The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-11-30

CHAPTER xx,,-con.,nusd.


CHAPTER Xxli-contlnued
"Well, I'm told so," Holt answered,
modestly. "The chief was very nice
|. about It, and so was Sir Albert. You've
seen the paper?"
Eyes. have seen it. It is very
agreeable"
Every agreeable" the sergeant as
scented. when the praise and the
pudding come together it's very sooth'
ing to the feelings. But about your
own business. Can l help you? I'm
at loose end for week."
eyes," said Ribot. There is one
way in which you can help me. want
q. quiet place, where can trust the
people not to pry or bother. I want II
to be rather a low place, because 1t
is part of my game to seem poor and
to do little."
"It's lucky you came today" Holt
answered. 1--WE 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 a rumpus, and they's got two
dodgers, our own men, too, playing as
being lockers out of work"
"That will suit to a hair" said Ri
bot. MAY l bring a portmanteau
here and make a changer"
by all manner of MEANS" his Eng
lish colleague answered.
"Then l will return in an hour, >
said Ribot. "The sooner get to work
the better"
GAIL 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 while, in a
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.
"Will this do?" he asked.
"M'm," said the sergeant, doubtfully.
You're too fresh from the barber,
and you are a lot too clean. I'll tell
you what it 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 a grimace ex-
pressive of distaste.
I NO." said the sergeant in assent.
1T amt pleasant prospect, but in a
thing like that I believe in being
thorough. This sort of thing amt in
your line, much, is it,"
"No," returned Ribot. "They have
always kept me spick and span until
now. My game is generally that of
the gentleman who is travelling upon
holiday
EYES," said the sergeant. $50 I've
always known. You're after a country.
man Of your own. of course?"
"That is so.''
''Well, you know" said the sergeant
"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 Count
/ Something Else anywhere, I should
{; fancy. That is to say, so far as am
| Judge"
M. Ribot felt genuinely fattered 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 gentlemen-in Paris,
in London, in Berlin. Broken gentle.
men are everywhere"
EYES," the sergeant assented
| "Thats right enough. But dom:
think you'd come down to a rig-out
like that and keep yourself tidy. It's
outside my experience, anyhow, and
think it would attract my notice. l,
amt your game to attract notice, sup
pose?"
NO." said Ribot. ut is not. shall
take your advice, my friend, but
shall not like it."
ooh, little dirt's all in the days
work, sometimes. worked as 8
navy once, for whole month, anl
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 h.
stared when he saw me turn up in tn,
witness box, and found out that II
been foxing round with him on bust
ness all the time"
NJ. Ribot stayed with Sergeant Hol
until that authority pronounced him Il
be sufficiently disreputable in aspect
and then, under cover Of the night
was driven to his destination. Hi
Inew quarters were comfortabl,
enough, but his fastideous taste Il
-,