Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1912-04-05

doing! You were there! An,
you We're watching them, you ant
Mercier! And you were tn
only two who didn't laugh. Is
II don't understand"
Gabriel raised his arms and droppe,
them to his sides again, which ges
ture was meant to convey that TIT
question did not interest him in tht
least. Remy continued:
What is the sense of this new
mania of theirs? Why won't they have
any one come near them now?"
What? Won't they have any one
come near them?"
And they won't let any one touch
them"
Really? Have you noticed tina,
they won't let any one touch theml
That is certainly odd!"
ooh, so you admit it! And high
time, too! And then, they walk back.
ward."
Backward! You have seen our
managers walk backward? Why, |
thought that only crabs walked back.
ward!"
Don't laugh, Gabriel; don't laugh! "
I'm not laughing" protested Ga.
briel, looking IS solemn as Judge.
Perhaps you can tell me this, Ga.
briel as you're an intimate friend of
the management: When l went up to
NJ. Richard, outside the foyer. during
the Garden interval, with my hand
out before me. why did Nj. Monchar.
min hurriedly whisper to me, GO
away! Go away. Whatever you do,
don't touch M. lie directeur!' Am l
supposed to have an infectious dis
ease?"
It's incredible!"
And, a little later, when NJ. de La
Borderie went up to M. Richard, didn't
you see NJ. Moncharmin fling himself
between them and hear him exclaim,
M. rambassadeur, I entreat you not
to touch NJ. lie directeur?'"
Its terrible! And what
was Richard doing meanwhile?"
What was he doing? Why, you
saw him! He turned about, bowed
in front of him, though there was no
body in front of him, and withdrew
backward"
Backward"
"And Moncharmin, behind Richard,
also turned about; that is, he de-
scribed semi.circle behind Richard
and also walked Backward!
And they went like that to the stair
case leading to the managers office:
backward, backward, backward! :.
We'll, ii they are not mad, will you
explain what it means?"
Perhaps they were practicing a
figure in the ballet" suggested Ga
briel, without much conviction in his
voice.
The secretary was furious at this
wretched joke, made at so dramatic
moment. He knit his brows and con-
tracted his lips. Then he put his
mouth to Gabriel's ear: +
Don't be so sly, Gabriel. There
are things going on for which you and
MERCER are partly responsible
What do you mean?" asked Gabriel.
Christine Daae is not the only one
who suddenly disappeared tonight
"Oh, NONSENSE
There's no nonsense about 1t. Per-
haps you can tell me why. when
Mother CRY came down to the foyer
Just now, MERCER took her by the
hand and hurried her away with him?'
Really" said Gabriel, Il never
saw it."
you did see it, Gabriel, for you
went with MERCER and Mother Giry
o Mercier's Office. Since then, you
md MERCER have been seen, but no
'ne has seen Mother CRY"
do you think we've eaten herr"
mo, but you've locked her up in
he Office: and any one passing the
office can hear her yelling. oh. the
Oh. the scoundrels!'
At this point of this singular con.
'ersation, MERCER arrived all out OF
,reath.
There" he said, in gloomy voice.
It's worse than ever
houted, It's a serious matter. Open
he door! It's I, Mercier.' ] heard
ooSSSSpS. nv uoOA VpCuCu anu Null
harmin appeared He was very pale.
lie said, What do you want?' | an.
wered. Some one has run away with
Daae.' What do you think
e said? And good job, too!' And
e shut the door, after putting this
4 my hand"
MERCER opened his hand; Remy and
Iabriel looked.
1.-THE safety-pin!" cried Remy.
Strange! Strange!" muttered Ga.
riel. who could not help shivering.
Suddenly a voice made them all
lree turn round.
II beg pardon, gentlemen. Could
on tell me where Christine Daae is?" a
In spite of the seriousness of the
circumstances. the absurdity of the |,
uestion would have made them roar t
18th laughter. II they had not caught p
ght of face so sorrow-stricken that t
ley were at once seized with pity. 1t +
as the Vicomte Raoul de Chagny. Il
Ito be continued?