Evening star., 1925-09-20

wife would be business. Not
business proposition by any means.
but ma trimonial requirements would
be eXacted with the same cold sa gacity
which managed his supersmart Fifth
avenue shop, where models had to fit
a perfect IS. which, for the editica-
1ion of a few uninitiated males, is
somewhat less than a perfect SO.
Martin knew his New York. He
made a business of patronizng certain
lobster palaces on the certain nights
when certain distinguished deniZens
of Broadway would be conspicuously
present. He could tell you without
an instant's hesitation just how much
to slip each maj -domo of eaech So
called private supper club to be
granted the honor of a reservation.
By the same token, he made a busi-
ness of going to Paris for his pleas
ures.
Martin f1attered himself that he was
completely sophisticated in the ways
of the city of beckoning night. He
could list for friends all points of in
terest to be visited, with or without
wifely accompaniment.
Thus when Jim Gallagher of Chi
cago conf1ded the discovery of a new
cafe hidden in a corner of Montmar-
ire. Stone merely lifted an eyebrow
and waited.
Not one of your cut-and- dried cab
arets like L'Abbaye or the other boule-
ward places. mind YOU raved' Gala
CHER. It's tucked away in a side
street, forget which-and the en-
trance is up an alley.
"Queerest place you ever saw. Not
little or stuffy. No dance floor and
Jam. The crowd that goes there
well. it's different-that's ALL
Has II a name?" Stone put not
without touch of the supercilious.
lie CON-. His DrOnIlnCia tion ip6j-
Gated coin of the realm.
The Corner" airily translated
Stone. who prided himself on knowing
French. Never heard of it. Can't be
much.
Come along. I'll show YOU
Stone and Gallagher picked up
taxi and stopped at the Maurice for AL
Burbeck, a Philadelphia confrere.
BY devious ways, they reached that
famous hilly quarter that mounts
from crowded boulevard to the point
where LEglise du Sacre Coeur looks
night.
They mounted a flight of steps run
nlng to cobbled street so steep that
neither horse nor cab could attempt
tbe climb. On either side. back of
scrubby gardens that boaSted a few
huddled bushes, old houses leaned
against stone walls, quite as if the
weight of centuries too great to shoul.
der. Picturesque in their WEAKNESS,
with the veil of night shading broken
plaster and layers of dirt, they were
surrounded by an aura of defiant con.
trast to the ultra modern Paris at the
foot of the hill.
IHE4 rounded corner and came
upon house squatting in the
soil. 1t stood apart in what had prob
ed windows were almost on a level
with the ground. Faint streaks of
light blinked through, like ewes half
asleep. Over the low door hung a din
gy lantern. The branches of a lone
tree swayed in front of 1t, sending
creepy shadows up the facade. At
the end of the short road which it
raced was a blank wall. A few broken
steps led from this to the adjoining
street, whose level was some six feet
higher. There were no neighbors. The
place was grimly isolated.
This it?" Stone halted dissustedly
as Gallagher Unmatched the little gate
and started up the cobbled path.
We'll, it amt Circo's," grinned the
other. Its more exclusive" He
paused under the bare branches of the
Tree "Proprietor's son was killed
right on this spot 10 years ago, they
tell me. Shot to death in a row over
woman" He rolled the information
over his tongue. And nobody ever
did anything about it-not even the
proprietor"
Say" Stone drew back suddenly,
where are you taking us-to an
Apache den?"
Burbeck, the Philadelphia merchant,
turned sharply on his heel
You fellows can do what you like
I don't visit such points without
guide"
"Here-come along.' Gallagher
linked an arm in his. Wait till you
get inside-then beat it if the place
don't suit you
He stepped up to the door, raped
with his cane.
Cant you open the door," put in
Stone.
They don't let everybody in. Pick
and choose told you it was ex-
clusive"
lnstinctively the men stopped
though the doorway was just tall
enough to admit them without hitting
their heads.
Coming from the outer darkness the
little hall seemed filled with light 1t
was only the light of lanterns, but,
soft and encompassing, it gave forth a
comforting glow.
At the right was q small bar. At
the left there was an alcove where
those who could not Immediately be
accommodated sat logged smokily
from actual view. Underfoot was
stone. Overhead, the roof rose to it's
highest point and slanted obliquely,
disregarding all the rules of archi-
lecture. Beyond the bar at the top
of what appeared to be an abruptly
decapitated flight of steps, curtain
of heavy canvas swung back and forth
with a suggestion but no glimpse of
the room it concealed. The wailing
voice of violin sounded behind it.
THE three musketeers of the dollar
stood uncertainty trying to give
the impression of feeling at home.
Stone shifted the mixed aura of stale
wine and pungent tobacco. But he
made no attempt at an exit. Some
thing seemed to demand a look be-
hind that curtain.
No one appeared to be aware of
their entrance. But presently the can
Nas was lifted and man came down
the steps.
lie was queer little fellow-that
was apparent at glance. Skin the
color and texture of the curtain; eyes
flaming behind film, as if from the
uHceasng strain of gazing through
sn5ke. One eyebrow high. one side.
OF :ha mouth fallen gave him the quiz
ri saI grimace of modern QuaSimodo.
He looked as if he were grinning at
the world. vet his mouth was sad
Hes the proprietor. head waiter
whispered. "Pere Goureau, they call
him.
Goureau led the way up the stairs,
lifted the Tapping curtain.
The room beyond was long and
heav- with shadows pierced by high