The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-05-21

while he may have been the stOat, I was
not the rabbit. ! caught the flash Of his
knlfe I'm the dim flare of the night light
on the landing. and as he pitched into me.
/ diyed under his blade-a good old fash
Toned football low tackle that took him to
his knees. He went right over me-. over
my back, and thus fastened end 90 end we
went over and over down the stairs land
ing on the landing. Mindful Of his knife.
and the upward Slashing stroke ] might
expect, / lOOsened my grip Of him with the
intention or gquirming around to grab his
arms. AS 1 dld so, he struck twice, plung-
ing his knife into my leg-Once at the calf
and again at what would have been the
tendon Achilles, in most cases a hamstring
cut.
But the grace Of the gods resting on
me that night, he got my store leg. heard
his kissing "Sacre,' whether Of ferOcity or
establishment / don't know which. Perhaps
in the scuffle he thought he had crippled
me enough to stop pursuit and so did not
wait to finish it.
Down the stairs he went, skidding round
the quick turns in slitheripg fashion, and
from far beneath I heard' the front door
slam as he went out.
It would have been useless, Of course, for
me to try to chase him, and besides, l was
anxious about Jacques, not being sure
whether this prOwler had been just going
in or just going out Of the studio when I
arrived.
So. 1 picked myself up, entirely unhurt.
and found the studio door ajar. Going il,
/ went to Jacques bedroom and entered
softly.
The gentle snoring from the bed was the
first time that I've ever enjoyed that sort
Of chamber music. I listened for a moment,
then switched on the light in the corridor.
This failing to rouse the sleeper, I switched
on the one in his room, desiring to make
sure that all was well with him.
lie woke up with a start. who's that2'
ITS Johnny, Jacques. Sorry to disturb
you, but I got worried about your being
here alone and ILL.,"
"O-thankS. Johnny, but you OughtD't
to have bothered.
How do you feel?" 7 asked.
"Buily-the darned things broken, ]
"Then go to sleep again. I'm going to
camp on the divan in the studio. If there's
anything you want sing out"
30, hut 1 say, JOHNNY"
you 20 to sleep, Jacques, we'll talk il
over i'm the morning"
1 turned off the lights, and went into the
studio. Jacques apparently fell off to sleep
again, and presently / followed his eX-
ample.
The midsummer daylight in &
through the big window that was half sky
light awakened me at about four. / got up.
pulled the green baize curtain and went t.
sleep again, when the next thing to rouse
me was the dOOrbell ringing somewhere in
the rear. I got up, and in one of Jacques
spOtless painting blOuses that l had slipped
on for a nightgOwn, went to see who il
was that presumed to interrupt our beauty
sleep.
It was Pervier, the registering machine
Of the facts preceding criminal episodes
and he was filled with apologies for hi:
matinal call, although it was then eight
o'clock.
/ put my finger on my lips and showed
him into the studio.
d Monster Hughes is sick with the flu
a and his valet is out of town, so 1 came t
e spend the night with him." 1 said.
e Before Pervier could answer, Jacques
gentle voice quite free Of it's hOarsenes
t said from the doorway, Monsieur Hughes
S is a lot better. Quite cured, in fact!" anC
we looked around to see Jacques in pajam
d as and pantOufles and embroidered sill
kimOmO, his yellow hair tOusled and hi
Y eyes sleepy but much clearer than the da.
g before. whats up now, Pervier2 p
The police agent renewed his apologies
but Jacques cut them short, tits all right,
he said. 81 dimly remember your coming fl
= last night Johnny. / was fairly loaded al
Il with brOmides and tisane the cOncierg
: brought up. You're a real friend in need
old boy"
I suddenly resolved not to tell him jus
yet how much of a friend in need / actu
ally had been. Here now, l thought Nigh
s be the not altogether friendly OppOrtunit,
I for which I had fingered in Paris, that 0
y discovering Jacques to be a marvellous.
p clever fraud.
To be Concluded in Next Weeks Issue
Copyright 1925: by Henry G. Rowland