Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1908-06-27
The Roupell Mystery
q r a n v | e

It's nearly cold now, anyway. Why didn't
you come in when it was hot? 1t was
grand then, I 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
their very eyes. They would have liked
to stay 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 ap-
petite"
Give it to me-" cried the gaunt wom-
an. IL 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 it was at the generosity of
the man with the bag
1t was getting late. The Rue Ban
quiere was becoming deserted. The huck-
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
a 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.
Not but what it serves them right"
remarked the man with the bag. "Why
don't these swells 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 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 near
them. Madame was emphatic that she.
would, for some of the worst of them
were her best customers" she remarked,
laughing.
Il am In the door and window bust
ness" replied the man with the bag sig
nifcantly.
i thought you were not in a straight
line when first saw you" said the cook.
Your hands amt rough enough, and you
look altogether too fat. Workmen don't
live as you've lived"
"Oh they feed us well enough where
I've just come FROM" replied the work
man; and he kept his eyes steadily fixed
on madam's face 1--WE just spent five
years in the prisons of Toulon-why
what's the matter, madamei You never
had anyone there, did yOu-no friend of
yours2"
But madame was deadly white, and
clutching spasmodically at ,. the greasy
counter
1T is nothing" she gasped at length.
1T Is the heat-it isl am not we'll.
Monsieur Will call again. ! hope he will
be a good customer. We have many like
him"
And I'm all right, you know" said
the man with the bag The police can't
touch me, for I've served my time"
lie slung his bag over his shoulder
picked up his parcels, and wishing the
pair good night, passed out on 10 the
nearly deserted street, with the hang-dog
look OF a man who had been hunted often,
and dreaded 70 be hunted again. lie
trudged on 70 the top of the Rue Ban
quiere, and gained a broader thorough
fare. immediately around the corner
there Was cab la waiting The man
with che bag entered IL, aud raising the
trap door M the roof said 10 the sleepy
driver
Home I" And as be ratified along on
the pavement, be said 10 himself Men
doiii was right The woman Is undouht-
eddy Madame La keur. OF course she
would change her name when she mar
ried again. How she blanched when
fpoko of Ioulou. And another ding Im
sure Of she never bought thai house and
loi she oRps by cutting up pudding NJ
ltollefiile. She must ho watched aud
followed nlghl and day"