The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-01-22

-iOOkeu Ut lUe-anQ tue uOVI HOioS
lessly closed.
1t happened in a flash, SO silently,
that had my back been turned, had l
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 stupefed! The man was evil
IDENTIFY living in the same house with
me!
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 fiat?" / asked with as much I'M
concern as i could. "The French gen
tleman-foreigner--I 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 f1at?'
"Well, now / dom know jes' which
day it was, but it 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. "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" l affirmed.
"Oh, you needn't be so shy He asked
you q lot of questions about me and
you don't want me to know 1t. You
told him everything you knew"
swell, that's right" George broke in
~ \ IL rtrI.N
tons, but honest to goodness, / amt
| tell him anything bad tell him /
| 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 he?"
But George was suspicious and on
guard at once. He threw open the car
door without answering.
"Oh all right" said l carelessly, hut
not stepping out as / saw he wished
me to. 'You needn't give it away, but
1 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 / 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 l
could-I didn't mean to let George
think I attached any Importance to
monsieur. / knew enough. The man
was fellow tenant in the same house,
in the flat directly under mine, and
| George was his paid spy. As 1 Slut
the door, / asked myself, "What
next?"
I had a fieeting idea OF keeping
Jimmson with ME for the night; but
couldn't think of any explanation for
so unusual a request. | could not
| take her into my confidence-if she
stayed, J. could hardly keep her out of
it. She was anxious to go home-l
saw that and I didn't blame her; and
1 was anxious o9be alone and think,
1 and I felt only relief as 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-
lions, and that when she closed her.
self out she closed me ina prisoner.