Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-12-29
DUKE OF
DEVIL
MAY=CARE
By HARRIS DICKSON
CHAPTER xIll-continued.
Author of
The Black VOLTS Breed" Etc.
~ -ss--.I4f-ss-->s2ress---
1905, by D. Appleton & Co..

parried Joes question with one of
his own: Which room do you mean?
the first door on your right as you
go into the all? There is one lady as
says it is that one, and one as says it
hain't. But 1 searched 'em hall
spent three hours yesterday in the
old mans room. Nothink there but a
lot of old shoes, old clothes, and
dirt
What arrests have you made?"
Joe asked, tersely. Chaudron took
the answer off Bakers hands:
Arrests for what? Who could we
arrest? We can't prove thing.
We've had the devil of time keep
ing it out of the papers until we could
find out enough to" Chaudron's
ideas of law were very crude, and he
soon foundered beyond his depth.
Il am going down there myself"
Joe rose abruptly and reached for his
hat Come. MIR. Baker,
"'Adn't Mr.. Chaudron better go,
an leave me bout? Not give me away
to the 'otel people?"
That's right, Joe-that's right; you
know he's staying there at the hotel
watching them
Very we'll; either one of you;
want to examine the ground for my
self"
They dropped off an Esplanade car
at the corner of Valois street, and
walked the three squares to the Hotel
Louis lie Grande. At first they passed
by on the other side; Joe wanted to
get a general idea of the locality. He
asked a number of questions about
the neighborhood; the different
houses, and who lived in them.
They came down this street in a
cab" Chaudron explained. Mrs.
Ashton stepped in the gutter as she
got out of the cab; when they reached
their room the French maid bathed
her foot"
'Is that maid here?"
Yes, but she insists that it was
one of the young ladies whose foot
she bathed-"
THE hell she does." Joe was not
usually profane. but this thing was
beginning to CRATE on his nerves.
They passed through the entry, I'M
der the staircase. and came out into
the oval courtyard.
Victor Labouisse was sitting at the
same table where he always took his
morning coffee, reading a newspaper,
and with that inevitable cigarette be-
tween his fingers. There had been no
variation in this breakfast, in the
color of his mustache, or the attitude
of his slippered foot, Tor more than
40 years.
Victor rose courteously, with scarce
ly a shade of annoyance on his face
as Chaudron presented the stranger.
Monsieur Labou;sse. this is Mr..
Baifour, from vicksburg, Mrs. Ash
m 1o.x
around"
-Certainement, re grande p1aisair,
re great honaire, Monsieur Baf1eur' -
viutor delivered one of his most or
nate bows. clapped his hands and
called. -Arthemise, Arthemise, some
coffee
Chaudron waved the hospitality
aside: Thanks, Monsieur Labonisse
we have already breakfasted. Mr.
Baifour is much troubled and wants
to look around your house?"
1t is va1cy distress, imagine moth,
ing what I think; come, Monsieur
Baffieur. | show you up re stairs
Victor talked jerkily, spattering
stream of French and English, every
inch of the way up the stairs, round
the balcony through the hall, and tc
the very rear door.
Zis.' he said s'zis is re young lady
apartment. Two gentleman from ST
Mary's parish zey take it las night Sc
soon as re young lady are gone; my
apartment ze1 nevaire Stand vacant
no. no.
Joe glanced round the very ordi
nary-iooking room, furnished il
quaint old style. There was nothing
to attract his attention. and he cam,
out again
Now let ms see the room tina
Mrs. Ashton octupied?''
Eat l do not know, Victor smile,
and showed his tobacco stained teeth
s'ze good God sbove-he know
Victor led the way to the door tina
had the broken knob.
was IFS apartment. but zis-" he fun
the door wide Open-"zis is my roer
you see. monsieur, Eat is impos
seeble-"
Monsieur I,abouisse, where doe
that door leaus' Joe pointed to tn
sliding doors which filed the wa
space on one side of the room
re mex room; it is for lodger.
lis was one day re grande salon, al
glorious. Monsieur Baffieur-nevair
open him now, zose doors"
eI-indly allow nee to look in there1
-.Ze great honafre.'' Victor tugge
1t the door. which refused to slid
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