The Washington herald., 1920-08-08

mars. lighting a cigarette. Try
Lady BelIairs"
This piece of femininity was
the racetraCk favorite of the sea
son. Being feminine, she was
erratic in her gaits, and there
were a few heavy losers about
town who had believed she could
be true. The reporters applied
for information.
Mr.. NORM? Certainly not He
was never even a spectator at the
races. Not that kind of a man.
Surprised the gentleman should
ask.
Shall we throw 1t up?" sug-
gested Robbins, "and let the pun.
zle department have a try?"
"Cherchez la femme" hummed
Dumars, reaching for a match.
Try the Little Sisters what-d'-
you-Call-'em."
1t had developed. during the IN
vestigatiOn, that Mr.. NORM had
held this benevolent order in par
ticular favor. He had contribut-
ed literally toward it's support
and had chosen its chapel as his
'favorite place of private worship.
1t was said that he went there
daily with his devotions at the
altar. Indeed. toward the last of
his life his whole mind seemed to
have fixed itself upon religious
matters, perhaps to the detriment
Of his worldly affairs.
Thither went Robbins and Du-
mars, and were admitted through
the narrow doorway in the blank
stone wall that frOwned upon
BOnhOmme street. An old woman
was sweeping the chapel. She
told them that Sister Felicite, the
head of the order, was then at
prayer at the altar in the alcove.
In a few moments she wouIo
emerge. Heavy. black curtains
screened the alcove. They wait
ed.
Soon the curtains were disturb
ed, and Sister Felicite came forth.
She was tall, tragic, bony, and
plain-featured. dressed in the
black gown and severe bonnet of
the .isterhood.
Robbins. good rough and
tumble reporter. but lacking the
delicate touch. began to speak.
They represented the press. The
lady had, no doubt, heard of the
NORM affair. IT was necessary. in
justice to that gentleman's mem
ory, to probe the mystery OF the
lost money. 1t was known that
he had come often to this chapel
Any information. now, concern
ing Mr.. Morin's habits, tastes, the
friends he had. and so on, would
be of value in doing him post
humous justice.
Sister Felicite had heard. What
ever she knew would be willingly
told, but it was very little. Mon
sieur NORM had been a good
friend to the order, sometimes
contributing as much as 500. The
siSterhood was an independent
one, depending entirely upon pri-
vate contributions for the means
to carry on its charitable work.
Mr.. NORM had presented the
chapel with silver candlesticks
and an altar cloth. He came ev-
cry day to worship in the chapel,
sometimes remaining for an hour.
He was a devout Catholic, conse-
Grated to holiness. Yes, and also
in the alcove was q statue of the
Virgin he had himself modelled,
cast, and presented to the order.
Oh. it was cruel to cast a doubt
upon so good a man!
Robbins was also profoundly
Erieved at the imputation. But.
until It was found what Mr.. Mo-
rim had done with Madame I'll
bault's money, he feared the
tongue of slander would not be
stillcd. Sometimes-in fact, very
.often-in affairs of the kind there
was-er-as the saying goes-er-I
a lady in the case. In absolute
confidence. now-if-er-perh
Sister Felicite's large eyes re-
garded him solemnly.
There was one woman" she
said, slowly. ''to whom he bowed
to whom he gave his heart
Robbins fumbled rapturously
for his pencil.
Behold the woman!" said Sis
ter Felicite. suddenly, in deep
tones.
She reached a long arm and
swept aside the curtain of the al. l
cove. In there was a shrine, lit
to glow of soft color by the
light pouring through a stained
glass window. Within a deep
niche in the bare stone wall stood
an image of the Virgin Mary. the
color of pure gold.
Dumars. a conventional Catho-
lie. succurbed to the dramatic in
the act. He bowed his head for
an instant and made the sign OF
the cross. The somewhat abashed
Robbins, murmuring an indistinct
apology, backed awkwardly away.
Sister Felicite drew back the cur
tain and the reporters departed