Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-21

/ tIbAOs VI u AGAully whose mistress
had decided that life without a French
maid was uncomfortable. Rogers had
met her. had been fascinated by her
black eyes and red lips. had in the
end proposed marriage. had been ac-
cepted and for some months had led
an eventful existence as the husband
OF the siren. Then one morning he
awakened to find her gone.
He had. OF course, intrusted his saw
ings to her, and the savings were gone
| also. Julie. IL seems. had been over
come with longing for the Paris as
| phalt, and she had flown back to
France. Rogers had thought of fol-
| lowing; but, appalled, at the difficulty
of finding her in Paris, not knowing
what he should do If he did find her.
he had finally given it up and had set
tied gloomily down to live upon his
memories. Some sort OF affection for
her had kept alive within him. and
when he opened the door of Vantine's
house and found her standing on the
steps he was as wax in her hands.
When the story was finished Julie
was quite herself again, even a little
proud, I think, of holding the center
of the stage in the role of siren.
This is all true, suppose?" asked
the yelled lady.
"AIl quite true, madame" answered
Julie. with a shrug. II am older now
and have more sense; besides, 1 am
no longer sought after as 1 was"
And So" said madame, with irony,
you are now no doubt willing to re-
turn to your husband"
81 have been considering it, madame.
One must have a harbor in ones old
age"
I glanced ut Rogers and was aston
ished TO see that he was regarding the
woman with affectionate admiration.
81 have hesitated," she added, only
because of madame. Where would
madame get another maid such as II"
1--WE will discuss it, said the yelled
lady, when we are alone. And now,
perhaps. you will be so good as to tell
us of your previous visit here"
zone day on the boat as 1 was look
ing down at the passengers of the
third class that I perceived Georges
NJ. Drouet-strollsng about. I was bou-
leversee-what you call upset with
amazement, and then he looked up and
our eyes met, and he came beneath
me and commanded that 1 meet him
that evening. 1t was then that 1 learn
ed his plan. 1t was to secure those
letters for himself and to dispose of
them"
TO whom?" asked Godfrey. !
ITO the person that would pay the
greatest price for them, most certainly. !
90
dame at 10000 francs each. Should
she refuse they were then to be Of
fered to NJ. lie Duc-he would surely |
desire to possess Them
The yelled lady shivered a little.
THAT night" continued Julie. II de- |
cided that at the first moment would |
hasten to this house; I would explain /
the matter TO NJ. Vantine; 1 would per-
suade him to restore to me the letters
with which I would fly to madame.
knew also that I could rely upon her
gratitude.
at was not until evening that found
an opportunity TO leave madame. l
FASTENED here; I rang the bell. but 1
confess should have failed, 1 should
not have secured an entrance If it had
opened the door to me. NJ. Vantine
himself came into the hall. and 1 ran
TO him and begged that he hear me.
It was then that he invited me to enter
his ROOM
She paused again. and little shiver
If expectancy ran through me. At last
we were to learn how Philip Vantine
lad met his death.
81 sat down. continued Julie. al
old him the story from the very be-
ginning. He listened with much in
crest, but when L proposed that he
hould restore to me the letters he hes
tated. He walked up and down the
Dom, trying to decide, then he took
ne through that door into the room
,eyond. The cabinet was standing in
he center of the floor, and all the
ights were blazing.
II went 20 the cabinet and pressed on
he three springs, as l had seen ma
anne do. The little handle at the
ide fell out. but suddenly he stopped
he.
' Those letters do not belong to you !
e said. They belong TO your mis-
ress. l cannot permit that you take :
hem away, for. after all, l do not
now you. You may intend to make
1me bad use of them
He brought me back into this room.
could have cried with rage.
Return TO your mistress. he said.
nd inform her that L shall be most
appy TO return the letters TO her. But
must be in her own hands that l :,
lace them
II saw that It was of no use to ar
ne further He was OF adamant.
D | left the house, he himself opening
lie door for me. And that is all that .
know. madame"
"Of course Godfrey suggested gent "
. "as soon as you reached home you =,
lated 10 your mistress what had oc- :
lrred 20 :.
Julie grew n little crimson. "
'No. monsieur" she said. II told her :
thing. l feared that without the
tiers she would misunderstood my