The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1907-03-28
The Holiday Case
BY BURTON E. STEVENSON.
Copyright. 1903 by Henry Holt & Co -.--

BY BURTON E. STEVENSON.

in one moment" he said. You will
pardon me-" n he disappeared
= through the doorway.
He was back almost at once with a
handful of cigarots. which he placed
on the table. Then he drew up a chair
r With a little deprecatory gesture, he
used n Of my matches to light a CT
garet.
ut was truly for the gas" he said,
the cigaret!"
There was something fascinating
about the man: an air Of good humor,
of comradeship. of strength. OF pur-
pose. My eyes were caught by his
stodgy, nervous hands, as he held the
match to his cigaret: then they wan
dered to his face-to the black hair
hecked here n there with gray: to
the bright, deep-set eyes. ambushed
under heavy brows; to the full lips,
which the carefully-arranged mustache
did not at all conceal: to the project
Ing chin. with its little plume Of an
imperial. A strong face n a not I'M
handsome one. with a certain look of
mastery about tt
1T is true that I need advice he
was saying, as he slowly exhaled a
great puff of smoke which he had
drawn deep into his lungs. MY name
is Neutrality-suspicious. Martigny'-I
nodded by way Of salutation-"and 1
am from France, as you have doubtless
long since suspected. 1t is my desire
to become a citizen OF Amer-ric'."
How long nave you been living in
America" l asked.
Since two months only. 1t is my
intention to establish here a business
in vines"
Well" I explained. you can take
no steps toward naturalization for three
years. Then you go before a court
and make a declaration of your inten-
tons. Two years later, you will get
your papers,"
You mean" he hesitated, that it
takes SO many years
Five years actual residence-yes."
But" and he hesitated again, 81 had
understood that-that-"
That 1t was easier? There are IL
legal ways, of course; but you can
scarcely expect me to advise you con-
corning them, Mr.. Martigny."
NO; OF course, MOI" he cried hastily.
waving his hand in disclaimer. Il did
not know-it makes nothing to me-
will wait-I wish to obey the laws
He picked up a fresh cigaret, lit it
from the other n tossed away the
end.
seeing that my pipe was finished, and /
presently found myself enjoying the
best cigaret I had ever smoked. You
comprehend French-no?"
said.
Il am sorry believe you would like
this book which l am reading" and he
pulled a somewhat tattered volume
from his pocket. II nave read it, OH.
YER many times, as we'll as all he 9TH
ers-though this, OF course. is the
masterpiece"
He held it so that I could see the title.
1t was Monsieur Lecoq."
Il have read 1T in FppIish - T .o{a
"And did you not like it-yes? 1 am
yer o Of stories of detection. That
is why was so absorbed in that affair
OF Mees-Mees-ah, I have forgotten!
Y names are so difficult for me-"
Miss Holiday" I said.
All. yes; and has tina mystery ever
arrived at a ~solution?"
mo" l said. UNFORTUNATELY. we
haven't any Monsieur Lecoqs on our
detective force"
All. no." he smiled. And the young
lady-in her I conceived a great inter.
est, even though 1 did not see her-how
is she %,
The shock was a little too much for
her" / said. She's gone out to her
country place to rest. She'll soon be all
right again. I hope"
He had k a third cigaret, and
was lighting it carelessly, with his
face half turned away from me. I
noticed how flushed his neck was.
oh, undoubtedly" he agreed. after
a moment: Eat least, I should be most
sad to think otherwise. But it is late:
perceive that you are weary; 1 thank
you for your kindness"
Not at ALL" / protested. ct hone
you'll come in whenever you feel lone
ly."
"A thousand thanks, I shall avail
myself OF your invitation. My apart
ment Is Just across the hail." he added.
as opened h door. II trust to see
you there"
You SHALL" I said heartily. ana had do
him good night.
In the week that followed, / saw a
good deal OF 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 he produced two bottles Of
Chateau Yquem Of q delicacy beyond
all praise. And I grew more and more
TO like him--he told me many stories
of Paris, which, 1t seemed, had always.
been his home, with a wit to which his
slight accent and formal utterance gave
new point; he displayed q kindly In
terest in my plans which was very
pleasing. ne was always tactful. cour-
teous, good humored. He was plainly
a b~oulevardier, q man OF the world.
with an outlook upon life a little star
Ting in its materiality, but interest
Ing In Its freshness. and often amusing
in its ~frankness. And he seemed to re.
turn my Hking-certainly it was he who
sought me, not I who sought him. He
was being delayed, he explained, in es-
t~ablishing his business; he could nor
get Just the quarters he desired, but in
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