The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-10-07
e: :s. 0. HENRY STORY s ;::-

unknown causes
when his affairs came TO he look.
cd into. II was found that he was
practically insolvent. his stock Of
goods and personal property barely
but nearly enough 10 free him from
censurc-covering his liabilities. Fol
lowing came the disclosure that he
had been intrusted with the sum
OF twenty thousand dollars by a
former upper servant IN the Norm
family. one Madame Tibault. which
she had received as a Legacy from
relatives In France.
The most searching scrutiny by
friends and legal authorities failed
60 reveal the disposition OF the
money. IL had vanished. and 1ef,
no trace. Some weeks before his
death. Mr. Morin had drawn the en-
tire amount. in gold coin. from the
bank where II had been placed while
he looked about The told Madame tt
baulu for safe investment There
fore. Mr.. Morin's memory seemed
doomed To bear the cloud of dlshon
esty, while madame was. OF course,
dlsconsolatc.
Then ~ was that Robbins and Du
mars representing their respective
journals. began one Of those peril
nacious private Investigations which
OF late years. the press has adopted
as means to glory and the satisfac
ton OF public curiosity.
"Cherchcz Ia femme said Du
mars
That the ticketr' agreed Robbins
AN roads lead 10 the eternal fem
inlne. We will find the woman
They exhausted the knowledge OF
the staff OF Mr.. Morin's hotel from
the bcllboy down To the proprietor
They gently, but infieslbly. pumped
the family of the deceased as far as
his cousins twice removed. They
artfuliy sounded the employees OF ths
late jcwcler. and logged hts custom
ers for information concerning his
habits. Like bioodhounds they traced
every step Of the supposed defaul,er
as nearly as might be. for year,
along the limited and monotonou,
paths he had trodden.
At tho end OF their iabors. Mr.
Norm stood. an immaculate man
Not one weakness that might b.
served up as criminal tendency
no, one deviation from the path OF
rectitudc. not even hint OF pre-
dilection for the opposite SCI. WA
found 10 be placed to hls debit His
life had been as regular and aus
tere as a monks: his habits. simple
and unconccalcd Generous. char
liable. and model In proprie,y. wa
the verdict of all who knew HIM.
What. now asked Robbins
lingering his empty notebook.
"Cherchex In femme" said pu
mars. lighting cigaret. Try Lady
Beiialrs."
This piece Of fcrnininify was tbs
racetrack favorite Of the season
Being feminine, she We erratic IN
her gaits. and there were a few
heavy losers about town who had
believed she could be true. The re
porterS applied for information.
Mr.. MorinT Certainly not HI
was never even spectator ut tbs
races Not that kind OF a man. Sur
prised the gentleman should ask.
shall we throw 1t upT.' suggested
Robbins. and let the puzzle depart
msnt have a tryf-
-Cherchex In femme hummet
Dumara reaching for = match. 'Try
the Little Sisters what.d .you-caii
en-
II had developed. during the In
vcs,igation. that Mr.. NORM had helt
this benevolent order In particular
favor. He had contributed LIBERAL,
toward its support and had chosen
its chapel as his favorits place OF
private worship. II was said thai
he went there daily with his devo
tons at the altar. Indeed. TOWARD
the last OF his life. his whole mind
seemed to have fixed itself upon re
ligious matters. perhaps TO the detri
ment OF his worldly affairs
Thither went Robbins and Du
mars. and were admitted thru this
narrow doorway In the blank stons
wall that frowned upon Bonhomms
Street. An old woman was sweep
Ing the chapel She told them thai
Sister FeIicite. the head OF the order
was then at prayer Mt the altar II
the alcove In a few moments sh.
would emerge. Heavy. black cur
tains screened the aicovc. They
waited
Soon the curtains were disturbed
and Sister Felicite came forth. She
was tall. tragic. bony. and plain
featured. dressed in the black gowr
and severe bonnet OF the sfsterhood
Robbins. n good rough. tumbis
reporter. but lacking the delicate
touch. began to speak
They represented the press The
lady had. no doubt. heard Of this
NORM affair. IL was necessary. In
justice TO that gentlemanis memory
TO probe the mystery of the lost
money. II was known that he had
come often TO this chapel Any In
formation, now, concerning Mr.
Morin's habits. tastes. the friends hs
had. and so on, would be Of value In
doing him posthumous justice.
Sister Felicite had heard. what
ever she knew would be willingly
told, but IL was very little. Mon
sieur NORM had been a good friend
to the order, sometimes contributing
as much as a hundred dollars. The
sisterhood was an independent one
depending entirely upon private con
tributions for the means to carry or
its charitable work. Mr.. Norm had
presented the chapel with silver can
dlesticks and an altar cloth. Hs
came every day to worship In the
chapel. sometimes remaining for ar
hour. He was a devout Catholic
consecrated to holiness. Yes. and
also In the alcove was statue OF
the Virgin he had himself modelled
cast, and presented TO the order
oh, II was cruel to cast a doubt upor