Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1908-06-19
The ROupell Mystery
q r a n v IL e

you come in when it was hot? 1t was
grand then, l tell you"
The wretched mites clinging to the tat
tered skirts of their mother, moved re-
luctantly toward the door. The woman
had secured her bone. Soup in the imme-
date future was of course excellent; but
here was meat pudding being eaten under
thelr very eyes. They would have liked
to stay a while. Perhaps the workman
would have dropped some.
You are right" said the man with
the bag. These buildings are better hot.
Here little girl. Twelve lost my APP
petite"
Give it to me-" cried the gaunt wom-
an. II will divide it fairly"
No, let the children have that" re-
piled the man with the bag Cut an
other slice for madame"
The woman burst into tears. Even
the man with the cap and apron was
affected; but 1t was at the generosity of
the man with the bag.
1t was getting late. The Rue Ban
quiere was becoming deserted. The buck
sters outside had covered up their wares
and were beginning to take their depart
ure.
The man with the bag, however, still
loitered in the cook shop. He had made
few purchases, and had chatted pleas
antly with the man in the cap and apron
on the latest local sensation, a raiding
which had resulted in the death of two
officers.
mot but what it serves them right"
remarked the man with the bag. why
don't these swels of the police let Belle
vile folks alone?"
And they must have known the kind
Of place into which they were going,
added madame, speaking for the first time.
The man with the bag applauded her
sentiments. OF course they did. Madame
was a woman Of good sense. If madame
had her way, perhaps, she would have
the police let the people of Belleville
alone altogether, and never come neal
them. Madame was emphatic that she
would, ''for some of the worst of them
were her best customers" she remarked
laughing.
= II am in the door and window bust
ness" replied the man with the bag, sig
niicantly.
81 thought you were not in a straight
, line when first saw you" said the cook
l Your hands amt rough enough, and you
7 look altogether too fat. Workmen dom
-, live as you've lived"
e "Oh they feed us we'll enough wher
I've just come FROM" replied the work
man and he kept his eyes steadily fixe'
y on madam's face. 1--WE just spent fv
d years in the prisons of Toulon-why
t what's the matter, madame? You neve
y had anyone there, did you-no friend o
e yours?"
n But. madame was deadly white, an
clutching spasmodically at the greas
n counter.
: 1T is nothing" she gasped at length
!. 1T Is the heat-it isl am not wei
l. Monsieur will call again. l hope he wi
n be good customer. We have many lik
1t him."
s "And I'm all right, you know" sal
a the man with the bag. 1.-THE police can
If touch me, for I've served my time"
re He slung his bag over his shoulde
n picked up his parcels, and wishing tn
q pair good night, passed out on to I'll
E. nearly deserted street, with the hang-do
n look of man who had been hunted oftei
a and dreaded to be hunted again. II
trudged on to the top of the Rue Bal
W quiere, and gained a broader Thorough
+. fare. Immediately around the corn'
IN there was a cab in waiting. The ma
t. with the bag entered it, and raising Il
trap door in the roof, said to the sleeI
d. driver:
e. Home !" And as he ratified along {
the pavement, he said to himself: Me
ed dotti was right. The woman is undouh
It, edly Madame La Seur. OF course 81
would change her name when she ma
at rled again. How she blanched when
er spoke of Toulon. And another thing /
N. sure of: she never bought that house al
lot she owns by cutting up buildings
ne Belleyille She must be watched al
Id followed night and day."