Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-10-23
CHAPTER ".

NJ. Desbriere now began the inyesti-
cation. He questioned the porter and
FORTRESS, while he studied the salon In
detail. Bernardet 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 accused of something.
"Oh, NJ. lie Commissaire, a very
worthy man, I swear it,"
The best man in the world" added
his wife, wiping her eyes.
Il am 10 inquiring about his moral
qualities" M. Desbriere said. What
/ want to know is, how did he live and
whom did he receiver"
Few people. Very few" the porter
answered. THE poor man liked soli-
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 I'm his
rooms, with his pictures and books.
The porter was much astonlshed at the
numbe of pictures and volumes which
the new Iodger brought. 1t took a long
time 10 settle. as NJ. Revere was very
fastidious and personally superintend-
I'd the hanging of his ~anvasse and
the placing of his books. He thought
that he must have been an artist, al
though he said hat he was a 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
the contrary, but plainly he Stunned
the world. He had chosen their apart
ment because ii was in a retired spot
far from the Partisan b~oulevards. Four
or five years before a woman, clothed
in black, had CONF there-a woman
who seemed still young. He had not
seen her face, which was covered with
a heavy black veil She had visited
NJ. Revere quite 'ften. He always ac-
companied her respectfully to the door
when she went away. once or twice
he had gone out with her in a car
riage. No, he did not know her name.
NJ. Rovere's life was regulated with
military precision. He usually held
himself upright. or 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, ne shut himself up in his Ii
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 s~ojourn at AiX-les-Bains for his
health. The n~eighbors mad at once
noticed the effect produced by the cure.
When he went away he had beer
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 mis-
doctor. and spending whole days In
his easy chair or upon his lounge,
while Nine. Moniche read the daily
papers to him.
When / say that he saw no one
said the porter. II make a mistake.
There was that gentleman"
And he looked at 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.