The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-10-22
APT w.

NJ. Desbriere now began the investi-
cation. He questioned the porter and
Fortress, while he studied the salon in
detail. B~ernardet roamed about, exam
lining at very close range each and
every object In the room as a dog
shifts and scents about for a trail.
What kind OF a man was your
lodger?" was the first question.
Moniche replied in a tone which
showed that he felt that his tenant
had been accuLe+ Of something.
"Oh, M. lie Uommissaire, a very
worthy man. 1 swear it,"
THE best man In the world" added
his wife. wiping her eyes.
Il am not iRquiring about his moral
qualities" NJ. Desbriere said. What
l want to know is, how did he live and
whom did he receiver"
Few people. Very few" the porter
answered. The poor man liked soil
tude. He lived here eight years. He
received a few friends; but, l repeat,
a very small number"
Mr.. Revere had rented the apartment
In 1888. He installed himself in his
rooms, with his pictures and books.
The porter was much astonished at the
number OF pictures and volumes which
the new ledger brought. 1t took a long
time to settle, as M. Revere was very
fastidious and personally superintend-
ed the hanging of his and
the placing of his books. He thought
that he must have been an artist, al
though he said that he was G retired
merchant. He had heard him say one
day that he had been consul to some
foreign country-Spain or South Amer
lea.
He lived quite simply, although they
thought that he must be rich. Was he
a miser? Not at all; very generous, on
tho pnnfra nv HIT n1nin1u he eh,,n-nl
the world. He had chosen their apart
ment because 1t was in a retired spot.
far from the Partisan boulevards. Four
or five years before a woman, clothed
in black, had come there--a oma
who seemed still young. He had not
seen her face, which was covered with
a heavy black veil. She had visited
companied her respectfully to the door
hen she went away. Once or twice
he had gone out with her in a car
riage. No, he did not know her name.
M. Rovere's life was regulated with
military precision. He usually held
himself upright. OF late sickness had
bowed him somewhat. He went out
whenever he was able, going as far as
the Bots and back. Then, after break
fasting, he shut himself up in his IL
brary and read and wrote. He passed
nearly all OF his evenings at home.
He never made us wait up for him,
as he never went to the theater," said
Moniche.
The malady from which he suffered
and which puzzled the physicians had
seized him on his return from a sum-
mer sojourn at Aix-les-Bains for his
health. The neighbors had at once
noticed the effect produced by the cure.
When he went away he had been
somewhat troubled with rheumatism,
but when he returned he was a con-
firmed sufferer. Since the beginning
Of September he had not been out,
receiving no visits, except from his
doctor, and spending whole days In
his easy chair or upon his lounge,
while Nine. Moniche read the daily
papers to him..
when l say that he saw no one"
said the porter, II make a mistake.
There was that gentleman"
And he looked Ut his wife
What gentleman"
Nine. Moniche shook her head, as II
he ought not to answer.
"Of whom do you speak? ?" repeated
the commissary. looking at both OF
them.