The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-03-28

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| in one moment" he said. "You will
! pardon me" and no disappeared
through the doorway.
He was back almost nj once with n
handful OF cigarots. which he placed
on the table. Then ne drew up "A chair.
With n little deprccatory gesture. he
used n VI my matches to light a cl-
garct.
1t was truly for the gas" he said.
catching my smile: and tho gas for
the cigaret!"
There was something fascinating
about the man. an air ~ good humor.
OF c~Omradcship. of strength. OF pur-
pose. My eycs were caught by hiE
stodgy. nervous hands. as he held the
match To his cigarct: then they ran
dcrcd To his facc-to the lack hair
iiccked here n there with gray: To-
the bright. dccp-sct eyes. RInbushed
under heavy hrows. 60 tire fun lips.
which he cRrofully-arransed mustache
did not ut all conceal. To- tho project
Ing chin. with It's little plume of an
imperial. \ strong face ami n not un-
handsome one. with "A certain look %
mastery about It
1t IL true that I need advice" he
was saying. as he slowly cNhaied n
great pun 81 smoke which he had
drawn deep into his lungs. My name
- aAAA AANNe -ShNlfE Shl AlEHN -
nodded by way az salutgtion-"and l
am from France. rs you have doubtless
long since suspected. IL ~ my desire
TO become "A citizen ot Amer-ric'."
How long have You been living In
American I asked.
Since two months only. II ia ms
intention TO establish here n business
In wines"
Well" ! explained. "you can take
NO steps toward naturalization fpr three
years. Then you 20 before "A court
and make "A declaration OF your inten-
tons. Two years later. you will get
your papers"
You mean" no hesitatci. that Il
takes so many years.
Five years actual rrsidencc-ycs."
But" and ne hesitnt"d again. II had
understood that-that-"
That ~ was easier? There are H.
legal ways. OF course: but you can
scarcely expect me TO advise you o N
corning them. Mr.. Martigny."
mo: OF ourse MOI" he cried hastily,
waving his hand In disclaimer. Il did
not know-it makes nothing to me-
Will walt wish To obey the laws"
He picked up n fresh cigaret. III ~
from the other and tossed away the
end.
viii you not try one7" he asked.
seeing that my pipe was finished. and I
sS1asA NNsFNAA JUN NV
best cigarct ! had ever smoked. You
comprehend French-no7"
Not well enough to enjoy e." I
said.
II nm SORRY believe you would ike
this book which I am reading" and he
pulled n somewhat iattsred volume
from his pocket. Il ave read ~, oh.
YER many times. as well as all the 9TH
ers--though this. OF course. Is the
masterpiece"
He held u so that I could SEQ the title.
II was Monsieur Lecoa."
II have e II I'm English" said.
And did you not like it-yes7 I am
YER fond OF stories OF detection. That
In why l was so absorbed In that AFFAIR
OF Mces-Mecs-ah. I nav forgotten!
Your names are 30 difficult for me-"
Miss Holiday" I said.
"Ah. yes: and has that mystery ever
arrived ut n solution"
NO" I said. Unfortunately. we
haven't any Monsieur Lecoqs on our
detective force"
"Ah. no." no smiled. And the young
lady-in her I conceived n great inter-
est. even though did not see her-how
In shcy"
The shock was n little too much for
her" l said. shes gone out to Der
country plnce 90 rest. She'll soon be all
right again. I hope"
lie had taken n third ciyarct. and
was lighting II carclcsaly. with his
face half turned away from me. I
noticed how flushed his neck was.
"oh. undoubtedly" he agreed. after
n moment: "at least. I should be most
sad To think otherwise. But u IL late:
I perceive hat YOU are weary: I thank
you for your kindness"
Not At all" I protested. II hope
you'll come In whenever you feel lone
n thousand thanks, I shall avail
myself OF your invitation. My apart
ncnt IL just across the hall" he added.
az ] opened h door. Il trust TO see
you there"
You SHALL" ] said heartily. and babe
him good night.
In tho week that followed, I saw n
good deal % Martigny. I would meet
him on the stairs or In the hall: he
came again to see me. and I returned
his visit two nights later. upon which
occasion no produced two bottles OF
Chateau Yduem OF n delicacy beyond
all praise. And I grew more and more
TO like him-hc old me many stories
% Paris. which. II seemed. n always
been his home. with q Wit TO which his
slight accent n formal u%tterance gave
new point: he displayed n kindly In
tcrest I'm my plans which was very
pleasing. he was always tactful. cour-
tcous. good humored. He was plainly
n b~oulevardier, n man OF the world,
with al outlook upon life n little star
thing In Its m~aterlality. but Interest,"
ing I'm it's freshness. and often amusing
In Its ~frankness. And he seemed TO re-
turn my liking-ccrtainly n was ne who
sought me. not ! who sought him. He
was being delayed. he explained. I'm es-
tabllshing his business: he could not
get Just the quarters he desired. but In