Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-12-10

Ii happened in a lash, so silently,
that had my back been turned. had I
been watching the descent of the car,
should have been none the wiser.
The man who opened the door was
Monsieur De Ravenol.
could not possibly be mistaken.
The main hall light shone full on his
face. He was hatless. And what was
more-he recognized me and knew (
had recognized him!
was stupefed! The man was evil
IDENTIFY living In the same house with
mel
The rafting elevator recalled me to
my senses as George, smiling and talk.
ative. opened the door for me to get In
How much did George know? The cay
slid up.
who IS the gentleman living In the
rear fiatY' / asked with as much I'M
concern as | could. 1.-The French gen
tleman-foreigner-I don't know IL
he's French or what. What is his
manner"
His Manner George considered this
past another floor. and repeated the
question.
Il don't know his name-he amt
been here long"
when did he take the fiatP
swell, now l dom know tes' which
day It was, but 1t was before you come
home-maybe two days, maybe a week,
an he amt really moved in yet-only
bed an some chairs. He say he got
furniture comm from the other side
an he dom want to buy no more here
than he can help"
Naturally. Did he speak to you
about me?" put the question boldly
as the car stopped at my door. George
hesitated and then admitted:
'Well, he did say he thinks he knows
you" He appeared reluctant to dis
cuss monsieur.
broke out in a new line. "The gen.
tleman is very rich. George. 1 hope he
tipped you WELL"
George was instantly enthusiastic.
HE done thati He gimme ten dol
lars"
Hes good for another ten, George,
II you work him right" l affirmed.
"Oh, you needn't be so shyi He asked
you a lot of questions about me and
you don't want me to know it. You
told him everything you knew"
well. that's right" George broke in
sheeplshly. "He did ask me some ques-
tons, but honest to goodness. 1 amt
tell him anything bad-I tell him 1
don't RELY know much about you.
That's what 1 tell him. honest to good
ness"
HE really paid you for telling him
every time l went out or came in,
didn't he?"
But George was suspicious and on
guard at once. He threw open the car
door without answering.
"Oh, all right" said / carelessly, hut
not stepping out as saw he wished
me to. you needn't give it away, but
know, all the same, so it doesn't mat
ter whether you tell me or not"
"What you suppose he so perticuler
to know fer?" asked George, ingenu-
ously feeling he was guarding his
secret while gratifying his curiosity
How should l know? Maybe he
wants to hang flowers on my door.
He's very rich, l understand"
George grinned, interested and SYM
pathetic. He scented romance and 1t
explained all to him as adequately as
1t had to Mrs. Jimmson.
1 unlocked my door as quickly as l
could-I didn't mean to let George
think l attached any Importance to
monsieur. / knew enough. The man
was fellow tenant In the same house,
In the fiat directly under mine, and
George was his paid spy. AS 1 shut
the door, l asked myself. what
nextT
l had a fleeing idea OF Keeping
Jimmson with me for the night; but /
couldn't think of any explanation for
30 unusual request. l could not
take her into my confidence-if she
stayed. l could hardly keep her out of
1t. She was anxious to go home-I
Jaw that and didn't blame her; and
was anxious to be alone and think,
and felt only relief as l saw the last
of her faded skinny weeds, her faded
skinny form, and said good-by to her
heartily, little realizing that she was
the one human being who stood be-
tween me and monsieur's machina-
tions, and that when she closed her
self out, she closed me ina prisoner.