Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-07-30
CHAPTERIL


Livingston walked rapidly three
squares, was so fortunate as TO catch a
car at the corner, and eight minutes
later was talking TO the Old man who
had charge of the building in which
Beauchampe had located himself upon
his return from Italy.
@Mr. Beauchampe does not lodge here,
sir"
but, interpOsed Livingston, hastily,
yet mindful OF what was due his elder,
Il have n distinct recollection that Mr..
Beanchampe lodged in his studio. That
was scarcely six months ago. / respect
your discretion the more so, sir, because
l am q warm friend OF Mr.. Beauchampe.
He would be glad to see me now above
all times, and II you will tell him am
here"
Il cannot tell him when he is not in
the house, sir" the old man replied,
civilly.
THAT is all right" Livingston said,
impatiently. Il understand all about it
| But l was with him early in the even
| ing, so if you just say to Mr.. Beau
Il cannot speak to him when he is not
here.
~Come, now-he has given you orders
to admit no one"
NO, sir. He has not Mr.. Beau
| champe does not lodge here"
@NOt lodge herei" exclaimed Living
ston. when did he change his lOdgings?"
Il do not remember. 1t must be about
| four or five months Yes-all of that. "
~Can you tell me where I can find
him?"
Il can direct you to his lodgings, sir
1 know very well, sir. You are his
friend. l believe. At least, Ihave heard
him speaking of yOu-he has shown me
| your writing in the Record, sir"
ayes YES said Livingston.
me, but must see Mr.. Beauchampe as
soon as possible" The old gentleman
/ was at special pains, lest the visitor and
| friend might possibly make mistake.
At least eight precious minutes were
/ lost before LivinstOn was on his way 10
/ Beauchampe's lodgings, and a good quar-
/ ter of an hour expired before he found
them.
Beauchampe's lodgings were in the
| last place Livingston would have looked
| for his friend. They were far removed
| from the thoroughfares made brisk by
| pedestrians.
The houses were shabby, many of
/ them falling into decay. Domesticity
/ prevailed, but the Odor was not always
| agreeable.
He experienced relief upon noting the
/ surroundings when he rang the bell,
/ where he was assured he would
/ find the artist He had erred twice, but
/ the proprietor of a musUy little apothe-
/ cary shop came to his relief, and pointed
| out the way for him.
The house did not look as bad as its
| neighbors. The blinds were in good re-
| pair, and the owner had repainted il
/ within three or four years.
What possessed Beauchampe to hide
| himself among these little, faded-Out
shops and dingy dwellings? They were
/ enough to give Livingston the horrors.
/
] elderly female, with her neck muffied in
a towel and wearing faded wrapper,
/ looked at the caller curiOusly.
| When the visitor made his errand
/ known. the elderly female looked slant
ingly on the floor, and without answer
ing a word, walked up the stairs facing
| him
Livingston chaffed inwardiY Was
| the woman dumb?
At the end of a period that exhausted
his patience, now well tried, she descend
| ed the stairs, and said:
"You can go up now"
Then the mysterious elderly female
/ entered door opening on the short hall,
| and Livingston realized that he had a
listener-the elderly female was on
| guard. At any other time Livingston
would have smiled; now he had serious
| business on hand.
At the head of the stairway he discOV-
| cred Il door ajar. Pushing il open, with
a resolve TO face the worst, whatever it
| might be, Livingston strobe into the
room, greeting his friend
When he was fairly in the room, speech
died on his lips. Instead of meeting a
| well-knOwn face, he found himself star
ing stupidity at young lady.
The young lady had laid aside her
| work. In her haste a basket was over
| turned, and a cascade of colors in
worsted tumbled toward him.
He stopped, lifted the basket and re-
| placed it on the table. The action gave
him time to regain his seIf-pOssessiOn.
/ The young lady said, Thank you" in
an ordinary tone, and stood waiting his
| pleasure.
Was this a wife, Livingston asked
! himself AT al events he must be dou-
! bly, discreet now. How to breach the
subject-or would he give her any ink
ling of his real errand-
| LiVingston's experience as a reporter
in days not so far distant, was worth
| something in the emergency. He con-
! cluded he would let matters drift and
trust TO chance. He said the right
thing.
- thought I would find Mr.. Beau
champe here, or 1 would not have in
| truded. ~
a thought he sent a message with
you?"
Surprise gave a new charm TO her
face. 1t was a very bright face, more
than pretty. Livingston thought she
| was beautiful.
~Has anything happened to him, Mr..
Livingstone
She advanced to him quickly, and
| searched his face in a quick. startled
way that perpleXed the visitor.
Il heard him say he was going to hear
Vittoria with yOu-it was impossible for
me TO go with him so early in the week
1 was sure he was at the theater.
LivingstOn's mind was made up before
she concluded He resolved to lie. If
the truth had to be told, Beauchampe
himself should tell it He would not
at was planned to go to the theater,
but"
What was it that deferred him?
Her clear eyes seemed to be reading
his soul She did not move a finger; she
simply looked in his eyes, waiting until
he answered.
Livingston eonghed He could not lie
10 this woman. To do so would be sac
| rilege- He eSsayed speech again, this
time more successfully.
I'VE were at the theater, but at the
! end Of the first act, which was very
short, We came out, were separated in
the crowd at the entrance, and Mr.
! Beauchampe has not shown up since. -
/ Livingston began airily, intending TO
finish with a laugh, but an exclamation
from the young lady changed the current
/ of his thoughts
@Lesliei Something has happened
/ something very serious I feel it, am
sure Of it
She clasped her hands and paced the
/ floor twice, then faced her visitor II