Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-03-13

spying lnek were going. Inc CLOWN
saw them go up to the dressing room,
take their cloaks, descend the grand
staircase and depart.
II have nothing more to do here" he
said.
And, completely covering his dress
with a domino, he started for home.
He lit cigar and, walking up St. La
zare street, crossed the Notre Dame de
Loretto and made for the Faubourg
Montmartre Suddenly as he entered
Olivier street man emerged from Il
place of concealment and rushed upon
him with raised arm. Fortunately the
clown had catlike instinct, which en-
abled him to protect himself against
immediate danger and keep a sharp
watch about him. lie had seen, or
rather, OWNED the man crouching in
the dark shadow Of house and had
put himself on guard. spreading out
his arms. This movement certainly
saved his life. Anger more than pain
made him cry ont.
"Ah, you villain"
Seeing his blow miss, the assassin
did not return 10 the attack. but made
rapidly off and disappeared in the
Faubourg Montmartre.
THAT was certainly Layers" said the
Sown, land Clameran must be some
where near"
He began to suffer from his wound.
He stood under gas lamp to examine
it. 1t did not appear to be dangerous,
but the arm was cut through to the
bone. He took his handkerchief from
his pocket and tore it into four bands
and tied his arm up with the dexterity
of a surgeon.
Il must be on the track of some
great crime, since these villains are re-
solved upon murder. When such men
are only in danger of the police court
they do not gratuitously risk the
chance of being tried for murder"
He could not stay where he was.
By enduring great deal of pain he
might still use his arm. so he started
after his enemy, taking care to keep
in the middle of the road and avoid all
dark corners. Although he saw DO
one, he was convinced that he was be-
ing followed. When he reached the
Boulevard Montmartre, he crossed it
and as he did so distinguished two
shadows which he recognized. They
crossed the same street when he cross
ed, a little higher up.
Il have to deal with desperate men"
he muttered. They do not even take
the pains to conceal their pursuit Of
me-"
He continued his way up the boule.
ward and, without turning his head,
was sure that his enemies were thirty
feet behind him.
II must get rid Of them somehow"
he said to himself 81 can neither re-
turn home nor to the Archangel with
these devils at my heels, They are
following me to find out where l live
the clown is NJ. Verduret and that NJ.
Verduret is NJ. Lecoq, there is an end
to my plans. They will escape abroad
with the money. and l shall be left to
console myself with wounded arm
The idea of Raoul and Clameran es-
Gaping so eXasperated him that for an
instant he thought of having them ar
rested at once. This was easy, for he
only had to rush upon them, cry for
help, and they would all three be ar
rested and taken to the station. The
police often resort to this ingenious
and simple means of arresting a male
factor for whom they are on the look
out and whom they cannot seize with
out warrant. The next day there Is
general explanation, and the par
ties, If innocent, are dismissed. The
clown had sufficient proof to sustain
him in thsHrrest of Layers He could
show the letter and the mutilated pray
or BOOK. he could reveal the existence
of the pawnbrollers' tickets in the
house at Vesinet, he could display his
wounded arm. Raoul would be COM
PEELED to confess how and why he had
assumed the name OF Layers and to
what end he was passing himself off
for a relative of NJ. Fauvel.
On the other hand, in acting thus
hastily he was insuring the safety OF
the principal villain. De Clameran.
What proofs had he against him? Not
one. He had strong suspicious. but no
facts. On reflection he decided that
he would act alone as he had thus far
done, and would discover the truth
OF his suspicious. Having reached this
decision. the first step to be taken was
to get rid of his shadowers He walk
ed rapidly up Sebastopol. stepping out
boldly, and. reaching the square, he
abruptly stopped. Meeting two SER
geants of police, he asked some insig-
questions. The maneuver had
the result he expected. Raoul and
Clameran stood perfectly still about
twenty steps Off not daring to ad-
vance. Twenty steps! That was as
much start as the clown wanted.
While talking with the sergeants he
had pulled the bell OF the door before
which they were standing, and its
sound apprised him that the door was
open. He stepped into the house. 4
minute later the sergeants had passed
on. and Layers and Clameran in their
turn rang the bell. When the porter
appeared, they asked who it was that
had Just gone in disguised as a clown.
They were told that no masked person
had entered and that none of the lodG-
Frs had gone out disguised that night.
However" added the concierge, II
4 OF fAv hos