Cheyenne record., 1920-04-01

car was up. and as l heard 1t coming
down 1 did not ring. l 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 fiat, that
door opened-a mans face looked out
looked at me-and the door. noise
lessly closed.
1t happened In a flash. 30 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 I
had recognized him!
was stupefied! The man was evil
IDENTIFY living In the same house with
me!
The rattling 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 un-
concern as I could. "The French gen.
tleman-foreigner- don't know II
he's French or what. What is his
name?"
His namer 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?"
"Well. now dom know jes' which
day 1t was. but It was before you come
home-maybe two days, maybe a week,
an he amt really moved in yet-only
bed an some chairs. He say he got
furniture comm from the other side
an he dom want to buy no more here
than he can help"
Naturally. Did he speak to you
about me?" I 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 new line. "The gen.
tleman is very rich, George. I hope he
tipped you WELL"
George was instantly enthusiastic.
"He done that! He gimme ten dol
lars"
Hes good for another ten, George,
If you work him right" I affirmed.
"Oh. you needn't be so shy! He asked
you 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
sheepishly. HE did ask me some ques-
tions. but honest to goodness. amt
tell him anything bad-I tell him I
don't reely know much about you.
That's what I tell him. honest to good
ness"
HE really paid you for telling him
every time I went out or came in.
didn't he7"
But George was suspicious and on
guard at once. He threw open the car
door without answering.
"Oh, all right" said carelessly, hut
not stepping out as I saw he wished
me to. You needn't give 1t away, but
I know. all the same, so 1t doesn't mat
ter whether you tell me or not"
"What you suppose he 80 perticuler
to know fer?" asked George, ingenu-
ously feeling he was guarding his
secret while gratifying his curiosity.
| "How should I know7 Maybe he
wants to hang flowers on my door.
He's very rich, understand"
| Caoruo prippo1 iptoroCtod opd ovr,-
pathetic. He scented romance and 1t
explained all to him rs adequately as
1t had to Mrs. Jimmson.
I unlocked my door as quickly as l
could-I didn't mean to let George
think I attached any Importance to
monsieur. l knew enough. The man
was fellow tenant In the same house,
In the fiat directly under mine, and
George was his paid spy. AS l shut
the door. l asked myself, "What
neXt?"
I had fleeting idea of Keeping
Jimmson with ME for the night; but
couldn't think of any explanation for
20 unusual a request. l could not
take her into my confidence she
stayed, could hardly keep her out of
1t. She was anxious to 60 home-I
-nw that and l didn't blame her; and
l was anxious to be alone and think,
and l felt only relief as I 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 mOns!eur's machina-
tions, and that when she closed her
self out, she closed me ina prisoner.
OCked in her oWn anarf.