Evening star., 1922-07-02
By William LIE Quellx

not until ! had pointed out the re-
sponsibiiity, and her half admissions
that she knew more than she had
told me, that she consented to accom-
pany me to Marseille on the following
morning.
We met at the station. and through
the long, tedious journey to the
Mediterranean l tried in vain to get
from her what she knew concerning
madame's mysterious friend whom
she was ct meet in Marseille.
But dragged from her the story of
what had occurred at Marseille.
Georgette had, on arrival. suggest
ed that they should go to the Hotel
Louvre ct Paix, one of the most
famous hotels in Europe. SO well
known to travellers going east. but
madame had been persistent that they
should go to the Cheval Blanc.
81 know Marseille." I said. but
have never heard of the place"
And I also. m'sieur." she said. II
did not like the idea. But madame
insisted. She thought she would be
recognized at the Louvre ct Paix.
Her brother-in-law was on his way
seille. RShe feared to meet him
there. So on arrival We took taxi
to the Cheval Blanc. don't like the
place and I am sorry I am returning
there"
"why?'
We'll, m'sieur. shall say nothing.
Judge for yourself"
But what happened there"
asked.
Simply this" she said, in
strangely changed voice. I'VE ar
rived at the Chevai Blanc very late
at night, and found it an obscure
place in a side street off the Came
biere-a third-class hotel. Madame
was not very well-overtired after
the Journey from Paris. Otherwise
she would have gone elsewhere. I
saw her to bed and left her. but next
morning when went to her room. No.
~, the door was unlocked. went In,
but found it empty. The bed had not
| been slept in!'
"Madame's bags were there
NO, m'sieur. The room was empty.
with clean towels prepared for the
reception of visitors" declared the
girl. 81 went to the manager. a
| beetIe-browed little Italian, and asked
where madame was. but. to my
amazement, he denied all knowledge
of her. He told me. laughing1y. that
I had arrived alone on the previous
night and that madame only existed
in my imagination: I was naturally
indignant and demanded to know
!
simply dismissed me. telling me to
go to the police IL I had any COM
plant"
"And you VENT"
| "I went to the prefecture of police
and made a statement. ! was told to
return in six hours. When l did so
the sous-chef saw and told me that
the most searching inquiries had
been made and that madame had
never arrived in Marseille. 1 re-
mained a week at another hotel. try
ing to identify the cabman who had
driven us to the Cheval Blanc. but.
being unsuccessful. I went to my sis
ter at Nevers. 1 dared not write to
Monsieur wharncliffe. because I fear
ed that some accusation might be
|
given my word of honor to madame"
TER story was. indeed. strange
IL one. The more 1 reflected. the
more curious the whole affair ap-
peared.
Three hours after she had related
it to me We ascended the steps of the
| n n
and 1 demanded Of the beetle-browed
manager to know the whereabouts
of the young English lady. He. how
ever. denied all knowledge of her.
Later I went to the prefecture of
police and there saw Monsieur Jules
Guerin, the director OF police. whom
happened to know.
| He greeted me pleasantly, but when
told him the object of my errand
he pursed his lips and his manner
changed.
A silence fell between us in that
cold, bare official room.
| At last he spoke.
II suppose. Monsieur LIE Queux. it
is useless for US to further preserve
the truth concerning your poor lady
friend. Now, can you keep a secret
IL tell you the TRUTH
II can not keep the secret from
her husband" replied.
Certainly not. It is only right that
he should know. Poor fellow. he
must be greatly distressed. We know
all the circumstances. His wife came
here in secret to meet a young
Frenchman named Monier, who had
been. blackmailing her-a young
blackboard whom we have since ar
rested on another charge. He had
some letters of hers which she came
here to purchase"
"Ah, Then 1t was fear that caused
her to leave her husband so mysteri-
ously. and she intended to return.
| Yes, fear" replied the director of
police. But her disappearance came
about in this way: On the day OF
her arrival the exhibition was opened.
and Marseilles was full of visitors
from France, Spain and Italy. In the
night madame rang her bell and COM
! planned to the night porter of being
very ILL., He summoned doctor.
when it was found that she was suf-
| fering from bubcnic plague. and at
o'clock in the morning she died. We
were informed and at once took pre-
cautions to suppress the news that
plague had broken out in Marseilles.
So we ordered the body to be buried
, in secret and imposed the strictest
| silence upon the hotelkeeper and the
servants. That is why all knowledge
| of madame was denied at the hotel.
| sat aghast. The mystery was