The Red Cloud chief., 1905-12-29

mCnt at leisure. and he consented to
drink a glass Of wine with me. l had
ordered the SUPERIOR"
you have lodgings To let, l suppose,
on the floors abovct" | questioned.
He squintod at me through his glass,
trying with French shrcwdneSs to read
me before answering.
"Why, yes, we have lodgings. Still, a
man OF mousieur's habit would scarce
ly wish
The habit does not always gauge
the'purse." l pointed out.
THAT Is true" he smiled, slipping his
wine. Monsieur then wishes II lodg-
ing?"
II should like to look at yours
"You understand. monsieur lie OK
planned. that this Is II good quarter,
and our rooms are not at all the ordi-
mar rooms. oh, no; they are quite SUI
periur to that. They are in great de
mand. We have only one vacant ut
this moment. In fact, l am not certain
that it Is yet at liberty. I will call my
wife"
She was summoned from behind the
counter. where she presided at the
money drawer, and presented to me as
Nine. Jourdain. filled Il glass for
her.
Monsieur, here, is seeking n lodg-
ing" he began. els the one on the
second floor back at our disposal yet,
Celie?"
His wife pondered the question IL
xon,,A,t lnol,tn~ nf M ,,.itI cl,nr,N Iit-
tie eyes.
II do not know" she said ut last.
1--WE shall have TO ask NJ. Bethune. He
said he might again have need Of It.
He has paid for it until the 18th"
My heart lcaped ut the name. | saw
that ! must take the bull by the horns
assume n bold frontier If they waited
to consult my pursuer l should never
gain the information l was seeking.
ut was through NJ. Bethunc that l
secured your address," l said boldly.
"He was taken i'll this morning. His
heart, you know" and | tapped my
chest.
They nodded, looking Mt me. never
theless, with eyes narrow with sus.
picion.
Yes, monsieur. we know said
Jourdain. "The authorities at the hos
pital ut once notified US"
ut is not the first attack ! assert
ed. with n temcrity born Of necessity.
ale has had others, but zone 81 serl-
Gus as this"
They nodded sympathetically. Plain
ly they had been considerably impress
ed by their lodger.
49," i continued b%razenly, ''he
knows at last that his condition Is very
bad, and he wishes to remain at the
hospital for some days until he has
quite recovered. In the meantime
am to have the second floor back, which
was occupied by the ladies'"
| spoke the last word with seeming
nonchalancc, without the culver Of a
lash, though | was inwardly a-quake,
FOR l was riSking everything upon It.
Then in an instant | breathel more
freely. I saw that | had hit the mark
aud that their suspicious were gradual.
~ growing less.
"They, of course, are not coming
back" | added, lat least not for IA
long time. SO he has no further use for
the room. This is the fourteenth. l can
take possession tomorrow"
They exchanged Il glance, and Nine.
JOurdain arose.
VERY well, monsieur" she said.
"Will you have the kindness to come
and look ut the room?"
! followed her up the stair, giddy ut
my good fortune. She opened Il door
and lighted Il gas jet against the wall.
IL am sure you will like the apart.
ment. mOnSiucr," she said. "You see,
1t is a very large one and most com
Portable"
1t was indeed of good size and well
furnished. The bed was in a kind of
looked for luxury! One thing. however.
struck me as peculiar. The windows
were closed by heavy shutters, which
were barred upon the inside, and the
bars were secured in place by pad
locks.
] remarked. ado you always keep
them barred?'
She hcsltatcd n moment, looking n
little embarrassed.
"Hou see, monsieur, It Is this way
she explained at last. M. Bethune
himself had the locks put on, for he
feared that his poor sister would throw
herself down into the courtyard, which
Is paved with stone and where she