Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-01-16
CHAPTER xxx111.


to know whether Noel had prepared
an alibi for the evening of the crime.
For him that was the grand question.
II he had he was certainly guilty; =
not he might still be innocent.
"Will you oppose Noel's marriage.
them"
"His marriage!' cried Juietts,
bursting out into laugh; "ah, the
poor boy! If he meets no worse OBJ
stacles than myself his path win b
smooth. Let him marry by all means.
the sooner the better. and let me hear
no more of him."
"You don't love him. them" asked
the old fellow. surprised at this ami
able frankness.
listen, sir. have loved him .
great deal, but everything has an end.
For four years, I, who am SO fond OF
pleasure, have passed an intolerable
existence. If Noel doesn't leave me
shall be obliged to leave him. am
tired of having lover who Is ashamed
of me and who despises me"
Tf he despises you, my pretty lady
he scarcely shows 1t here" replied old
Tabaret, casting a significant glance
about the room.
"You mean,' said she, rising, that
he spends a great deal of money ON
me. It's true. He pretends that hs
has ruined himself on my account; itb
very possible. But what's that to met
am not grabbing woman, and !
would much have preferred less mon
ey and more regard. My extravagance
has been inspired by anger and Want
of occupation. M. Gerdy treats mo
like mercenary woman; and SO
act like one. We are quits.
"You know very we'll that he wor.
ships YOU
"He? tell you he is ashamed OF ma
He hides me as though I were some
terrible disease. You are the first q
his friends to whom have ever spokr
en-. Ask him how often he takes mo
out. One would think that my pres
ence dishonored him. Why, no longer
in last Tuesday we went TO the
,heater! He hired an entire box. But
do you think that he sat tn 1t with mey
Not at all. He slipped away and !
saw no more OF him the whole even
ing
How so? Were you obliged to re-
turn home alone?'
"No. At the end of the play, toward
midnight, he deigned to reappeaf.
We had arranged to go to the masked
ball at the opera, and them to have.
some supper All, 1t was amusing.
At the ball he didn't dare to let down
his hood, or to take off his mask. At
supper l had to treat him like per-
feet stranger. because some OF hb
friends were present"
This, then. was the alibi prepared
in case Of trouble.
WELL he said, making a great ef-
fort to utter the words, 1.-THE supper.
l suppose, was none the less gay for
that"
"Gay!" echoed the young woman.
struggling her shoulders; you do not
oSGll W hhoW LAuSA Vi yooA AAASAsNs -
you ever ask him to dinner take good
care not to give him anything to
drink. Wine makes him as merry -
a funeral procession. At the second
bottle he was more tipsy than cork;
so much SO that he lost nearly every
thing he had with him. his Oyerc0at,
purse, umbrella, cigar-case-
Old Tabaret couldn't sit and listen
any longer; he jumped to bis feet like
a raving mailman.
Miserable wretch he cried. In
famous scoundrel! II is he; but have
him."
And he rushed out. leaving Julietts
SO terrified that she called her maid.
Child" said she. II have just made
some awful blunder. have let some So
cret out. am sure that something
dreadful Is going to happen; ] feel Il
That old rogue was no friend OF NoefA.
he came 10 circumvent me, to lead me
by the nose; and he succeeded. With
out knowing 1t must have spoken
against Noel What can ! have saidf
| have thought carefully, and can re-
member nothing. but he must b
warned though. will write him .
line. while you find a messenger TO
take st. AXE
Old Tabaret was soon In his cab
and hurrying toward the Prefecture Of
Police. Noel an assassin. His hate
was without bounds, as formerly had
been his confiding affection
He not only assassinated Claudine.'
thought he, but he go arranged the
whole thing as to have an innocent
man accused and condemned. And
who can say that he did not kill his
poor mother?" H
The certainty OF oonfounding Noel.
Of delivering him up to justice. Of TAX
Ing vengeance upon him. alone kept
old Tabaret up.
ut is clear" he murmured, that
the wretch forgot hts things at the
railway station. In his haste to ~
join his mistress. VIII they still be
found there? II he has had the pru-