The Iola register., 1902-05-16

AlHNl DG vi llt llAlNh VI bOihf
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 n 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 IL
and as he did so distinguished two
shadows which he recognized. They
crossed the same street when he cross
ed. little higher up.
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.
"I 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 live
and who am. If they discover that
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 | 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 q 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 Lagors. He could
show the letter and the mutilated pray
or book. he could reveal the existence
of the pawnbrokers' tickets in the
house at Veslnet, he could display his
wounded arm. Raoul would be COM
PEELED TO confess how and why he had
assumed the name of Lagors 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-
ni!icant questions. The maneuver had
the result he expected. Raoul and
ClGmeran stood perfectly still about
twenty steps on, not daring to ad.
vance. Twenty steps, That was MS
much start as the clown wanted
While talking with the sorgeants 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. \
minute later the sergcants had passed
on. and Lagors and Clamcran 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
ers had gone out disguised that night
However" added the concierge, 81
ara not very sure, for this house has O
back door which opens on st. Denis
street"
"We are fooled" interrupted La
gors, "and will never know who the
clown is"
"Unless we learn it too soon for ouI
own good" said Clameran muslngly.
While Lagors and the forgemastel
were full of anxiety the clown hurried
up the back street and reached tho
Archangel hotel as the clock struck
Prosper, who was watching from his
window, saw him in the distance ant
ran down to open the door for him ant
led him up stairs impatiently.
what have you learnedY he said
'What did you find out? Did you sec
Madeleine? Were Raoul and Clamerar
at the ballT'
But NJ. Verduret was not in the hab
it of discussing private affairs where
he might be overheard.
First of all let us go into your room
and get some water to wash this cut
which burns like fire."
Heavens! Are you wounded"
Eyes; 1t is a little souvenir of you
friend Raoul All, l will soon teacl
him better mannersw
Prosper was surprised at the look OF