The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-04-19
BY BURTON E. STEVENSON.



They nodded, looked st me, never
theless, With eyes narrow with sus-
picion.
Yes. monsieur, we know" said Jour
dain. The authorities at the hos
pital at once notified us"
1T was not the first attack" 1 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" 1 continued b%razenly, 'he knows
at last that his condition is very bad.
and he wishes to remain at the hos
ptta1 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'
1 spoke the last WORD with seeming
,nonchalance, without the culver OF a
lash, though l was inwardly aquake;
for I was risking everything upon 1t.
Then, in IN instant, l breather more
freely. 1 saw that l had hit the mark,
and hat the suspicious We're growing
fgradualy less.
They, of course, are not coming
back" l added; at least not for a time;
so he has nc further use for the room.
This is the fourteenth can take pos
session tomorrow"
They exchanged a glance and Ma
dame Jourdain arose.
Very we'll, monsieur" she said.
i<'Will you have the kindness to come
and look at the room?"
I 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 will like the apart
ynant p,orcja1,rn che said tYOlI see.
1T Is a very large one and most
comfortable.
1t was indeed, of good size and well
Furnished. The bed was in q I'll OF
Ealcove, and beyond it was a bath-un-
Hooked for luxury! One thing how
ever. struck me as peculiar. The win
ldows We're closed by heavy shutters,
which were barred upon the inside, and
the bars were secured in place by
Epadlocks.
I remarked. DO you always keep
them barred?"
She hesitated a moment, looking a
little embarrassed.
You. see. monsieur. it is this way
h explained at last. Monsieur Be
for he feared that his poor sister
would throw herself down into the
courtyard. which is paved with. stone,
and where she would certainly have
been killed. She was very bad some
days, poor dear. I was most glad when
they took her away; for the thought
of her made me I will in the
morning open the windows and air the
room we'll for you"
That will do nicely" I assented as
carelessly as 1 could. I knew that %
had CHANGED upon a new development,
though I could not in the least guess its
bearing. What do you ask for the
apartment?"
"Ten dollars the week, monsieur"
she answered. cycling me narrowly.
I n it vas not worth SO much,
and. remembering my character, re-
pressed my first inclination to close the
bargain.
That is a good DEAL" I said hesi-I
family. Haven't o a cheaper room,
Madame Jourdaip?"
'Ahis is the only one we have now
vacant, monsieur" she assured me-.
a little sigh.
II fear I cannot take It," I 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
clude dinner"
Done. madame!" 1 cried. I pay
you for a week in advance" and II
suited the action to the word. Only"
Il added, "be sure to air the room we'll;
ytomorrow. 1t seems very close. Still
iBethune was right to make sure that
his sister could not harm herself"
Yes" she nodded, placing the money
i. carefully in an old purse, with the true
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 we'll. Then her
and went away; she never left her
room after that, just sat there and
cried, or ratified at the doors n win
dows. Her brother was heart broken
about her-no one else would he per-
NIT to attend her, but l hope that she
is well now, poor child, for she is again
with her mother"
Her mother came after herr" I
asked.
"oh, yes; ten days ago and together
they drove away. BY this time, they
are again In the good France"
1 pretended to be inspecting a ward
robe, for l felt sure my face would
betray me. AT a flash 1 saw the whole
story. There was nothing more Ma
dame Jourdain could tell me.
yes" l %assented, %steadying my voice,
4the good France"
monsieur Bethune has himself been
absent for a week." she added, ION
affairs of business. He was not GER
tain that he would return. but he paid
us to the fifteenth"
I nodded. Yes: tomorrow will
take possession then"
Very we'll. monsieur" she asented;
I will have it in readiness"
!, For an instant 1 %hesitated. Should 1
use the photograph? Was it neces-
:sary? How explain my possession of it I?
Did 1 not already Know all that Ma
dame Jourdain could tell me? turned
to the stair.
Then 1 must be going.'' I said; II
have some business affairs to arrange"
and we went down together.
The place was filling up with a molly
crowd of diners. but 1 paused only to
exchange a nod with Monsieur Jour-
dain, and then hurried away. The fugi-
tives had taken the French line. of
course, and I FASTENED or to the foot
of Morton street, where the French
line pier is. A ship was being loaded
for the journey out. and the pier was