Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-13

10 NClg Inc AuSol
of Musici" And, turning to the man
ayers, II. Mifroid asked, Have you
an Angel Of Music on the premises,
gentlemen"
Richard and Moncharmin shook
their heads. withoue even speaking.
Oh said the viscount, those gen.
tlemen have heard of the opera
ghost. Well, l am in a position to
state that the opera ghost and the
Angel of Music are one and the same
person; and his real name is Erik
NJ. Mifroid rose and looked at Raoul
attentively.
i beg your pardon, monsieur, but
is 1t your intention to make fun OF
the law? And, If not, what is all this
about the opera ghost?"
Il say that these gentlemen have
heard of him
Gentlemen, 1t appears that you
know the opera ghost?"
Richard rose, with the remaining
hairs Of his mustache in his hand.
No, NJ. Commissary, no, We do
/ not know him, but we wish that we
did, for this very evening he has
1 robbed US of twenty-thousand francs"
And Richard turned a terrible look
on Moncharmin, which seemed to
say:
Give me back the twenty-thousand
francs. or I'll tell the whole story"
Moncharmfn understood what he
meant, for, with a distracted gesture,
he said:
"Oh, tell everything and have done
with it,"
AS for Mifroid, he looked at the
managers and at Raoul by turns and
wondered whether he had strayed in
to a lunatic asylum. He passed his
hand through his hair.
"A ghost" he said. who, on the
same evening, carries off an opera.
singer and steals twenty-thousand
francs is ghost who must have his
hands very full. If you don't mind
we will take the questions in order
The singer first, the twenty-thousanc
francs after. Come, NJ. de Chagny
let us try to talk seriously. You be
lieVe that Mile Christine Daae has
been carried off by an individual
called Erik. Do you know this per
son" Have you seen him."
YES"
'Where?"
In churchyard."
NJ. Mifroid gave a start, began Il
scrutinize Raoul again and said:
of course! That's whert
ghosts usually hang out! AM
what were you doing in that church
. yard?"
! Monsieur" said Raoul, Il ca
quite understand how absurd my re
plies must seem 70 you. But l be
you to believe that l am in full pc:
: session of my faculties. The safet
of the person dearest to me in tn
world is at stake. l should like I
, convince you in a few words, for tim
is pressing and every minute is va
" liable. Unfortunately, If do not te
. you the strangest story that ever wa
o from the beginning, you will not b,
heve me. | will tell you all l kno7
about the opera ghost, NJ Commi
= sary. Alas, do not know much!
Never mind, go on, go on" e,
claimed Richard and Moncharmil
, suddenly interested.
Unfortunately for their hopes {
:. learning some detail that could PIT
, them on the track of their hoaxe
they were soon compelled to accel
:. the fact that NJ. Raoul de Chagn
- had completely lost his head. All ths
: story about PerTos-Guirec. death
heads ard enchanted violins, coul
only have taken birth in the disc
dered brain of a youth mad with Low
It was evident also, that NJ. Cor
missary Mifrcid shared their view
and the magistrate would certain
-, have cut short the incoherent ma
6. rative if circumstances had not ia
20 en- it upon themselves to interrupt j
The door opened and a man e
tered, curiously dressed in an enc
b nous frock-coat and a tall hat,
once shabby and shiny, that can
). down to his ears. He went up to Il
commissary ana spoke to him in
s whisper II was doubtless a detecti'
~ come to deliver an important col
n munication.
During this conversation NJ. Nitro
"a Olu not take MS eyes OH Raoul
last, addressing him, he said:
10 Monsieur, we have talked enout
II. about the ghost. We will now Ia
about yourself a little, If you ha
ba no objection; you were to carry {
Mile Christine Daae tonight?"
- Yes, NJ. lie commissaire."
After the performance"
e? Yes, NJ. lie commissaire."
An your arrangements we
* made?"
st Yes, N. lie commissaire."
The carriage that brought you W
ad to take you both away The
at were fresh horses in readiness
Oh every stage. ="
Ia That is true. NJ. lie commissair'
And nevertheless your carriage
OF still outside the Rotunda await
ng your orders, is it rot?"
Yes, NJ. lie commissaire."
ed Did You know that there We
z" three other carriages there, in ad
ton to yours?"
ne Il did not pay the least attention
ne They were the carriages of MI
Is; Sorelli, which could not find room
by the COur de PAdm3niStratinn. IF T.