The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-10-16
CHAPTER i.
Where does Bernardet live?'

M the passage TO the right. Yes,
that house which you see with the
grating and the garden behind It,"
The man to whom a passerby had
given This information hurried away
In the direction pointed out. Although
gasping for breath, he tried to run, in
order to more quickly reach the little
house at the end Of the passage of the
sort of due de sac. on either side OF
which were black buildings, strange old
houses inc dilapidated storehouses,
opened upon a boulevard filled with life
and movement. with people prom
enading, with the noise of tramways,
with gayety n light.
The man wore the dress and had the
bearing of q workman. He was very
short. Very fat. and his bald hea was
barred to the warm October rain. He
was q workman. in truth. who worked
in his concierge lodge, making over and
while his wife looked after the house,
swept the %staircases and complained of
her lot.
Nine. Moniche found life hard and
disagrecable and regretted that it had
not given her what it promised when,
at IL. n very pretty. she had expect
ed something better than to watch be-
I IA tailor bent over his work In a
concierge.s lodge. Into her life a
tragedy had suddenly precipitated
itself. and Nine. Moniche found that
day something to brighten up her af-
the apartment Occupied by NJ. Revere.
she had Aound her lodger lying on his
back. his eyes fixed, his arms flung out.
With n gosh across his throat.
NJ. Revere had lived alone in the
house for many years. receiving a few
mysterious PERSONS. Nine. Monicle
cooked after his apartment, entering by
using her own key whenever it was
necessary. and her ledger given her
permission torcome there at any time
to read the daily papers
Nine. Nonlclle hurried down the
stairs.
m. Revere is dead! M. Revere has
teen murdered! His throat has been
cut! He has been assassinated!" And
pursuing her husband out OF the door
h exclaimed:
THE police-go for the police!"
This word police" awakened In the
tailOr's mind not the thought Of the
neighboring commissary. but the
thought of the man to whom he felt
that he ought to appeal, whom he ought
to consult. This a was the good lit
tie M. Bernnrdet, who passed for a man
Of genius OF his kind at the Surete and
For whom Monicne had often repaired
coats and rehelnmed trousers.
From The mansion in the Boulevard
de Clichy. where Moniche lived. to M.
,oGlliAINCl = HOUSE WAS UuL Il snort OlS-
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
ahce 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 M. Rovere's death. thai HI
lost his head. Mortified, GREATNESS. he
asked the first passerby where Ber-
nardet lived. II he ran as fast as hi
could in the direction pointed out.
Arrived a the grating. the worthy
mar a little confused. stopped short.
He was very strongly moved. 1t seemed
to him that he had been cast Into the
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 asyest!
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"
MOnfche hesitated n moment. Then
he rang the bell. He was not kept
waiting. The sudden opening OF the
grating startled him. He pushed back
thesdoor and entered. He crossed n lit
t.e court. at the Of which was a
pavilion. He mounted the three steps
and was met on the threshold by a lit
tie Oman as rosy and fresh as an,
apple. who. napkin in hand, gayly sa-
luted him.
Eth. NJ. Moniche!"
1t was Nine. Eernardet, a Bursundia,
oman about 30 years Of &c. trim,
n coQuettish. who stepped back 50
that the tailor could enter.
What is the matter. NJ. Moricheo"
Q Moniche rolled his frightened
eyes around and gasped out. II must
speak TO NJ. Be%rnardet."
Nothing easier" said the little
oma M. Rernardet is in the gar
den. Yes. he is taking advantage of
the beautiful day. He is taking a
GROUP
What rroup?"
You know Very we'll Photography Is
his passion. Come with me-
And Mnae. Fernardet pointed to the
e'd OF the corridor. where an open doc,
gave q glimpse of the garden at tn,
rear OF the house. NJ. B%ernar6et. the
Inspector. had posed his three daugh-
ters with their mother about a small
table. on which coffee had been served,
II mad Just gone in to get my nan.
kin. when heard you rirg," Nine
Bernardet said.
not to advance. He was as plump and
as gay as his wife. His mustache was
red. his double chin smooth shayen md
rosy. his Eyes had a sharp. cunnina
look. his head was round and closel.
cropped.
The three daughters. clothed alike ir
Scotch plaid. were posing in front Of =
Photographic apparatus which stood or
tripod. The eldest was about Il wear,
OF age. the youngest a child OF s. The,
were all three strangely alike.
NJ. R%arnardet. In honor OF his birth.
day. was taking a picture OF his daugh.
ters. The ferret who from morninl
tiff night tracked robbers and male.
factors into their hiding places wa.
taking his recreation in his damp gar.
den. The sweet idyl of his hidden lif,
repaid him for his unceasing investiga,
tions, for his trouble and %fatiguint
nan hunts through Paris.
There" he said. clapping the car
ever the lens. That is ali. Go ant
play now. my Gears. I am at your ser.
vice now. Moniche."
He shut up his photograph appara.
tus. pulling out the tripod from til,
deep soft in which it was imbedded
while his daughters joyously ran t.
their mother. The young girls stoot
gazing at Moniche with their grea
blue eyes. piercing and clear. Bernade
turned to look at him, and at once di.
vined that something had happened.
"a AZ -