Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-12-29

| WITH shifting eyes. and lodged dow
the hall. glad TO escape such a pierre
ing inquisition.
Chaudron saw that Fitz was drum
ming on the table; he looked puzzle.
and disappointed
Where is that old porterr' Fit.
locked up. tell him 20 cone here"
"Hip1eeti Hip'leet." Victor shout
ed from the balcony. Come here: ?.
| Monsieur Fitz wish TO see YOU"
Hippolyte came round The curvinf
balcony. holding back at every ste
as II some one behind were shown
him on. When he saw Fitz sitting a
the table. and no one else in the room
he stopped entirely.
Come in, Old man" the thin liz.
called from tho table. HippoIyt,
dropped his cap on the floor am
glanced apprehensively behind hin
when Victor closed the door. shuttiur
him in with that pair OF eyes that
bored him through and through.
Chaudron. Vance and Labouiss,
talked in the hall until they hear6
Fitzgerald shove back his chair. Hip
polyte appeared in the door. much re
lteved. and Fitzgerald followed him.
Can't get a thing out Of these PEG
ple.' he whispered to Chaudron
They say positively that those two
young ladies came to the house alon
Mr. Labouisse." he spoke aloud. and
oeckoned TO Victor that It was his
turn.
It seemed to those outside that Fitz-
gerald questioned Victor Labouisse a
much shorter time than he had either
or the others. Then Fitz opened the
door himself. and marched out. abrupt
and decided.
Mr.. ChaudrOn. I'm going TO search
this house. Just TO satisfy myself and
the young ladies. The sooner it's
done. the better I'll have a house
fun OF men here in ten minutes"
And you have learned nothing?"
Fitz shook his head
Felix Chaudron called woodford
Vance aside. These girls ought not
to stay here" he said. This thing
IS getting serious. and there's no tell
ing what we may find I'm going 10
telephone my mother to come and
take them 20 our house"
For hours and hours. as It seemed
to Alice and Anita. men went tramp
ing through the hotel. slamminc doors
ana making great noise. Alice
threw herself across the bed and
listened. Every few moments AZ
some unusual sound. she sprang up|
eNpectantly. but dreading TO ask what
had happened
FOR halt an hour Anita stood lean
ing against the window. looltine, ont
upon the prim old Creole garden vvitb
the high wall around it. II was N
par narous-lookng wall. with broken
bottles sunk I'm the cement on IFS Ton
Gaping the bricks with Jagged splkes
or GLASS. or course. nobody co,,ls
climb such a wall as that
She saw several men ont .be-e
casey, Chaudrou and Vance thrasbf,~
about among The shrubborv. polxin-
INTO the tangled honcvsuckles search.
ing everywhere. Anita. terror-striolr-
On. watched the men pulllnr aside
the vines aud pcering into those damn
DARK corners. What could they ex-
pect 70 hnd2 she kept her fascinated
eyes upon them and could not turn
away. Then they all came in: thew
"au ulh'oNereQ nOfhiEH.
Presently someone knocked Che
and Alice rushed 90 the door toretber
IL was Vance and Cheudron. Both
men were dusty and covered with
spider webs from their search in gar.
den and garrett Both looked very
grave
Miss Cameron" said Vance. Won
can't stay here tonight. Mr.. Chan.
dron has telophoned his mother. She
is on her way 20 take You and Miss
Ashton 10 her house"
NO. no" Alice protested: Il don't
want 70 so; want 10 stay here. II
would be doserting mother"
But you can't help her"
I don't care; won't go-I won't.
Leave her 20 me" Anita whis.
pered We will go: OF course we
cannot stay here"
IL must have been about two o'clocl,
in the afternoon when Mrs. Chan.
dron's carriage stopped IN front OF the
Hotel Louis le Grando, and Mrs. Chau-
dron stepped out--a dark little lady
who had once been very beautiful
Her son hurrledly explained To her
what had happened.
Where are the poor little dears7~
she asked; and he led her to them.
ChsudIon left bis mother alone with
the girls. In few moments Anita
opened the door and handed out her
baggage to Woodford Vance.
Put the. in the carriage" she wills
psred: Alice viii be ready. We are
trying 20 persuade her to go quietly"
Alice developed more OF her moth.
r's determination than one might
have suspected: Mrs. chaudron and
Anita were quite little while N over.
SEEMING IL. Presently they emerged
nom the room and came slowly
through the hall. Alice made no re- |
sAAtsnee until she came to the door
with the broken knob.
oh. | don't want to go-I don't
want 20 go. she cried. and held back.