The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-04-18

Oaln- Inc auInOTlIleS at INC hoS~
pital at once notified u.s. w.,
"It was not the first attack" I 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. L..
So" continued brazenly, "he knows
at last that his condition Is very bad.
and he wishes to remain at the hos
pital for some days until he has quite
recovered. In the meantime, am to
have the second floor back, which was
occupied by the ladies"
/ spoke the last word with seeming
nonchalance, without the culver or q
lash. though / was inwardly aquake;
for was risking everything upon IT..
Then, in an instant, l breather more
freely. I saw that had hit the mark,
and that the suspicious were growing
gradually less.
They, of couIre, are not coming
bach" !" / added = ''at least not for atimei
so he has no further use for the room.
This is the fourteenth-I can take pos
session tomorrow" 1..
They exchanged a glance and Ma
dame Jourdain arose.
Very well, monsieur" she said.
"WilI 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 gas Jet against the
wall. ...
'Ts am sure you will like the apart
ment, monsieur" she said. You see,
II Is a very large one and most
comfortable"
II was indeed, of good size and well
furnished. The bed was In a kind OF
alcove, and beyond 1t was a bath--un-
looked for luxuryl 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 were secured in place by
padlocks.
Il shall want to open the windows"
I remarked "Do you always keep
them barred?"
She hesitated a moment, looking
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 have
been killed. She was very bad some
days, poor dear. was most glad when
they took her away; for the thought
of her made me nervous. I will in the
room well for YOU"
"That will do nicely" assented as
carelessly as / could. I knew that
had chanced upon new development
though could not in the least guess It's
bearing. What do you ask Tor the
apartment?" -.
'aTen dollars the week, monsieur"
she answered, eyeing me narrowly.
knew II was not worth so much,
and, remembering my character, re-
pressed my first inclination to close the
BARGAIN.
THAT is a good DEAL" said hesi-
family. Haven't you a cheaper ROOM
Madame Jourdain" -
his is the only one we have now
vacant, monsieur. she assured me.
I turned back toward the door with
q little sigh.
'T fear I cannot take It." said.
Monsieur does not understand" she
protested. THAT price, Of course, In
cludes breakfast"
And dinner?"
She hesitated eyeing me again.
For one dollar additional 1t shall In
clude dinner" .
"Done madame!" / cried /" pay
you for a week in advance" and |
suited the action to the word. only"
added, "be sure to air the room Well
tomorrow. 1t 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 sudden--it was the
departure of her mother, you know,
monsieur" . a
/ 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--no one else would he per-
init to attend her, but hope that she
is well now, poor child, for she is again
with her mother"
"EIer 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. .l.' -.
YES" assented, steadying my voice
."the good France"
Monsieur Bethune has himself been
absent for a week." she added, ION
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;
I will have 1t in readiness"
For an instant l hesitated. Should
| use the photograph? Was Ii neces-
sary? How explain my possession of 1t
Did / not already know all that Ma
dame Jourdain could tell me? 1 turned
to the stair. .#.
Then l must be going" said; q
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 tC
exchange a nod with Monsieur Jour.
dain, and then hurried away. The fugi.
| tives had taken the French line, o.
| course, and hastened on to the foo
Of Morton street, whtre the French
line pier is. A ship was being loaded
for the journey out, and the pier wal
/ still open. A clerk directed me Il
the sailing schedule. and glance at 4
confirmed my guess At ten o'clock
on the morning OF Thursday, April
La Savoie had sailed for Havre.
May see La Savoie's passengel
list7'' asked.
Certainly. sir" and he produced It
4 did not of course. exDect to fin(