Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-02-07
Translated From The French by Florence Creme Jones
Copyright, The Frank A. dunsey Company
BY ALBERT BOISSIERE

A. Munsey Company
mongeri OF the village. had often drop
ped IN to see me.
Look here, Monsieur lAmerican,'
he said frankly one day to me, this
story of Barrabas is an internal yarn
Don't you believe what that old law
yer Marcadian says. he Is a deceftful
creature. knew the sculpto. as well
as I know you. He was q happy 60
For my part never believed 10
Polydore's suicide any more than did
in the fathers. That was all humbug
And one of these days you will see
them come back"
What you say is foolish, Tape,a-
rOeil.It is proved that Barrabas did II,
but that 1t was an accident.
accident! Why you are not stupid
enough to think that, Monsieur
l'American! In the village we know
all about It. Barrabas, the sculptor.
was fishing down the Marine at the
time OF the accident Don't make me
believe it was an accident. That young
Polydore was q very worthy young
mantle very best of sons. tell
you, the affair was mysterious
'fMost certainly agree with YOU"
ga mystery OF which only that old
rogue Marcadian has the key"
why Marcadian?" exclaimed.
because Marcaaian"
And the old officer looked around
cautiously to see II there was anyone
near to overhear. Then he whispered
In my ear:
Because Marcadian, in my belief.
was the one who committed the
murder!"
This idea of poor old Marcadian be-
ing murderer was too absurd.
looked in amazement at my ridiculous
companion. He looked back at me,
rolling his great, stupid eyes under
his bushy eyebrows. Then he added
mysteriously, as he placed his finger
to his mouth:
Yes, and have known It right from
the first.
Sometimes the old officer would play
Jokes. Despite his aggressive NOUS
tache and loud voice, his heart was as
simple and naive as q child's. One
morning when was In my studio he
came into the house and pushed open
my door without knocking. He called
out in his harsh voice:
bon jour, Monsieur lAmerican."
l turned around. annoyed at the in
terruption and saw the absured old
thing all fixed up In painted mask,
adorned with thick, long beard like
the youn gsters used for the carnival.
I was so surprised at this absurdity
that found nothing to say to him.
/ "Eh bien,' he said, taking of his
mask and laughing with his mouth
wide oren. You don't seem tc know
that today is Mardi Gras. All! All!
You don't know how to laugh In
America"
He laid the mask on the table and
turned to shake hands with me.
You are like boy, Monsieur Tape
all Dell. You will never grow old" I
said. .s
Ana we lit our ri7es and chatted to-
gether until III O'clock. That day 1
was expecting Marcadian, Evelyne
and tho little ones to luncheon.
Tape-a-pOeil had been with me a full
hour telling me some funny yarns 81
his soldier life. / was glad when my
guests arrived. for / was able to get
rid Of him. The old fellow excused
himself politely and shuffled Of. After
he had gone noticed that he had for
gotten to take his carnival mask with
him
That day Evelyne did not seem
quite so well as usual. The children
were mischievous Pierre and Suzanne
now adored me. | Joined in all their
games and let them do Just whate err
they liked with me. was their slave
"You are spelling them. Mr.. Doug
lass Evelyne would say reproach-
fully.
"They will be miserable when you
return to America "Marcadian would
add.
was ANNOYED that Marcadian con-
tinually mentioned my going away.
was to sail the following week and
was feeling bad enough about leaving
them without being reminded CT 1t
all the time.
It was a beautiful day for that time
OF the year, and Evelyne had decided
after the coffee and liquors to take q
walk along the Marine with the child
rem. Marcadian asked me to go with
them, but had formed the bad habit
Of taking a nap after luncheon, so
prepared to take doze on the sofa in
the studio, just as did every day
I was lying on the sofa with closed
eyes, was not asleep. I was iuet doz-
ing. when Pierre and SuzzaEe came
back from their walk and tip-toed into
my studio.
"Sh. Sh!" they said, sitting their
gay little laugh. Hes asleep."
Under my eyelids saw their kitten
ish,a tinid movements. They were up
to some mischief. They were looking
out to see If thoy could not play some
Mardli Gras Joke like old Tape-a-pO Dell.
/ did not move, / pretended to sleep
so as to let them enjoy their fun. It
was Suzanne VINO first spied the mask,
with its long beard and thick wig Of
hair, which was on the table.
"Oh! OH" she exclaimed, covering