The Iola register., 1902-04-11

thing for him to do. However, as he
reached the end of his statement a feel
ing of mortified vanity prevented his
telling how he had been fooled by Clip
sy and the stout man.
at seems to me, Master Squirrel, that
you have forgotten something. How
far. did you follow the empty coach"
Fanferlot despite his assurance blush
ed and hung his head.
"Oh," he stammered, you know
about that? How did YOU
But sudden idea entered his brain.
He stopped short, bounded off his chair
and cried:
"Oh know! You were the large
man with red whiskers."
Fanferlot's surprise gave so singular
an expression to his face that NJ. Lecoq
could not restrain smile.
"Then IL was you," continued the be-
wildered detective. "You are the large
gentleman at whom l stared so as to
impress his appearance upon my mind.
and never recognized you! What an
actor you would make If you would go
on the stage! But was disguised, too
very wen ulSSulSeu'
every poorly disguised. 1t is only
just to you that / should tell you so.
Do you think that heavy beard and a
blouse are unrecognizable2 The eye,
the eye! The art lies in being able to
change the eye. That is the secret"
This explained why the lynx eyed
Lecoq never appeared at the police Of
a
"But," said Fanferlot, following up
his idea, "you have made the little girl
confess. which Nine. Alexandra could
not do? You know why she leaves the
Archangel. why she does not wait for
NJ. de Clameran and why she bought
calico dressesp
"She is following my advice"
"In that case" said the detective de-
jectedly, there is nothing left for me
to do but to acknowledge myself an
ass"
mo, Squirrel" said NJ. Lecoq kindly,
"you are not an ass. You merely did
wrong in undertaking a task beyond
your capacity. Have you progressed
one step since you started in this af-
fair? No. That shows that although
you are Incompatible as lieutenant,
you do not possess the qualities of a
general. am going to present you
with an aphorism. Remember it and
let it be your guide in the future-'One
may shine in the second rank who
would be totally eclipsed in the first "
Never had Fanferlot seen his patron
so talkative and good natured. Find
ing his deceit discovered, he had eX-
pected to be overwhelmed with a
storm. whereas he had escaped with n
little shower that had cooled his brain.
Lecoq's anger disappeared like one
of those heavy clouds which threaten
in the horizon for a moment and then
are suddenly swept away by gust of
wind.
But the husband of Nine. Alexandra
felt uneasy. He was afraid that some
thing might be concealed beneath this
affability.
"Do you know who the thief isF' he
asked.
81 know no more than you do, and
you seem to have made up your mind
whereas am still undecided. You de-
clare that the cashier is innocent and
the banker guilty. | don't know wheth'
er you are right or wrong. | started
after you and have only reached my
preliminaries. l am certain of but one
thing, and that is that a scratch was on
the safe door. That scratch is my
starting point"
AS he spoke NJ. Lecoq took from his
desk and unrolled an immense sheet OF
drawing paper. On this paper was
photographed the door of NJ. Fauvel's
safe. Every detail was given minutcly
One could see the five movable but
tons with the engraved letters and the
narrow. projecting brass lock, The
scratch was indicated with admirable
c"Cctness.
Now" said NJ. Lecoq, "here is oul
scratch. 1t runs from top TO bottom
starting from the hole in the lock, dag
onally and, you see. from left to right
that is to say, it terminates on the sid'
next to the private staircase leading t.
the bankers apartments. Very deel
ut the lock. it ends off in a scarcely per
ceptible mark"
81 see"
Naturally you thought that thii
scratch was made by the person wht
took the money. Let us see If yol
were right. / have here a little iroI
box, painted green like NJ. Fauvel'I
safe. Take key and try to scratcl
It,"
Without seeing through his chief
motive, the detective did as he wa
bid, scratching vigorously with th
key.
"The deucer' he said after severa
attempts. 'This paint is awfully har'
to move"
Every hard, my friend and yet tina
on the safe is still harder. So you see
the scratch you discovered could no
have been made by the trembling han,
Of thief letting the key slip"