Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1919-12-27

eteNdtoF WIS uOlSeleSS. Ibe elevator
car was up and as heard IL coming
down | did not ring was standing
with my back TO the shaft. facing the
door of the rear flat---I stood st most
three feet away from that door.
Without the slightest sound of foot
steps from the hall of the fat, that
door opened-a mans face looked out
looked at me-and the door noise
lessly closed.
1t happened in a fash, so silently,
that had my back been turned, had
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 L
had recognized him
was stupehed The man was evil
IDENTITY living In the same house with
mel
The rafting elevator recalled me TO
my senses as George, smiling and talk
alive, opened the door for me to get in.
How much did George know? The car
slid up.
who is the gentleman living in the
rear flat?" / asked with as much I'M
concern as | could THE French gem
tleman--foreigner- don't know If
he's French or what. What is his
name?"
His Manner George considered this
past another floor and l. repeated the
question.
81 don't know his name-he amt
been here tong"
when did he take the fiat?"
"Well. now don know jes' which
day it was, but it was before you come
home-maybe two days, maybe q week,
an he amt really moved in yet-only
n bed an some chairs. He say he got
furniture comm from the other side
an he don 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 floor. George
hesitated and then admitted;
We'll, he did say he thinks he knows
you" He appeared reluctant to dis
cuss monsieur
broke out in new line. THE gen
tleman is very rich, George. hope he
tipped You we'll"
George was Instantly enthusiastic.
'He done that! He gimme ten dol
lars"
He's good for another ten. George,
If You work him right" | affirmed.
"Oh. you needn't be so shy He asked
you a lot of questions about me and
you don't want me to know 1t. You
told him everything yon knew"
well, that's right" George broke in
sheepishly. HE did ask me some ques-
lions, but honest TO goodness. / amt
tell him anything bad--I tell him I
don't RELY know much about you.
That's what tell him. honest to good
ness"
He really paid you for telling him
every time | went out or came in,
didn't hep"
But George was suspicious and on
/ guard at once. He threw open the car
door without answering
"Oh, all right" said carelessly. hui
/ not stepping out as / saw he wished
me to. You needn't give it away, but
| know all the same, so ii doesn't mat
/ ter whether you tell me or not"
"What you suppose he SO perticuler
| to know ferT" asked George, Ingenu-
/ ously feeling he was guarding his
| secret while gratifying his curiosity.
How should | know? Maybe he
wants to hang flowers on my door.
| He's very rich, / understand"
George grinned interested and sym
| pathetic. He scented romance and 1t
explained all to him as adequately as
it had to Mrs. Jimmson.
/ / unlocked my door as quickly as
| could didn't mean 10 let George
think ! 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 l shut
the door. l asked myself. "What
| next?"
had a fieeting idea OF Keeping
| Jimmson with me for the niyht: but !
couldn't think of any explanation for
20 unusual a request. could not
take her into my confdence-if she
stayed, could hardly keep her out OF
/ it. She was anxious to 20 home
raw that and l 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 monsjeur's machina-
! tions, and that when she closed her
self out, she closed me ina prisoner.
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