Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1914-11-07

mans hand. Inc caretaker looked
in establishment at these two strange
visitors. But the gold made him
deferential.
"This way, gentlemen" he said.
The superintendent was asleep.
Jacques shook him roughly.
"Another dead ?" he asked, wax
ing suddenly.
"No; wake ~ and listen to me-"
replied Jacques.
The porter had gone back to his
duties.
"Who are you. and what are you
doing here ?" asked the superintend-
ent in amazement.
Jacques thought that he would
borrow an idea from Alexandra
Dumas.
GLOW much do you gain a year
leading this dogs life?" he asked
"You are right" answered the
man, at certainly is a dogs life,
and sooner or later I shall catch the
disease"
Jacques put his hand in his pocket
and pulled out thousand-franc note
The man frowned.
WHAT lne HidlIeI dShee
Jacques.
"a paltry note for a thousand
francs! Many have offered me more
than that to get out of here, but if
you want to come in"
off l give you ten times that ?"
Jacques held out the ten thousand
francs. The mans eyes glittered.
"How do | know that they are not
counterfeit ?" he asked warily.
Examine them, but be quick"
The superintendent took them up
and looked at them carefully.
"They are genuine" he admitted.
"But what is there that ! can do for
you? | don't understand"
1--WE want you to keep us here"
"To catch the cholera?"
Exactly"
Exactly"
"You want to commit suicide,
them"
1--WE want to be corpses. Only
notice the shading, my friend. We
don't want to die"
Their talk was interrupted by
some heavy blows struck on the
front door of the house.
at is the police after the two
men who came in here!" cried out
the porter.
"You scoundrels!" cried the SUI
pcrintendent. "You ran in here to
escape from the police"
He had scarcely uttered these
words than the muzzle of revolver
was pressed on his temple, and JAG
oues said resolutely:
"If you don't give the order to
Keep that door closed, I'll fire."
Without hesitation the superin-
tendent cried:
Don't open the door! Don't open
itw
"Now, let's go on with the bar
gain" said Jacques coolly.
81 understand. You want me to
hide you here and give you your
liberty later"
1--WE want you to obey us, AMI
here are ten thousand francs if you
do so. I'll make it twelve thousand.
What do you say?"
at is difficult to refuse to help
you"
IF you refuse you are dead
man; if you agree to do this little
favor you gain twelve thousand
francs"
"Well, what do you want me to
do?"
"When a fellow dies here what
becomes of his hody ?"
"The corpses are thrown into
uuicklime. The names of the vic
tins are inscribed on the front DC"
OF this place AMI The hour when they
died; all their clothes and every
tins: that beings to them are
burned
Zine! But We ~dnt two corps IS"
"Trere are twt unknown sailors
Eelc; they have not long to live
"1hat is all. light; they will do.
Now YOU go to the door and tell the
police who are knocking that tic
two men who rushed in here ten
minutes ago have been stricken
with cholera and that they will de"
VERY well"
Jacques and Paul followed him,
holding their revolvers close to his
head to let him know That it would
not do for him to betray them. They
reached the door; the superintendent
only opened the little window.
Several police officers had now ar
rived.
"Give up those men who came IN
here just now" called out one in
authority.
at is not worth WHILE" answered
the man in charge of the lazar-
house. "They caught the cholera at
once and the disease is rapidly
gaining. They won't live through
the night"
Girodet and Smith drew back
from The open window. Their face
were gray with fear. The police
also drew hastily away.
Were saved" murmured Paul.
"They will never leave here alive"
said an official to Smith, $50 there is
nothing we can do. They have the
cholera, so that is the end of them"
ITO no copfipnaJl