Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1907-04-20

Yes, monsieur we know" said Jour
dain. THE authorities at the hos
pital at once notified us"
1t was not the first attack | as
serted, with a temerity born of neces-
sity. He has had others, but none so
serious as this"
They nodded sympathetically. Plainly
they had been considerably impressed
by their lodger.
so" l continued brazenly, "he knows
at last that his condition is very bad,
and ne wishes to remain at the hos
| pital for some days until he has quite
recovered. In the meantime l am TO
have the second floor back, which was
occupied by the ladies'
/ spoke the last word with seeming
| nonChalance without the quiNer OF a
! lash. though l was inwardly aquake,
! for | was risking everything upon IL
| Then, in an instant, ] breather more
| freely. | saw that had hit the mark,
and that the suspicious were growing
! gradually less.
They. of course, are not coming
/ back" l added; "at least not for time
/ so ne has no further use for the room.
/ This is the fourteenth can take pos
y session tomorrow"
They exchanged a glance and Ma
/ dame Jourdain arose.
/ Very well. monsieur" she said.
"Will you have the kindness to come
and look at the room z!
/ followed her up the stair, giddy
/ at my good fortune. She opened a
! door and lighted a gas jet against the
wall.
Il am sure you viii like the apart
ment monsieur she said. You see,
it is very large one and most
| comfortable"
1t was indeed, of good size and well
/ furnished. The bed was in kind OF
! alcove, and beyond il was bath-un-
/ looked fer luxury one thing how
! ever, struck me as peculiar. The win
dows were closed by heavy shutters,
/ which were barred upon the inside, and
| the bars We're secured in place by
/ padloCks.
! Il shall want to open the windows
1 remarked. do you always keep
/ them barred?'
She hesitated a moment, looking a
/ little embarrassed
You, see, monsieur, it is this way
! she explained at last Monsieur Be
thune himself had the locks put on
for he feared that his poor sister
would throw herself down into the
/ courtyard, which is paved with stone,
/ and where she would certainly nave
been killed She was very bad some
. days poor dear. | was most glad When
/ tEev took her away, for the thought
Of her made me nervous. l will I'm the
/ room well for you
THAT viii do nicely" l assented as
/ Carelessly as l could. / knew that /
/ had chanCed upon new developments
though | could not i'm the least guess It's
bearing. What do you ask for the
. apartment"
Ten dollars the week monsieur"
she answered, eyeing me narrowly.
| knew 1t was not worth so much
and, remembering my character, re-
/ pressed my first inclination to close the
bargain
tantly Haven't you cheaper room,
Madame Jourdain?"
his is the only one we have now
vacant. monsieur" she assured me.
I turned back toward the door with
a little sigh
Il fear | cannot take it, / said.
Monsieur does not understand she
protested. That price OF course in
cludes breakfast
And dinner?"
She hesitated cycling me again.
For one dollar additional it shall in
, clu4e dinnerA
'Done, madame!" / cried. pay
you for a week in advance and l
suited the action to the word. only"
| added, "be sure to air the room well
tomorrow, IL seems very close. Still
Bethune was right to make sure that
his sister could not harm herself"
Yes" she nodded, placing the money
carefully In an old purse with the true
miserly light In her eyes. "Yes-she
broke down most student was the
departure of her mother, you know,
monsieur
i nodded thoughtfully.
when they first came, six weeks
ago. she was quite well. Then her
mother a position of some sort secured
and went away she never left her
room after that just sat there and
cried. or ratified at the doors and win
dows. Her brother was heart broken
about her-uo one else would he per-
nit to attend her, but / hope that she
Is well now, poor child, for she Is again
with her mother"
Her mother came after herr"
asked
"Oh, yes; ten days ago and together
they drove away. BY this time they
are again in the good France"
/ pretended to be inspecting a ward
robe, for / felt sure my face would
betray me- AT a flash | saw the whole
story There was nothing more Ma
dame Jourdain could tell me.
Yes" | assented, steadying my voice
'the good France
Monsieur Bethune has himself been
absent for week." she added, 'on
affairs OF business He was not cer-
tain that he would return, but he paid
us to the fifteenth"
nodded. Yes; tomorrow will
take possession then"
Very well, monsieur, she asented
will have ii In readiness.
For an instant l hesitated. ShoulS ]
use the photograph? Was II neces-
sary? How explain my possession Of II z
Did | not already know all that Ma
dame Jourdain could tell me? turned
to the stair
Then l must be going" l said; Il
have some business affairs to arrange '
and we went down together
The place was filling up with a molly
crowd OF diners, but / paused Only 70
exchange a nod with Monsieur Jour
dain, and then hurried away. The fugi-
tives had taken the French line OF
course, and | hastened on to the foot
Of Morton street, where the French
line pier IS. ship was being loaded
for the journey out, and the pier was
still open. A clerk directed me tC
; the sailing schedule, and glance at il
confirmed my guess. At ten o'clock
on the morning Of Thursday April 3
{ La Savoie had sailed for Havre.
May l see La Savoie's passenger
list?" / asked.
! Certainly, sir" and he produced it.
] / did not, of course expect to find
D Miss Holiday entered upon it, yet
felt that a study OF II might be re-
J paid and / was not mistaken. Mrs
G.. Il. Folsom and two daughters had
, occupied the cabine de luxe, 1896 43S
!, 440: on the companys list. which had
: been given me, ] saw bracketed after
the name OF the youngest daughter the
! single word "invalide.'
La Lorraine sails day after tomor-
{ row. l believer" / asked.
d Yes, sir"
, and is she full?"
: "No sir; ii is a little early in the
season yet" and he got down the list
of staterooms, showing me which We're
vacant. | selected an outside double
! one, and deposited half the fare II
order to reserve ii.
There was nothing more to be done
that night, for a glance at my watcf
showed me the lateness of the hour
. AS ] emerged from the pier. / sudden