The Red Cloud chief., 1913-01-02

ueE. odt o'"
III kX1 Bruno, the dog. never left
off bowling. I am certain
t.:@ something has happened"
Two big tears ran down
her wrinkled face.
'How long have you been with Nine
Servois?" I asked.
Twelve years. I came to her
few days after her husband died. This
morning at ten became SO nervous
that went down to Nogent.sur-Marne
to see Nine. Meiser; and when
learned that my mistress was not
there called on NJ. Edouard. But he
colld give me no tidings 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--mur-"
saw the woman was becoming hys.
terical. and advised her to go home.
promising to search for Nine. Servois.
I learned that Nine. Servois was a
widow Of about forty.fve. comfortably
Off, living in the Rue Liable, a 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. I was also informed
that Nine. Servois had made a will
bequeathing them the bulk of her
property. Nine. Servois entertained
very little; but, music-mad. was seen
at 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 to
me. had given me Edouards address
and I 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 Josephine's statement that
his aunt's day was regulated by the
clock. She always went to bed a
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, ant
repeated by question.
II don't know. It's presentimen
have"
'Where is your brother?" I asked.
my brother!" he rasped; "he ant
don't speak. His address is wher
ever he can obtain lodgings on tick
You'll find him any night knockini
about La Butte.s You don't need I
letter Of introduction" he added, will
a chuckle.
I dismissed my unpleasant visito
and an hour later saw Nine. Meiser
well.preserved. fashionably dressed
woman with dazzling white teeth.
Nine. Servois. she stated, had spen
few hours with her and had left he
Mt about nine o'clock. making an ar
pointment to meet the following aft
ernOon. She was very much dil
tressed. and begged me to do all Il
my power to discover her missin
friend.
"That young Edouard." I said. "di
not seem very upset"
II am not surprised" she retorted
"he is q selfish little brute. My frien
always dislIked him and preferre
Auguste vagabond as he is."
Having known Nine. Servois int
mately. can you think why she shoul
have gone away?"
mo, cannot. II there had been
secret in her life che would have cor
fided 1t to me. It seems extraord
nary"
had already sent the exact descriI
tion of Nine. Servois to every polio
commissary In the metropolis: ant
that same night after dinner. went I
Montmartre to have talk with Al
guste.
His brother had spoken the trutl
Augusto was well known IN tnat pal
of the town, and In less than quartz
of an hour ascertained where to I'm
him. Il was In one of those Quain
small cabarets which abound at Mon
martre. where for the price Of glas
of beer one can listen to recitation
and songs by talented. out-of-elbo
artists. to many Of whom Montmartr
is the first step on the ladder to fam
Mile. Claire. pretty girl with Cle'
Merodic hair. who sang some sent
mental ballads. was. I had been toll
Auguste's particular friend.
II struck eleven o'clock, and thel
was no sign Of Auguste. saw ClaiI
enter a small room. whence oh
emerged with her hat and cloak an
then walked rapidly to the door.
I followed her. and asked where
could find Auguste. She replied tn,
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