Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1902-04-11

abled him to protect himself against
Immediate danger and keep sharp
watch about him. He 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 out: @ 49,
"Ah. you villain!' &c.
Seeing his blow miss, the assassin
did not return to the attack, but made
rapidly of and disappeared in the
Faubourg Montmartre.
THAT was certainly Layers" said the
clown, land Clameran must be some
where near"
He began to suffer from his wound.
He stood under a gas lamp to examine
1t. 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 surgeon.
II 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 a 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 no
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, little higher uD.
II 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.
81 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
and who I am. If they discover that
the clown is NJ. Verduret and that Nj.
Verduret is NJ. Lec0q, 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 a 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 the arrest of Layers. He could
show the letter and the mutilated pray
er book, he could reveal the existence
of the pawnbrokers' 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 lie 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, be asked some insig-
nifcant questions. The maneuver had
I0o result No eApeCIeO. 0aOuI auO
Clameran stood perfectly still about
twenty steps OF. not daring to adj
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 it's
sound apprised him that the door was
open. He stepped into the house. A
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 clown.
They We're told that no masked person
had entered and that none Of the lodg-
srs had gone out disguised that night.
"However," added the concierge, II
Am not very sure, for this house has a
back door which opens on St. Denis
street." -
eve are fooled" interrupted La
gors,: "and will never know who the
clown isl =
''Unless we learn it too sson for our