The Elbert County tribune., 1920-02-27

elevator was nolSeleSS. The elevator
car was up, and as l heard 1t coming
down did not ring. was standing
with my back to The shaft. facing the
door OF the rear fiat-I stood at most
three feet away from that door.
Without the slightest sound OF foot
steps from the hall of the fat. that
door opened-a mans face looked out
looked at me-and the door noise
lessiy closed.
that had my back been turned. had 1
been watching the descent of the car.
l 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,
I was stupefiedi The man was evil
IDENTIFY living in the same house with
mel
The rattling elevator recalled me to
my senses as George smiling and talk
alive. opened the door for me to get In.
slid up.
"who is the gentleman living In the
rear fiatf" l asked with as much un-
concern as could. ''The French gem
tlemnn-foreIgner-I don't know IL
he's French or what. What is his
name?"
His name7" George considered this
past another floor. and l repeated the
question.
~ don't know his name--he amt
been here long
''When did he take the flat?"
swell. now 1 don know jes' which
day il was. but II was before you come
home-maybe two days. maybe week.
an he amt really moved in yet-only
bed an some chairs. He say he got
furniture comm from the other side
nm he dom want to buy no more here
than he can help"
Naturally. Did he speak to you
about meY" put the question boldly
as the car stopped at my floor. George
hesitated and then admitted:
'Wfll, he did say he thinks he knows
you.'9 He appeared reluctant to dis
cuss snonsieur.
baoke out in a new line. "The gen.
tipped you we'll"
George was Instantly enthusiastic.
He done thati He gimme ten dol
lars"
Hes good for another ten. George,
II you work him right" l affirmed.
"Oh. you needn't be so shy He asked
you a lot of questions about me and
you don't want me to know 1t. You
told him everything you knew"
well. that's right" George broke in
sheeplshly. HE did ask me some ques-
tions. but honest to goodness. amt
tell him anything bad-I tell him
don't reely 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 hep"
But George was suspicious and on
guard ut once. He threw open the car
door without answering.
"Oh. all right" said cnrelessly, hut
not stepping out as l saw he wished
me to. you needn't give 1t away. but
/ know, all the same. so 1t doesn't mat
ter whether you tell me or not"
what you suppose he so perticuler
to know fer7" asked George. ingenu-
ously feeling he was guarding his
secret while gratifying his curiosity.
How should I know? Maybe he
wants to hang flowers on my door.
He's very rich. understand"
George grinDed. interested and sym
pathetic. He scented romance and 1t
explained all to him ms adequately as
1t had to Mrs. JImmson.
unlocked my door as quickly as
could-I didn't mean to let George
think / attached any Importance to
monsieur. / knew enough The man
was fellow tenant In the same house.
In the fat directly under mine. and
George was his paid spy. AS shut
the door. l asked myself, "What
nextY
| had n fieeting idea of Keeping
Jimmson with ME for the night; but /
couldn't think of any explanation for
20 unusual request. could not
take her into my confidence-if she
stayed, could hardly keep her out of
It. She was anxious to go home-I
INV that and / didn't blame her; and
l was anxious to be alone and think,
and felt only relief as saw the last
of her faded skinny weeds. her faded
slkimpy 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-
tions, and that when she closed her
self out, she closed me ina prisoner.
Locked in her own apart