Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-01-08

e.
tA8(.i her. l sat up ali night, and
EANt Bruno. the dog. never left
- III OF bowling. l am certain
something has happened"
Two big tears ran down
her wrinkled face.
How long have you been with Nine.
Servois?" asked.
Twelve years. came to her a
few days after her husband died. This
morning at ten | became so nervous
that | went down to Nogent-sur Marine
TO see Nine Meiser; and when /
learned fiat my mistress was not
there / called on NJ Edouard. But he
could give me no tidlngs Of her"
Who is NJ Edouard?"
Mime Servois's nephew. or. rather.
one of her nephews. My dear, good
mistress! | am sure she has been
mu-muT-"
saw the woman was becoming hys-
terical, and advised her to go home,
promising to search for Nine servols.
| learned that Nine Seryois was
widow of about forty-five, comfortably
off, living In the Rue Liable. a quiet
street leading from the Boulevard
Pereire. Her only relatives we're twJ
nephews. the sons of her deceased sis
ter. Auguste, the elder. a genuine
Bohemian. having failed in various
professions, took up painting and
earned his living by drawing portraits
for one franc each Ia the cafes In
Montmartre. where be was well known.
His younger brother. Edouard, was a
Stockholders clerk. Both visited their
aunt pretty regularly. especially Au-
guste, who frequently applied to her
for small loans. | was also informed
that Nine Servois had made a will
beQueathing them the bulk Of her
property. Nine. Servols entertained
very little; but. music-mad. WAS seen
at every concert and matinee. Her
closest friend was Nine. Melser. aud
during the last two years the two had
been inseparable.
Josephine. the woman who came TO
me. had given me Edouard's address.
and | asked him TO call He was a
sickly youth, prematurely bald. with
an unpleasant rasp In his voice He
could throw no light on the affair and
confirmed Josephines statement that
his aunt's day was regulated by the
clock. She always went to bed at
ten: and the fact of her having stayed
out all night certainly looked suspi-
cious
she may have met with an acct
dent" me said but dread worse"
What makes you suppose this?'
He shrugged his lean shoulders, and
i repeated by question
81 don't know. It's presentlment
! have"
Where Is your brother" / asked
MY brother" he rasped: "he and
] don't speak Ills address is wher-
ever he can obtain lodgings on tick
You'll find him any night knocking
about La Buttes You don't need
letter OF introduction" he added. with
a ohuckle
dismissed my unpleasant visitor
and an hour later saw Mime Meiser
a well-preserved, fashionahly dressed
woman rg!3h dazzling white teeth.
Nine. Servois. she stated. had spent
n gST hours with her and had left her
at about nine o'clock. making an ap-
pointment to meet the following aft
ernoon. She was very much dis.
tressed. and begged me 20 do all In
my power TO discover her missing
friend.
THAT young Edouard." said, did
not seem very upset.
Il am not surprised" she retorted:
"he Is a selfish little brute. Ny friend
always disliked him and preferred
Auguste, yaSabond as he is"
Having known Nine. Seryols init.
mately. can you think why she should
have gone away
NO, | cannot. II there had been n
secret in her life she would have con
fded II to me II seems extraordi-
nary"
had already sent the exact descrip-
tion Of Nine Servois to every police
commissary In the metropolis: and,
that same night after dinner. went to
Montmartre TO have a talk with Au.
guste,
His brother had spoken the truth.
Auguste was well known in that part
of the town. and In less than a quarter
of an hour | ascertained where TO find
him II was in one OF those quaint
small cabarets which abound at Mont
martre. where for the price of glass
of beer one can listen to recitations
and songs by talented. out-of-elboN
artists. 10 many OF whom Montmartre
IS the first step on the ladder to fame
Mile, Claire. pretty girl with Cleo
Merodic haiy. who sang some senti
mental ballads. was. / had been told
Auguste's particular friend
1t struck eleven ocloc'-. and Their,
was no sign of Auguste. ! saw Clair,
enter small room. whence sh,
emerged with her hat and cloak ant
then walked rapidly 10 the door
followed her. and asked where
could hnd Auguste She replied tba
she had been waiting for him sine,
Paris slang for Moutmartre.
ten. and was now going TO call at an
other cafe where perhaps. he Nigh
have found work"
This cafe. to which she conducte,
me. was filled with smoke. and IN,
audience roared the refrain Of sons
delivered by an elderly man with
long red nose and laughing eyes Aft
er a quick glance through the room
-. ..a,,sc,, III "A ~, 20 fahl