The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1913-01-10

Two bis tears ran down
her wrinkled face.
"How long have you been with Nine.
Servois?" l asked
Twelve years. came to her
few days after her husband died. This
morning at ten ! became SO nervous
that went down to Nogent-sur Marne
10 see Nine. Meiser; and when /
learned that my mistress was not
there called on NJ. Edouard. But he
could give me no tidings OF her"
who is NJ Edouard?"
mime. Servoiss nephew. or. rather,
one of her nephews. My dear, good
mistress! am sure she has been
mu-mur-"
saw the woman was becoming hys-
terical. and advised her to go home.
promising to search for Nine. Servois.
learned that Nine. Servois was a
widow OF about forty-five. comfortably
OF. living in the Rue Liable, q quiet
street leading from the Boulevard
Pereire. Her only relatives were two
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 In the cafes In
Montmartre. where he 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 will
bequeathing them the bulk OF her
property. Nine. Servois entertained
very little: but, music-mad, was seen
al every concert and matinee. Her
closest friend was Nine. Meiser. and
during the last two years the two had
been inseparable.
Josephine. the woman who came 70
me. had given me Edouard's address,
and | asked him 10 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 Josephine's 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" he said. but dread worse"
What makes you suppose this?'
He shrugged his lean shoulders, and
] repeated by question.
IT don't know. It's a presentiment
/ have"
where is your brother?" I asked.
MY brother" he rasped; "he and
I don't speak. His address Is wher-
ever he can obtain lodgings on tick.
You'll find him any night knocking
about La Butte You don't need
letter OF introduction" he added, with
q chuckle.
dismissed my unpleasant visitor
and an hour later saw Nine. Meiser,
a well-preserved, fashionably dressed
woman with dazzling white teeth.
Nine. Servois. che stated, had spent
q few hours with her and had left her
Mt about nine o'clock, making an ap
pointment to meet the following aft
ernoon. She was very much dis
tressed. and begged me to do all In
my power TO discover her missing
friend.
THAT young Edouard," said. did
not seem very upset"
II am not surprised" she retorted;
she is a selfish little brute. My friend
always disliked him and preferred
Auguste. vagabond as he is"
Having known Nine. Servois init
mately. can you think why she should
have gone away"
mo. I cannot II there had been a
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 n talk with Au-
guste.
His brother had spoken the truth.
Auguste was well known in that part
of the town, and in less than n 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.elbow
artists, to many OF whom Montmartre
Is the first step on the ladder to fame
Nile Claire. a pretty girl with Cleo
Merodic hair. who sang some senti-
mental ballads. wac. I had been told,
Auguste's particular friend.
IL struck eleven o'clock. and there
was no sign OF Auguste. I saw Claire
enter q small room, whence she
emerged with her hat and cloak and
then walked rapidly to the door
I followed her. and asked where
fould find Auguste. She replied that |
she had been waiting for him since |
sParis slang for Montmartrs. ,--r |