next morning hs
quietly came in to thank me again, and
invited Ile to dinner.
It may he supposed that was all eyes
and ears when 1 entered my neighbor's
home. But It was in vain that my Atten-
tion was on the alert l detected nothing
calculated to disPel the mystery that so
greatly perpIexed me. From the time OF
:his dinner, however, our relations be-
came more intimate. ". Mechinet had
evidently taken Il fancy to me. A week
rarely passed without an invitation 10 eat
his soup, as he expressed it, and almost
every day he Joined me At the Cafe Leroy,
and We played = game OF dominoes to-
E-ther.
So on n certain evening In the month o,
July-one Friday about i've o'clock-he
was on the point OF beating me, when =
msn OF very shabby appearance, IL must
DO confessed, entered and whispered
I'm his ear few words did not under
stand.
NJ Mechines started up with troubled
face.
I'm CO." said he; "run and say I'll gs.'
The man set of at full speed, and my
old neighbor held out his hand TO me say
ing
Excuse me; duty first-we'n continue
our game tomorrow"
And ~, burning with curiosity,
showed great annoyance. saying how much
! regretted that could not accompany
MIN:
WELL - he muttered, "why not, Dc
you want to come. Perhaps it will be in
teresting"
Ny only reply WAS to seize my hat and
we went out.
CHAPTER II.
was certainly far from suspecting tha
Twas taking one OF those apparently in
significant steps which have n decided in
huence on the whole life
'NOw," thought, 81 shall get the ke,