Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-04-27
CHAPTER IN (Continued).

III kIlC hCCh l1dl 4OllOWCO 1 onW q
good deal Of Martigny. l would meet
him on the stairs or in the hall. BE
came again to see me, and returned
his visit two nights later, upon which
occasion he produced two bottles Of
Chateau YQuem of a delicacy beyond
all praise. And grew more and more
to like him. He told me many stories
of Paris. which, 1t seemed, had always
been his home, with a wit to which
his slight accent and formal utterance
gave new point; he displayed kindly
interest in my plans which was very
pleasing; he was always tactful. cour-
tcous, good humored. He was plainly
with an outlook upon life little star
ting In its materiality. but interesting
in its freshness and often amusing In
its frankness. And he seemed to re-
turn my liking-certainly it was Re
who sought ME, not l who sought him.
He was being delayed, he said, in es-
tablishing his business; he could not
get Just the quarters he desired, but
In another week there would be place
vacant. He would ask me to draw up
the lease. Meanwhile time hung rain.
er heavily ON his hands.
Though do not quarrel with that"
he added. sitting in my room one even
ing; 1T is necessary for me that
take life easily. have a weakness of
the heart which has already given
me much trouble. Besides, have your
companionship. which is most vel.
come. and for which I thank you. ]
trust Mees-Mees-what you call-Hol-
laday Is again we'll"
I'VE haven't heard from her." said.
"She is still at her place In the coun-
try"
'Oh, she is doubtless well-in her I
take such an interest-you will par
don me II weary you"
Weary met But you don't!'
Then l will make bold to ask you
have you made any-what you call
theory Of the crimeT
mo-" answered-''that Is, none be.
yond what was in the newspapers-the
illegitimate daughter theory. I suppose
you saw 1t. That seems to At the case"
He nodded meditatively. Yet like
to imagine how NJ. Lecoq would ap.
proach 1t. Would he believe It was q
murder simply because it so appeared!
Has it occurred to you that Mees Hol-
laday truly might have visited her IA.
Their and that his death was not a muir.
der at all. but an accident?"
IAN accident2" I repeated. "How
could 1t be an accident? How could a
man be stabbed accidentally in the
neck? Besides. even II 1t were an &C
cident, how would that explain his
daughters rushing from the building
without trying to save him, without
giving the alarm? II it wasn't a muir
der. why should the woman, whoever
she was. be frightened? How else can
you explain her hightT'
He was looking at me thoughtfully.
"All that you say is YER true" he said.
1T shows that you have given to the
case much thought. I believe that you
also have a fOndness for crimes Of
mystery" and he smiled at me. lis it
not so, Mistair Lester?"
II had never suspected It," laughed,
until thiS case came up, but the MI
cr0be seems to have bitten me-"
"Ah, yes" he said doubtfully, not
quite understanding.
"And I've rather fancied at times" l
admitted. that should like to take
hand at solving it-though. Of course, I
never shall. Our connection with the
case Is ended"
He shot me a quick glance, then
lighted another cigarette.
suppose 1t were assigned to you to
solve It," he asked, ''how would you
set about itT'
I'D try to find tho mysterious wo-
man."
but the police. SO I understand, at
tempted that and failed" he objected.
'How could you succeed?"
''Oh, dare say I shouldn't succeed"
I laughed. his air striking me as q little
more earnest than the occasion de-
manded. II should probably fail, Just
~ the police did"
I'm France" he remarked, 1T is
not in the least expected that men Of
the law should"-
Nor Is 1t here" explained. "Only.
OF course, a lawyer can't help it some.
umes. Some cases demand more or
less detective work and are yet too del.
icate to be intrusted to the police"
1T Is also the fault Of our police thar
1t Is too fond Of the newspapers, Of
posing before the public. 1t Is q fault
OF human nature, is 1t not?"
You speak English so well, Mr..
Martigny'" l said. that have won
dered where you learned It"
i was some years in England-the
business of wine-and devoted myself
seriously to the study Of the language.
But still find 1t sometimes very diff
cult to understand YOU Americans
you speak so much more rapidly than
the English and so much less distinct.