The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1906-11-30
cHApTER xxlI-continued,

CHAPTER xxiI-continued.
well, I'm told SO" Holt answered,
modestly. 1.-The chief was very nice
about it. and so was Sir Albert. You've
seen the paper?'
yes have seen it. 1t Is very
agreeable"
Every agreeable" the sergeant as
sented. "When the praise and the
pudding come together it's very sooth-
ing to the feelings. But about your
own business Can | help you? I'm
at loose end for week"
Yes" said Ribot There Is one
way In which you can help me. l want
quiet place, where ] can trust the
people not to pry or bother. l want Ii
to De rather low place, because it
is part CT my game to seem poor and
to do little"
Its lucky you came to-day" Holt
answered. I've got the very thing you
want There's one of our men and
his wife have set up a lodging house
in the way of business, you understand
next door to some people whom it's
desirable to keep an eye on. When
the time comes there may be little
bit OF rumpus, and they's got two
dodgers, our own men, too, playing as
being lockers out of work"
"That will suit to hair" said Ri
bot. MAY bring a portmanteau
here and make changer"
by all manner of MEANS" his Eng
fish colleague answered.
Then l will return in an hour"
said Ribot. '"The sooner get to work
the better"
"All right! You'll find me here"
Holt answered. On this understand
ing the visitor took his leave, and, re-
turning about the time appointed, was
shown to the sergeant's bed ROOM
Thence he issued in a while, in a
check shirt and no waistcoat, shah
by and ill-fitting jacket and trousers,
and pair of thick boots with splashes
of lime upon them. He carried rag
of cap in his hand
Twill this do?" he asked.
MN" said the sergeant, doubtfully
you're too fresh from the barber
and you are a lot too clean. I'll tell
you what 1t is, Ribot; we've got a
spare room here, and if you're not in a
hurry you'd better stay here for day
or two and get properly frowsy No
razor, no bath, no brush or comb for
a couple of days. and then you'll look
the part
THAT Is not a pleasant prospect"
Ribot answered, with grimace ex-
pressive of distaste.
mo-" said the sergeant in assent.
ut amt pleasant prospect, but in a
thing like that believe in being
thorough. This sort of thing amt in
your line, much, is it?"
mo-" returned Ribot "tThey have
always kept me spick and span until
now. My game is generally that OF
the gentleman who is travelling upon
holiday
"Yes," said the sergeant. 80 I've
always known. You're after country
| man of your own, of course?"
THAT Is So"
'your accent amt bit like your get
up. You've worked up that swell
Partisan style of yours till you'd pass
for Baron Somebody or a Count
Something Else anywhere, should
fancy. That is to say, so far as am
a Judge"
M. Rlbot felt genuinely flattered by
this tribute, which was really better
deserved than the sergeant's knowl-
edge of the French language allowed
him to know.
That matters nothing" he an
swered. "a man can always have
come down in the world. There are
plenty of broken gen.lemen-in Paris,
in Londons in Berlin. Broken gentle
men are everywhere"
"Yes." the sergeant assented.
'That's right enough. But don't
think you'd come down to a rig-out
like that and keep yourself tidy. It's
outside my experience, anyhow, and l
think it would attract my notice. 1t
amt your game to attract notice, sup
pose?"
mo-" said Ribot. ut is not. shall
take your advice, my friend, but l
shall not like It,"
ooh. a little dirt's all in the days
work, sometimes. worked as a
navy once, for a whole month, and
lived in the same hut with the man
was after. Vile fellow he was, to be
sure. They hanged him at Manchester.
Lord! shall never forget how he
stared when he saw me turn up in the
witness box, and found out that I'd
been foXtng round with him on bust
ness all the time"
M. Ribot stayed with Sergeant Holt
until that authority pronounced him to
be sufficiently disreputable in aspect.
and then, under cover of the night.
was driven to his destination. His
new quarters were comfortable
enough. but his fastideous taste re-
belled against them. and he took him
self abroad at an, early hour in the
morning. ana mounted guard over a
certain house in Great Russell street.
He waited there for many dreary
- = .