The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-05
[Copyricht 1885 by Irving Bacheller.1

runs this beer-shop. did you say?"
1.-The best possible. though / wouldn't
walk with her in the Bois-not for
choice. leastwise."
"Then let's get up there at once. If
Grey is in the shop, the closer the eye
we keep on it the better
He assented to this. and We went off
together in a closed cab. 1t was then
almost full dusk, and threatening for
wet night. In fact we hadn't got tO
the top of the Rue du Faubourg when
the rain began to pelt down in earnest,
the people scuttling into the cafes. and
the water flooding the cutters. When
at last our rickety old cab began to
lumber up the slopes to Montmartre,
the lamps in the streets We're dancing
before a stiff west wind, and the sky
above us was black as ink. Where
we'd got to | couldn't for the life of
me tell; but by and by Jim stopped the
driver before third-rate drinking den.
and we stepped out in a dirty street.
where the mud was almost up to our
ankles.
This is the place." said he; while 1t
rained so fast that the water began To
run off his hat. Jam your tile over
your eyes. and follow me. You Will
want a twenty franc piece to shut the
easy"
He led the way into a bit of a bar
when four or five shabby customers
were drinking beer and talking to wo-
men who matched them down to the
ankles But we weren't there more
than a moment. for after a word In
French lingo to the chap who served
the drink. we passed on to small par
lor which overlooked a bit of yard.
Here a squat little woman, who didn't
appear to have washed her face for
fortnight, was in talk with girl
who had a guitar in her hand-a poor,
who made her living. don't doubt, by
capering about before the scum in the
bar. They left off when we came In,
and then Jim fell to parleying with the
woman, and a fine noise they made
of 1t.
"She thinks you're mark said he
to me in the middle of it, "give us the
twenty franc piece. and see If that will
cool her.
l handed him over the money and
they got to work again. This time the
woman took 1t different, and when I'd
whispered to him to promise her twen-
ty francs more when we were through.
she left off talking of sudden, and
led us down some dark stairs to stink
ing kitchen. where I wouldn't have
housed dog. Two minutes after
we were out In the back yard, and she
had left us.
''Now.' said Jim. "we're the better for
wanting her. though she's a wonderful
woman when you take her right. The
fact is, she's just as crazy as the Others
about the house yonder. and Is half
afraid Of having anything to do with
us. But. she's lent me the steps, and
that's all I care crack about"
1t was raining cats and dogs now
and bitter cold. but we We're both ex-
cited by what we'd come to do. and
didn't feel 1t more than the touch of a
feather. For my part. I'd thought lit
tie of the danger up to that time. but
when ] stood out in that dark yard and
looked up to the black shape Of a win
dowless and prison-like house, l must
say that got shiver through me.
Jim" said /. "two's not many for a
job like this. Did you bring your pis-
tol?"
II did so," he whispered "you don't
find me going far without 1t In Paris.
Will you go first. or shall ~"
You CO." said I, "since you know
the way. I'm on your heels-though
what you're to see through that wall
I'd like to learn"
There's window on the lower
story" cried he, but keep your mouth
shut, and tread light
Saying this. he went up the steps,
and ! followed him. / have made II
clear, / think, that the cabaret, or
beer-shOp, of whatever you like to call
1t, stood back to back with the house
we'd come to inquire about. There
was only yard and high wall he
tween them, but at the end of this