Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1921-01-21
LIE M%OUSQUETAIRE
BY ARIsTA E. FISHER.

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,@. 1920. BY Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.l
1t was very evident that the three
people who had just entered the corri-
dor of the Stafford hotel were not OF
the ordinary wealthy class usually seen
there. The only thing which distin-
guished them from the frequenters Of
that most fashionable Of Chicago's
fashionable hotels was hat they ap-
peared to be just a little more fash
ionable and just a little more richly
dressed. IAN unusually pretty girl,
with her father and mother" would
have been the thought of a casual OBJ
server.
Casual observers were scarce In that
hotel corridor. however. There was a
tall figure in a gray uniform standing
near the door, presumably an attend
ant. The girls father handed the
light wraps of the ladies to the man in
uniform and the three passed into the
reception room. T.
He who was presumably an attend
ant" murmured a surprised THANK
you" TO the man just disappearing
through the door. and then regarded
the armful of wraps with a delighted
smile. Curious actions on the part of
an attendant! But If the gentleman
who had so trustingly donated two ex-
expensive wraps TO a presumable at
tendant had been a ,trife less near
sighted. or his companions a trife
more observant. a medal of the Legion
of Honor which the attendant wore
might have established the Identity Of
his calling q little differently. Further
investigation would have proved him
to be a colonel In the French army and
of a very pleasing appearance. This
colonel. after entertaining himself with
many broad grins, observed to the
large marble clock over the door:
"Jean, my son, you have an adven-
turel My boy, you will guard these
pretty things very carefully, and when
the generous Americans return, per-
haps, If you are very polite, you Will
receive a tip" And a smile being in
sufficient. the young Frenchman gave
zen to a hearty laugh. He stopped
suddenly and muttered to himself:
''That girl was very much like I
wonderl"
He was turning the gentleman's hat
in his hand. and his eyes, CHANGING to
light upon the nam Of the owner
printed on the band, he uttered an
exclamation.
The real attendant appeared a mo-
ment later. He was made acquainted
with the situation, which delighted
him as much as it had his companion.
ST was called to the Office for a few
minutes" explained that grinning Off
cial. "We've had no guests for the
last hour and l thought l could risk
a moment or two"
"Merci, mon ami" responded the
young Frenchman. you have done me
a great servicel"
For the next half-hour he lounged
about the corridor.
When Eleanor Howard and her
parents entered the corridor prepara-
tory to leaving, they were assisted in
putting on their wraps by the same
person who had taken them from Mr..
Howard. Then they left the hotel,
entered their car, and returned home.
The nexr day. when Eleanor vas
searching for a slip of paper she had
mislaid, she discovered a card in on..
of the pockets of her wrap, on one sfNe
of which was printed:
IN. lie Colonel Jean Reillard, Rue
Rationale, Paris. Mt present the STAFF
ford hotel"
On the other, written in pencil:
ST thank you for trusting me with
your valuable property" and in very
fine writing:
do you remember a certain colonel
who used to sing lie Mousquetaire'?"
Eleanor, at first dumfounded. then
struck with the humor of the situa-
ton. laughed Historically. Then she
grew thoughtful, and drawing some
paper toward her she wrote:
81 assure you there is no one more
worthy of u trust. The singer OF
La Mousquetaire' is not forgotten"
She addressed it to Col. Jean Reillard,
the Stafford hotel. and mailed il
thoughtfUfly.
That afternoon Colonel Reillard en-
tertained Miss Eleanor Howard with
+ stories of bravery, of death, of cour'
ageous mems deeds in the great war
But the one that interested them both
the most was something like this:
"Mademoiselle. don't you remember
the French officer that was nurse6
back to health by one whose image has
lived in his memory ever since, whose
memory has never left his heart? Dc
you not recall how that officer useC
to refuse to be attended by anyone bu'
yourself, and that when you did come
with your soft voice, to dull his suf
ferings. do you remember that he uset
to tell you how beautiful were you
eyes? This officer has carried a grea
love for you in his heart from tina
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