The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-06
THAT MACHINE.


veillance for some time, though he was ig
norant of the fact. Frouat, a clever de-
tective, now and again ran against some
title of discriminating yet in itself insult
1cient evidence.
One day he burst into the police depot
in rare state ef excitement
''Look, M le Commissairel'' he cried.
81 have it-proofi SeeI Berac is caught
at lastr'
He laid an opened letter upon this
officer table
The latter scanned it before inquiring:
Where did you get it?''
Frouat looked cunning.
81 stopped it on its way through the
post Seel 1t is addressed to Paul Berac.
L opened it. A mans evidence is as good
as his thoughts and more daTnning evil
dence too. Monsieur, if you decide to for
ward the letter, it can easily be regummed.
I have not injured the envelope Mean
while we know the contents. What do
you say?''
Good! I think you have done a smart
piece of work. What does the letter sayY''
The commissary adjusted his pince nez
and read:
THAT Internal machine you sent me
last week threatens to do some member of
our cercle a mortal injury. 1t is all out
of gear Come down at once and examine
it. In its present condition it is superla-
for me to bring to you.
Frouat was beaming.
Read the signature, monsieur, " he
said impatiently.
1.-THE signatuFel''
'Is the name not known to you?'
"Henry won? don't call it to mind
''Nor Mile Yvon? Yvonette Yvon?''
paul Berac's sweetheart
1.-THE same. Henri is her brother -
''So He supplies his fancee's family
with bombs, does he? A pretty warm nest
Of anarchists you We unearthed, NJ. Frouat.
1t should gain you promotion.
The detectives oily looking eyes ran
more liquid
And not without trouble and work, 3"
he replied. q have watched Berac's resi-
dence, off and on, for the past six months
He has no occupation. Oh, mol Comes
and goes at will. -
II shall arrest the whole bunch, - said
Frouat
''They will get word of you and escape. -
ESCAPED III take them directly after
the ceremony" "
When Paul Berac received Henri Yvon's
letter, he had no suspicion that Frouat and
the police officer had already perused it,
nor did he, when he jOurneyed to MeudoR.
where his fiancee dwelt, notice that the
detective shadowed his movements.
10uU IIlO GOnbSnIB Oh UnG Dag WHICH DSEdC
carried with him excited the detectives
curiosity to such a pitch that it was only
by dwelling constantly upon the eclat to
be obtained from a wholesale arrest of dy
namiters that he prevailed upon his fingers
to keep off the inviting object
It's an i'll passion that never renders a
good service-unconscious
So Frouat waited outside the little
house until Berac, as the former knew
very well, had repaired the devilish imple-
ment which had got out of working gear,
and until Yvonette thought we'll to let her
fance depart. The moon shone when
Berac sought the station, detective at heels.
A week later a merry party assem- bled
at the Office of the til reimbursement,
where Berac and Yvone5te signed away
their hearts.
Frouat was there too, but single handed
His mentor it was not to be supposed
he would attack such an undertaking
alone-were awaiting him as directed in
the neighbOrhOod of the Cafe Giroux in
the Boul St. Denis.
The sanity of that proceeding was pal
pable soon after when the whole wedding
party drove off to the cafe for dejeuner
Frouat would have made an excellent
inquisitor. He hovered around the cafe as
a hawk over the prey ne has disabled.
The Joy of anticipation shone in his
cloudy, liquid eyes. When he felt the abso-
Lutte need of activity, he swooped down up
on his unsuspecting victims and startled
them with sentence:
'NIesdames and messieurs, it is my duty
to arrest you, every one. -
His minions swarmed around, encircling
the party.
Berac paused, his glass to his lips.
81 have not the pleasure of your ac-
quaintance, monsieur he said, but
whether you are an officer of the law or
not you are laboring under deIusion. I
will ask you to withdraw, with an apol-
ogy."
NJ. Berac, - returned Frouat, "I have
the advantage of you. -
Berac jumped to his feet.
Plainly, who are you and what is your
business?' he cried impatiently.
'Frouat, the detective. My business, to
arrest you and your confederates.
1.-The charge?'
'Of being anarchists of evil intent, dan
gerous to society; NJ. Berac. in addition,
of being the manufacturer and distributor
of explosive bombs. -
GOOD heavensp' shouted Berac excited
ly. 'This man is mad. Where is the pro-
prietor? Garcons, hold you responsiblel''
Frouat leisurely drew a letter from his
pocket The act was unofficial, out of
place, but his love of torture prompted
him to read it aloud
Listen, - he cried.
THE internal machine you sent me last
week threatens to do some member of our
cercle a mortal injury It is ali out of
gear. Come down at once and examine it,
In its present condition it is superlatively
dangerous, and it is eminently impossible
for mc to bring it to you
The letter is signed, - added Frouat,
Henri YvOn.' You, NJ. Berac received
a copy of it. Here is the original" :"
Silence followed. Frouat gloated
''AhI" said he exultingly. What say
you to that, NM. Yvon and Berac?''
Berac burst into laughter.
Henri, mon ami, - he cried, while his
sides shook convulsively, you should not
Ilse hi c.l1c11s dincti,-ns E-..-...+