The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-05-20

mars. repre- esnting heifs Fespe GIVE
iournals. began one Of those pertitas
cions private inyestig ntions which d
slafe years. the press has adopted as e.
means to glory and the satisfaction; Of
public curiosity.
Cherchez Ia femme !, said Dnmarss::
sThat the ticket agreed Rob
bins IAN roads lead to the eternal.
feminine. We will fnd the woman.
They exhausted the knowledge Of
HE star Of Mr.. Morin's hotel. from
the beltboy down % the proprietor.
They gently. but inHexibly, pumped
Igthe family Of the deceased % far as
his cousins twice removed. They art;
fully sounded the employees Of the
late teweIer, and dogged his custom.
ers for information concerning his
habits. Like bloodhounds, they traced
every step Of the supposed defaulter,
as nearly as might be. for Years along
the limited and monotonous paths he
had trodden
AT the end Of their labors, MI.
NORM stood, an Immaculate man.
Not one weakness that might be-
served up as criminal tendency, moi
one deviation from the path Of recti-
trde, not even a hint Of a prediction
for the opposite sex, was found to be
placed to bis debit. His life had
been as regular and austere as q
monks; his habits, simple and uncon:
cealed. Generous. charitable, and .
model in propriety, was the verdict
Of all who knew him.
"What ,now9' asked Robbins, finger.
ing his empty notebook.
"Cherchez Ia femme. !" said Dumars,
lighting cigarette. TRY Lady Bell
airs"
This piece Of femininity was the
racetrack favorite Of the season. Be.
ing feminine, she was erratlc in her
gaits. and there were a few heavy
losers about town who had believed
she could be true. The reporters ap,
piled for Information. IS
Mr.. NORM? Certainly not. He was
never been a spectator at the races;
Not that kind of a man. Surprised
the gent lemen should ask. B
',shsl we throw II up" suggested
| Robbins, "and let the puzzle depart
meht have a tryy;2" III u. &; X, .,,l =.
GheFchez femme ne hum hfnl ne cl ~.
mars, reaching fofi mattel, Try Y ~, ths
| Little sistsr OF What d YOU. an; EN-;
II had asYslo1sd. during he thyIeRssg
ugatioh, that AF,, Motin had he'd t y y
beheyolspt order IL Il cll \ tayS 81
4 he hAd cont tbuted rally to g! s} 81
lis support, and had chosen tts 4, SIhaRsel
al, ,his; ,fayoFite place S private Ew6rl,
\ ship, Ii was said that Re went there srr
daily q make hls dsY9tiops ! At 7, i .ftl
altar. Indeed. toward the last o. 4, hfs
| itBs bis whole mind Seemed to have
fixesd itssB upon religious matters,
perhaps 10 TIE detrfment Of his world
" sttairs it s.;
TRither vent Robbins and Dgmars
| and We're admitted through the mar
row doorway III the blank stone wall
that frowned upon Bonhcmme street.
An old woman was sweeping the
chapel. She told them that Sister
Felicite. the head Of the order, was
then at prayer at the altar in the al
cove. In a few moments she would
emerge. Heavy. black curtains
screened the alcove. They waited.
Soon the curtains were disturbed
and Sister Felicite came forth. She
was tall. tragic bony and plain.fea.
tured, dressed in the black gown and
severe bonnet Of the sisterhood.
Robbins, good rough-and.tumble
reporter but lacking the delicate
touch. began to speak.
They represented the press. The
lady had, no doubt, heard Of the
NORM affair, It was necessary In
justice to that gentleman's memory,
10 probe the mystery Of the lost
money. It was known that he had
come often to this chapel. Any In:
formation, now, concerning Mr..
Morin's habits, tastes, the friends he
had, and so on, would be Of value
in doing him posthumous Justice.
Sister Fellclte had heard. What.
ever she knew would be willingly
told, but It was very little. Monsieur
NORM had been a good friend to the
order, sometimes contributing as
much as hundred dollars. The sis
terhood was an independent one, de-
pending entirely upon private contrl.
buttons for the means to carry on
its charitable work. Mr.. NORM had
presented the chapel with silver can,
dlesticks and an altar cloth. He came
every day to worship in the chapel,
sometimes remaining for an hour. He
was devout Catholic. conseerated
to holiness. Yes, and also In the al
cove was statue Of the Virgin that
he had, himself. modelled, cast, and
presented to the order, oh. 1t was
cruel to cast doubt upon so good q
man! u
Robbins was also profoundly
grieved at the imputatIon. But. until
II was found what MT, NORM had
done with Madame Tibault's money
he feared the tongue Of slanderwould
! not be stIlled. sometimes-ln fact,
very otten-in affairs of this kind
there was-er-as the saying goes