The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-12-26


down ! did not ring. ] was standing |
with my back to the shaft, facing the
door of the rear flat--I stood at most
three feet away from that door.
Without the slightest sound of foot
steps from the hall of the fiat, thef
door opened--a mans face looked out
looked at me-and the door noise
lessly closed.
It happened In a ilash 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
more7he 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 car
slid up.
"Who is the gentleman living in the
| rear flat?' | asked with as much I'M
| concern as could. 1.-THE French gen
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS don't know If
he's French or what. What is his
name?"
His name" George considered this
| past another floor, and repeated the
question.
81 don't know his name-he amt
been here long"
''When did he take the fiat?'
"WelI, now | dom know jes' which
day it was, but 1t was before you come
home-maybe two days. maybe week,
an he amt really moved in yet-only
a 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:
well. he did say he thinks he knows
you" He appeared reluctant to dis
cuss monsieur.
broke out in a new line. 1.-THE gen
tleman is very rich, George. hope he
tipped you WELL"
George was instantly enthusiastic
"He done thatI He gimme ten dol.
lars.
Hes good for another ton, George
if you work him right" | affirmed
"Oh, you needn't be so shy! He asked
you a lot of questions about me an6
you don't want me to know it. Yor
told him everything you knew"
"Well. that's right" George broke il
sheepishly. "He did ask me some ques
tons, but honest to goodness, ain
tell him anything bad-I tell him
don't RELY know much about you
, That's what l tell him, honest to good
ness"
He really paid You for telling hin
every time l went out or came in
. didn't he?"
!. But George was suspicious and Of
guard at once. He threw open the CT
door without answering.
u "Oh. all right" said carelessly, hu
not stepping out as l saw he wishe
= me to. "You needn't give it away, bu
i know, all the same, so it doesn't mat
: ter whether you tell me or not"
e what you suppose he so perticule
II to know fer?' asked George, lngenU
Z ously feeling he was guarding hi
secret while gratifying his curiosity.
How should I know? Maybe h
wants to hang flowers on my doc
He's very rich, l understand"
II George grinned, interested and syn
pathetic. He scented romance and
! explained all to him as adequately q
it had to Mrs. Jimmson.
| unlocked my door as quickly as
could-I didn't mean to let Georg
think l attached any Importance
monsieur. | knew enough. The ma
was fellow tenant in the same hOus
in the fiat directly under mine, an
~ George was his paid spy. AS | shl
the door, asked myself, "Wh;
next?"
had a fleeing idea of keepir
VI Jimmson with me for the night; but
% couldn't think of any explanation fl
20 unusual request. | could NJ
take her into my confidence-if 81
stayed, l could hardly keep her out
1e 1t. She was anxious to go home
y --aw that and didn't blame her; ar
l was anxious to be alone and thin
and felt only relief as saw the Ia
of her faded skinny weeds, her fade
NJ skinny form, and said good-by to h
heartily, little realizing thar she WI
the one human being who stood
SH tween nae and monsieur's machin
lions, and that when she closed he
self out, she closed me ina prisOnS
-
~ Locked in her own apart
m mont