Evening star., 1923-02-11
Not such thrilling life" 7 sug-

Not such a thrilling life" I sug-
gests.
No says she. He don't like it,
either. He says he might as well be
ground mole, or a rat. But once
when | was in here while he was
cuttin' out some pictures he-he-Oh
I shouldn't tell that
Come on. let's have it," / urged
well says she. after peering out
to make sure Latouff was not near
''once he showed me them pictures
and says how sometimes hesg onnna
be like that
'Eh:" says |. How like that"
IL dunno" says Mrs. Latouff But
he says some day I'll be seein' his pic
ture in all the papers"
That's a whale of an ambition -
says !. Wants to break into the mys-
terry gallery, does he? Just what do
you think his scheme iso"
But that was further than Mrs.
Latouff had thought or been informed
She knew. though. that he was deep
md she was ready to believe him
capable of almost anything. 'If he
says he WILL she announces solemn,
hell do il. He's like that. Mr. La
touff. II get afraid of him."
=
CHE was so earnest about it that l
" couldn't help smiling. Il wouldn't
worry" says ]. II doubt If he has
energy enough to do more than talk
about such things. This is as far as
he'll ever get--this collection. Here's
his Attest addition. I suppose-Dr Ba-
zan?"
Mrs. Latouff shook her head. so I
explained. why, he's that French
doctor who was so careless with his
wives" says !. II believe they've
counted more than a dozen that he's
had in as many years. and every one
disappeared after few months. They
think he burned 'em up, or dissolved
them in tank of acid, or something
like that. But they're having a time
proving anything against him, and all
France seems to be excited over the
case. A lot has been printed in the
New York papers. too. It's the mys-
terry Of the day. See. here are half a
dozen pictures Of the doctor. Rather
an inoffensive looking person, at that
isn't he? Doesn't look as If he had
nerve enough to stay out late for
dinner. Why, he Say. do you know,
this would pass for a likeness of Mr.
Latouff?"
She stared at the largest portrait
Of the group and nodded doubtfully.
"A little, it looks like him." she ad-
mits.
"The same deep set eyes. same kind
Of a nose, and a chin just like his"
goes on. with a pair of spectacles
like that on Mr.. Latouff, you could
hardly tell them apart
HE don't wear glasses. Mr.. La
touff." she protests. And I'm
afraid he comes in here and catches
me-
Funny how you can hardly help
getting nervous yourself in a case like
that. I found myself scurrying out
behind Mrs. Latouff and glancing
varily toward the basement door
But the deep thinking Leon had not
stirred from his position. and he was
still slouching against the wall as
went out. few moments later.
TT must have been nearly two
/ weeks afterward. and I was still
trying to make up my mind wheth-
er to discharge the Latouffs or lot
them stay on, when one morning the
husky Rosa came up to the top moor
and knocked at the studio door. As
T let her in ] saw wild look in her
little eyes and noticed that her lids
were red, as if she had been crying.
why. Mrs. Latouff." says
Whats the NATTER"
"He-he don't come back" she
walled. slumping into a chair and
covering her face with her red hands
"Eh?" says I. puzzled. WHO
dosen't come back"
Mr.. Latouff." says she. He he's
Kons!s