The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-11
CHAPTER XII. -
At the Cafe ,JOrrdain.

three blocks south of Washington
square, was a narrow, four toried-and-
basement building, Of gray brick with
battered brown-stone trimmings-at one
time, perhaps, a fashionable residence,
but with it's last vestige of glory long
since departed. In the basement was
a squalid cobbler shop, and the res
lace curtains hung at the windows,
screening the interior from the street;
but when l mounted the step to the
door and entered, I found the place
typical of its class. I sat down at one
Of the little square tables and ordered
a bottle of wine. TWAS Monsieur Jour-
dain himself who brought it; little,
fat man, with trousers very tight and
a waistcoat very dazzling. The night
trade had not yet begun in earnest, SO
he was for the moment at leisure, and
he consented to drink a glass of wine
| with mel had ordered the "supe-
rieur.' -
"You have lodgings to let, I suppose,
on the floors above9'' questioned.
He squinted at me thru his glass, try
| ing, with French shrewdness,I to read
me before answering.
why, yes, we have lodgings; STILL
ly wish-'
"The habit does not always gage the
purse l pointed out.
"That is true,' he smiled, slipping
his wine: "Monsieur then wishes a
lodging?"
.. You understand, monsieur" he ex-
planned, "that this is good quarter,
and. our rooms are, not all the ordi-
mar rooms-Oh, no, they are quite
superior to that. They are in great
demand--we have only one vacant
at this moment-in fact, I am not
certain that it is yet at liberty. I will
call my wife,
She was summoned from behind tho
counter, where she presided at the
money drawer, and presented to me as
Nine. Jourdain:: I filled a glass for her.
ing,V he began. lis the one q on lo tbe
Celie?'
II His wife pondered the question mo-
ment, looking at me with sharp little
eyes.
~ do not KNOW she said at last
We shall have to ask M.Bethune. He
said he might again have need Of it.
He has paid for it until the l5th.'
Ny heart leaped at the name. I saw
that l must take the bull by the horns
2 assume a bold front; for if thew
: waited to consult my pursuer, I shou]id
: never gain the information I was seek
; ing.
lit was thru NJ. Bethune that ga
t cured your address, I said boldly
8 she was taken ill this morning: his
t heart, your Know and I tapped my
. chest.
They nodded, looking at me, never
theless, with eyes narrow with sus
picion.
!. eyes, monsieur, we know sa;i
;, Jourdain. "The authorities at the hos
8 pltal at once notified u.s.
- 1t IS not the first attack I as
e serted, with temerity born Of neces
b sity. "He has had others, but none =,
Y They nodded sympathetically. Plainl,
they, had been considerably simpressei;
1 by their lodger. .
i 49," I continued brazenly, sch
knows at last that his condition is yer,
bad, and he wishes to remain at H.
hospital for some days until he ha
8 quite recovered. In the meantime
am to have the second floor back. who
n was occupied by the ladies..',:
r / spoke the last word with seemin
e. non1chalance, without the CULVER Of
lash, tho was inwardly a-uuake
q for 1 was risking everything upon 4
o linen, II. an instant, / breathed NOR
sAASSAysS "a W. sGuctG QdQhllt the mari
e and that their suspicious were gradua
r ly growing less. :
ls They, of course, are not comm
d5 back, T added; at least, not for q Ion
g time; SO he has no further use for til
70 room. This is the fourteenth-I "a
IS take possession tomorrow. y
p. y They. exchanged a glance, and Mn
y Jourdain arose. -
le Very well, monsieur, - she sal
= a..Wil you have the kindness to con
y and look at the room9''
=, followed her up the stair, giddy ,
~ my good fortune. She opened a dol
~ ~ and lighted a gasjet against the wa
y Il am sure you win like the apar
~ q ment, monsieur, = she said. 81 gu 1se
" it is "a very large one and most COZ
/ Portable.
~ Tt was indeed, Of good size and We
. furnished. The bed was in kind Of 3
~ cove, and beyond it was bath-u
rs looked-for luxury! One thing, zlov
M ever, struck me as peculiar. The wi
ng1 tdows were closed by heavy shutter
efr (which were barred upon the inside, al
,e- The bars were secured in place by pa
to locks.
r. I shall want to open the windows,