Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-12-13

f.sggTT7zZl couch at the morgue. bid
ts.sAs.V the thousands Of people
fled past it not one could give a sill
clew to its identity.
Public interest waned and dwinI
and passed on to other things. II
with me, living at the very scent
the crime, it faded in an astonis|
way; 1t no longer occupied
thoughts. Over my evening pipe it
not The details Of the mystery |
jured up, but vision Of dark fad
An Inquiry of the ianitor develd
the fact that It was my neighbors,
and Mrs. Tremalnc, whom | had
that evening as | left the clevJ
They had the apartment just across
hall from mine, and / had thought
course, that l must meet them
quently, but three days had passed.
! had caught not glimpse of tn
their hours for coming and Il
seemed radically different from mil
| heard the sudden opening OF q
a scream, shriIl. full Of terror.
Rarely have | been so startled
was by that voice. In an instant |
in the hall. A red light strea
through the open door Of the apartr
opposite, silhouetting a woman's I'D
staring, with clasped hands.
l sprang past her, pulled down
burning curtains and threw them
the hall, where Higgins, who had
up the stairs, stamped out the fla|
The room was full OF smoke, ID
was evident that the fire had sprea
farther. / opened the window and
smoke was whirled away.
"Ah. bon die." cried Mrs. Trem
in a queerly broken but very char,
mixture of French and English. "
4 chance! What good fortune that
were Ia your room. n 'sieur"
She had closed the window wi
nervous SILVER at the cold and
stepped back into the full lgt
fairly gasped as ! looked at
/ Charming she had been gowned
cording to the New York fashion;
she was radiant in costume W
| gorgeousness seemed just the Sc
her beauty needed. At the nome
completely dazzled me. but l was
| afterward, In a calmcr mood
analyze 1.-THE crimson petticoat
embroidered chemise with its fold
fold of lace, showing through the s
shoulder scarf; the necklace of
beads aud bracelets, studs. brooc
what not. The sight OF Higgins s
ing staring at this vision with
mouth brought me 10 my senses.
Il am very happy to have been t
madame" I said, and started to-
the door.
"But you will not 60" she prote
"M'sleur Tremaine will be here
moment. He will desire to thank
The words We're accompanied
smile there was no resisting. l f,
ed, stopped.
Higgins was still staring from
hall Mrs. Tremainc stepped for
and calmly shut the door in lis fl
In that instant a quick shlver
through me. as though I had
suddenly imprisoned with wild
"a shiver that had in il sone
fearfully delightful. And let me
here that the emotion which Cet
for SO / came TO know her-raisC
me was not in the least admlratl,
the ordinary sense of the term,
rather an oyerpOwering iascini
such as one sometimes feels in W
Ing a magnificent t. ;ress pacing
and forth IN her cage. Such, be
was the feeling she inspired in
men. even in Tremaine himself.
She smiled ar me again as she s
past NE 10 Il couch in one corner
sank upon it.
sit. II sieur,' she said. and mC
ed ne to II chair close at hand. Il
very lonesome. ! was weary of
ing 10 my own body"
cannot reproduce the soft oil
she spoke. Any effort TO do so II
ii appear erotesque, so shall not
AT first it puzzled me occasionally
soon came to understand her
fectly.
80 was l." I said, smiling al
quaint expression. II was gro
very sick of my own body. Have
been in New York long,"
Less than month, II sieur; a
do not like it. 1t is too cold, too q
"Ah, you have come in bad Il
l said, wondering at her almost {
ish expression Of misery. wait
June. Then you will see!"
June, All, we shall not RENAL
long-i at least. | have promise
stay one month longer, but more
that-impossible'
She reached out and TOOK up
rette from pile which lay on Ia
beside the couch.
At was thus the curtains eau
she laughed. and. after Whit or
flung the still blazing taper ovel
shoulder. "Pouf, And they wer
In flame. A moment before l
longing for excitement, any e,
ment whatever, but thar sudden
Of fire frightened me. rushed
cried for help, and" she finished,
charming little gesture, spoiled
smoke. Try one of these"
There WAS no resisting her. II
like playing with fire. took
rette and lighted It.
AT Fond Core there was mu
do" she continued, with little
Here there is nothing but to 81