Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-05-12

AllCe HUI never seemed so lQOT0Dle.
Then came Il sudden and ominous en-
trace of Mother Bonneton. She eyed
the visitor with frank unfriendliness
and proceeded to tell him that his at
tentions to Alice must cease and that
his visits here would henceforth be
unwelcome.
In vain the poor girl protested
against this breach Of hospitality.
Mother Bonneton held her ground
grimly. declaring that she had a duty
to perform and would perform it.
"What duty?" asked the American.
ga duty to M. Groener."
At this name Alice started apprehen-
sively. Kittredge knew that she had a
cousin named Groener, a woodcarver,
who lived in Belgium and who came
to Paris occasionally to see her and
to get orders for his work.
"The last time M. Groener was here
that's about a month ago." the woman
said-"he asked me and my husband
to make inquiries about you and see
what we could find out. And we
found out things-well. just a few"
"What things?"
1--WE have found out, my pretty sir,
that you lived for months last year by
gambling. I suppose you will deny
it?"
mo" answered Kittredge in q low
tone; "it's true"
"Ah! We found also that the money
you made by gambling you spent with
a brazen creature who''-
"stop" interrupted the American,
and, turning to the girl, he said:
"Alice, l didn't mean to go into these
details. I didn't see the need Of it.
butt
81 don't want to know the Details
she interrupted. 81 know you. Lloyd.
That is enough"
She looked him in the eye trusting
ly, and he blinked a little.
"Plucky!" he murmured. They're
trying to queer me, and maybe they
will, but I'm not going to lie about
1t. Listen. l came to Paris a year
age on account of a certain person. l
AoN6AI wv uCl, duu L uluuS u lOOl
Of myself. l gave up q good position
in New York, and after I had been
here awhile I went broke. So 1 gam
bled. It's pretty bad. l don't defend
myself, only there's one thing 1 want
you to know. This person was not a
low woman She was a lady"
"Huh!" grunted Mother Bonneton.
GA lady. The kind Of a lady who
dimes alone with gay young gentlemen
in private rooms! Aha, we have the
facts"
The young mans eyes kindled. mo
matter where she dined, I say she was
a lady, and the proof Of it is IL want
ed her to get a divorce and-and mar
ry me-"
"Oh!" WINGED Alice.
"You see what he u.s." triumphed the
sacristan's WITHDRAWING after a mar.
ried woman"
But Kittredge went on doggedly:
you've got to hear the rest now. One
day something happened that-that
made me realize what an idiot I had
been. So at last I decided to break
away, and I did. It wasn't exactly a
path Of roses for me those weeks, but
I stuck to it, because-because l had
some n to help me"-he paused and
looked tenderly at Alice-"and-well,
l cut the whole thing out, gambling
and all. That was six months ago."
"And the lady?" sneered Mother
Bonneton. do you mean to tell us
you haven't had anything to do with
her for six monthS?"
81 haven't even seen her," he declar.
ed, "for more than six months"
ga likely story! Besides, what we
know is enough. 1 shall write M,
Groener tonight and tell him the facts
Meantime"- She rose and pointed to
the door.
"Well." said he, facing Alice with g
discouraged gesture, I'D like tt
know why you turned me down this
afternoon"
He was actually moving toward the
door when the bell in the hall tinklel
sharply. Mother Bonneton answered
the call and returned a moment later
followed by the doorkeeper from be
low, a CHEEKY little woman, who bus
tied in, carrying a note.
cts for the gentleman" she explain
ed, "from a lady waiting in a car
riage. It's very important" Will
this she delivered a note to Kittredgt
and added in an eXultant whisper tt
the sacristan's wife that the lady ha(
given her a franc for her trouble.
"What kind of a ladyY" chucklet
Mother Bonneton.
ooh. very SWELL" replied the door
keeper mysteriously grand toilet
bare shoulders and no hat. I should
think she'd take cold"
"Poor thingw jeered the other.
Kittredge stood as if in a daze, star
ing at the note. He read it, then rea
it again. Then he crumpled it in hi
hand, muttering, 20 God" And hi
face was white.
"Goodby!" he said to Alice in ex
IRENE agitation. II don't know wha
you think Of this. I can't stop to ex