The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1907-01-19
CHAPTER II.

The lights of Paris were very bright
as we drove down the Boulevard des Ca
pucines, and drew up at length at the
Hotel Scribe, which is by the opera house.
Mary uttered hundred ordinations of
lights; and Roderick, who loved Paris,
condescended to keep awake!
I'll tell you what" he exclaimed. 1.-THE
beauty of this place is that no one thinks
here, except about cooking Suppose we
plan a nice little dinner for four?"
For two, my dear fellow, if you
please" said Hall, with mock of state
he was quite the Perfect Fool again. "Mr.
Mark Strong condescends to dine with
NEEDN'T you, Mr.. Mark?'
The fact is, Roderick," l explained,
that l made a promise to meet one of
Mr.. Halls friends tonight, so you and
Mary must dine alone"
Hall and l mounted the stairs of the
cozy little hotel, whose windows overlook
the core of the great throbbing heart of
Paris, and so until we were alone in my
room, whittier he had followed me.
"Quick's the word" he said, as he shut
the door, and took several articles from
his hat box. "One pair of spectacles, one
wig, one set of curiosities to sell-do
look like secondhand dealer in odd
lots, Mr.. Mark Strong?"
l had never seen such an utter change
in any man made with such little show.
The Perfect Fool was no longer before
ne; there was in his place a lounging,
shady-looking greed-haunted Hebrew. The
Launching of the shoulders was perfect
the stoop, the walk, were triumphs.
Its five minutes from here" he said,
and the clocks are going eight-you are
right as you are, for you are a cipher
in the affair yet"
lie passed down the stairs and I fol-
lowed him. So good was his disguise and
make pretense that the others, who were
IN the narrow hall drew back to let him
go, not recognizing him, and spoke TO me
asking what l had done with him. Then
pointed to the new Perfect Fool. and
another word of explanation went
on into the street.
we walked in silence for some little |
distance. Finally he turned, crossing a |
BUSY thoroughfare and stopped quite sud |
denly at last in a narrow street. He had
to say to me.
AhAS 10 Tue pace, ne said. You carry |
this box OF metaP'-he meant the case of |
don't open your mouth. |
Keep a hold ON your eyes, whatever Won |
zee or whatever you hear. Do l look all |
'ight?"
Pertectly-but just a word: if we are
,oing into some den where we NAV have
difhculty In getting out again. wouldn't
De as well to go armed?"
Armed !-pish !'-and he looked un-
llteraDle contempt, treading the passage
with long strides, and entering a house
t the far end of 1t.
Thither l followed him and found nv
elf at last on the third floor, before a
oor of thick oak. Our first knock;pg
lpon this had no effect. Then | heard
great rolling voice which seemed to echo
IN the stairway, and SO leapt from flight
o flight, almost like the rattle of a can
ION shot with its many reyerberations.
For the moment indistinct, then be-
anne aware that the voice was that of a
nan singing and walking at the same
line.
When the noise stopped at lest, there
vas silence, complete and unbroken. Hall
'tood motionless. After that we heard
great yell from the same voice. with
ne words, Alloy, Splinters, shift along
he gear. will your" A mumbIed dis
ussion seemed to tread on the heels of
he hullabaloo, when, apparently having
Irranged the gear" to satisfaction. the
nan stalked to the door.
"Hullo-the little jew and his kick
'haws; why, matey, so early in the morn
ngY
The exclamation came as he saw MS.
quitting his head round the door. and
moving one arm swathed all up in dirty
ed flannel. He was no sort of a man
o look at, for his head was a mass of
lirty yellow hair, and his face did not
eem to have known an ablution for a
week. But there was an ugly jocular look
bout his rabbit-like eyes, and a great
mark cut clean into the side of his face,
which were a fit decoration for the red
'urnt, pitted, and horribly repulsive coun-
enance he betrayed. looked at him
nd drew back repealed. This he saw,
nd with a flush and a display Of ous
'reat stump of a tooth which prx.rud1d