Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1919-06-20
CHAPTER I.


A Dog and . 0amsel.
As sat on bench in Madison
square after half past eleven In the
evening a dog came trOtting up to me.
stopped at my feet and whined.
There is nothing remarkable in hav-
ing a strange dog run to one, nor In
seeing the creature rise on its hind
legs and paw at you for notice and a
caress. Only. this happened to be an
Eskimo dog.
l stroked the beast. which lay down
at my feet, raising its head sometimes
to whine and sometimes darting OH
little way and coming back to tug at
the lower edge of my Overcoat. But
my mind was too much occupied for
me to take any but perfunctory in
terest in Its maneuvers. My eight
years of thankless drudgery' as a
clerk, following on a brief adventur-
Gus period after I ran away to sea
from my English home, had terminal
ed three days before upon receipt Of a
legacy. and had at once left Tom
Carson's employment.
Six thousand guineas-thirty thou
sand dol,ars-the Will said.
l had seen for some time that Car
son meant to get rid of me. 1t had
been a satisfaction to me to get rid
Of him instead.
He had been Alternately prospec-
tor and a company promoter all the
working years OF his shabby life. Tom
was as secretive: as clam. except
with Simon LeroVx.
Leroux was parish politician from
some place near Quebec, and his
clean-shaven. wrinkled face was as
hard and mean as any city boss In the
United States. He and old Tom used
to be closeted together for hours al
a time. 80.
never liked the man and never
cared for Carscn's business WAYS.
was glad to leave him the day aftel
my legacy arrived. sll ga :
Ny plans were vague. I had beer
occupying. Mt a low rental, tin!
apartment consisting Of two rooms. I
bath and what is called Kitchen
ette," at the top Of an old building
in Tenth street which was about to b.
pulled down. l had half planned +
take boat for jamaica. wanted t
think and plan. t
The Eskimo dog was growing mn
easy. 1t would run from me. lookin
round and uttering a succession o
| short banks, then run back and tug q
my oyercOat again.
Evidently 1t wished me to accom-
pany 1t. and I wondered who its mas
ter was and how II cane to be Their
rose and followed the beast, whic
showed its eager delight by runnin
ahead Of me. turning round at time
to bark, and then continuing on II
way with a precision which Shove
me that 1t was certain of its destin,
ton.
The dog turned down a street In III
Twenties. ran on few yards, bOun
ed up a flight Of stone steps and b
gan scratching at the door Of a hOui
that was apparently empty.
This place knew by reputation.
was Jim Days notorious but decent
conducted gambling establishment
which was running full blast at a tin
when every other institution of tn
character had found II convenient
shut down.
so the creatures master was insi'
DAYS, and II wished me to ge& hi
ont. looked In some disappointing
ut the closed doors and turned ava
meant to go home. and had pr
ceeded about three PAGES when {
lock clicked. l stopped. The fro
door opened cautiously and the or
head of Jim's negro butler appears
Then emerged one u the most bea
tiful women that ! have ever seen.
She could not have been more tn
twenty years Of age. Her hair W
of fair brown. the features model
splendidly. the head poised upon
fiawless throat that cleaned white
meath a neckpiece Of magnifict
sable.
She carried n sable muff. too. a
{ under these furs was dress Of
E stylish fashion and cut that contrast
r curiously with them. l thought Il
y those loose sleeves had passed aw
. before the nineteenth century died.
. one hand she carried bag. into VIII
1 she was stuffing large roll OF 81
She passed 30 close to me that
= dress brushed my overcoat, and for
instant her eyes met mine. There '
: a look In them that startled me-
ror and helplessness. a. though
had suffered some benumbing sh'
which made her actions more ~