Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-10-16
CHAPTER /.
does Bernardet live?'

grating and the garden behind it,
The man to whom "a passerhy haC
given this information hurried ava,
in the direction pointed out. Although
gdsping for breath, he tried TO run. II
order TO more quickly reach the little
house at the end OF the passage of tn
Eiysee des Beaux Arts. This passage, q
sort of due de sac. on either side ol
which were black buildings, strange ole
houses and dilapidated |storehouses
opened upon a boulevard filled with life
n movement, with people prom
enading. with the noise of tramWays
with gayety and tight.
The man wore the dress and had the
bearing Of a workman. He was very
short, very fat, and his bald head was
barred to the warm october rain. He
was "A workman. i'm truth. who worked
in his concierge lodge, making over AND
mending garments for his n~eighborsi
while his wife looked after the house,
swept the s~taircases and complained OF
her lot.
Nine. Moniche found life hard and
disagreeable and regretted hat IT had
not given her what ii promised when,
ct Is, and very pretty, h had expect
ed something better than to watch be
side a tailor bent over his work in a
concierge's lodge. Into her life a
tragedy had suddenly precipitated
lAStlls sNiih III .NloAilOAiC oOiAd NAANeA
day something to brighten UP her af-
ternoOn. Entering a momen before
the apartment Occupied by NJ. Revere,
she had round ner lodger lying on his
back. his eyes fixed, his arms flung out,
with a cash across his throat.
NJ. Revere mad lived alone in the
house for many years, receiving a few
mysterious persons. Nine. Moniche
looked after his apartment, entering by
using her own key whenever it was
necessary, and her ledger had given her
permission TO come there at any time
TO read the daily papers.
Nine. Moniche hurried down the
stairs.
m. Revere is dead, NJ. Revere has
been murdered! His throat has been
cut, He has been assassinated!' And
pursuing her husband out of the door
she exclaimed:
The police-go for the police!'
This word police awakened in the
tailor's mind not the thought of the
neighboring commissaTy, but the
thought Of the man to whom he felt
that he ought to appeal, whom he ought
TO consult. This man was the good lit
tie NJ. Bernardet, who passed for a man
of genius Of his kind at the Surete and
for whom Moniche had often repaired
| coats and rehemmed trousers.
From the mansion in the Boulevard
de Clichy. where Moniche lived. to M.
Bernardet's house was but a short dis
tance, and the concierge knew the way
very well, as he had often been there,
but the poor man was SO stupefied. so
overwhelmed, by the sudden appear
ance of his wife in his room, by the
brutal revelation which came to him
as the blow Of a fist by the horrible
manner of NJ. Rovere's death. that he
lost his head. Mortified, breathless. he
asked the first passerby where Ber-
nardet lived, and he ran as fast as he
coul in he direction pointed out.
Arrived at the grating. the worthy
man, a little confused. stopped short.
He was very strongly moved. 1t seemed
TO him that he had been cast into the
agony Of a horrible nightmare. An as
sassination in the house! A murder IN
the Boulevard de Clichy in broad day
light. Just over his head, While he was
quietly repairing a vest!
He stood at the house without ring
ing. M. Bernardet was. no doubt.
breakfasting with his family, for IT was
Sunday, and the police officer, meeting
Moniche the evening before. had said
to him: Tomorrow is my birthday
Moniche hesitated a momen Then
he rams the bell. He was not kept
waiting. The sudden opening of the
grating startled him. He pushed back
llS uOOI anu tHl6Tcu. ne CROSSED Il III
tie court. at the end of which was a
pavilion. He mounted the three steps
n was met on the threshold by a lit
tie woman as rosy and fresh as an
apple, who, napkin in hand, gayly sa-
luted him.
"Eh, NJ. Moniche!"
1t was Nine. Bernardet, a B%urgundian
woman, about 80 years of age, trim
n ~coquettish. who stepped back so
that the tailor could enter.
What is the matter. M. M~oniche?'
Poor Moniche rolled his frightened
eyes around and gasped out, II must
speak to M. B~ernardet.'
Nothing easier" said the little
woman. M. Bernardet is i'm the gar
den. Yes, he is taking advantage of
the beautiful day. He is taking a
group
What sroup?"
You know very well photography is
his passion. Come with me"
And Nine. Bernardet pointed to the
end OF the corridor. where an omen door
gave a glimpse Of the garden at the
rear Of the house. NJ. Bernardet. he
inspector. had posed his three daugh-
tiers with their mother about a small
table. on which coffee had been served.
II had Just gone in to get my nap
KIN, when / heard you ring Nine.
Bernardet said.
Bernardet made a sign TO Moniche
not to advance. He was as plump and
as gay as his wife. His mustache was
red, his double chin smooth shaven and
rosy, his eyes had a sharp. cunning
look, his head was round and closely
cropped.
The three daughters, clothed alike In
Scotch plaid. were posing in front OF a
Photographic apparatus which stood on
a tripod. The eldest was about IL years
OF age, the youngest q child OF s. They
were all three strangely alike.
M. ~Barnardet, in honor OF his birth
day, was taking a picture of his daugh-
ters. The ferret who from morning
till night tracked robbers and MALE
factors into their hiding places was
taking his recreation In his damp gar
Gen. The sweet idyl of this hidden life
repaid him for his unceasing investiga-
lions. for his trouble M fatiguing
man hunts through Paris.
There" he said. clapping the cap
over the lens. THAT is ell. Go and
play now, my dears. l am at your SER
vice now. Moniche."
He shut up his photograph par
tus. pulling out the tripod from the
deep soil In which 1t was imbcdded,
while his daughters joyously ran to
their mother. The young girls stood
gazing at Moniche with thei great
blue eyes, piercing and clear. Bernadet
turncd to- look at him, and at once d.