Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-06-14

be remembered. The monks hood was
nearly as good as a mask. and the stain
OF beer on the fawn colored domino
was more distinctive than anything
that could be noted OF the lady's actual
personality. AS means for confusing
any possible pursuers. the gown and
the domino might have served well.
though Darrell had not foreseen that
they would be needed as the matter of
Il claim OF aiibi.
AS to their value In this regard, Oar
rel resolved upon a test. He had a
theory about the three men I'm the cab
with him. The one who had conducted
the arrest" might be an agent of the
district commlssary OF police, but Oar
re1 suspected him of connection with
the central bureau de Ia surete 0he
detective bureau of Paris. The second
was a man from the precinct in which
Darrell and the Gordons lived. and he
was there for purposes of identified
ton 1t was he who had said that the
ladies were Mrs. Gordon and Miss Lor-
rimer, the latter of whom Darrell now
blessed for her hasty and almost secret
flight from the house. The Paris police
are sure, but slow, though their mill
tary discipline and unquestioning ODE
dience, combined with excellent organ
ization, sometimes give them the delu-
sive aspect Of rapidity. 1t might take
them week or even fortnight to dig
cover that Vera had replaced Miss Lor-
rimer, despite the rigid supervision to
which strangers are subjected
So rnnnh for ~ -. n
fortunate error. Passing to No. 3.
Darrell made him out to be a member
Of the force assigned for that evening
to the Moulin Rouge to watch the mer-
ry students and their guests. He had
been brought along to testify concern
Ing the Gordon party. and Darrell was
pleased TO observe that he was gnaw-
ing his upper lip and cracking the
joints of his long and bony fingers.
Your name, Ely friend?" cried Oar
rell suddenly. Shaping the man on the
knee.
The officer sat up so suddenly that
his long backbone gave forth a snap
ping sound as from a whip.
Henri Fontainet" he cried. .'Why
do you askT'
Merely from interest" replied Oar
rell- Il happened to have seen you
several times this evening. You re
member when the beer was spilled on
my friends domino?''
Fontaine did not reply I'm words. but
his face was well worth noticing. A
light shone favorably into the cab. re-
vealing glance full of 81 told you soT
directed by Fontaine toward the chief
detective. Darrell knew that he had
made center shot and that Fontaine
must have already expressed his belief
that Darrell and the lady had been In
the Moulin Rouge ut the time of the
act of which Ladislov had complained
whatever that act might be- or course
there was no certainty that the black
visaged rascal had sworn to the truth.
The cab stopped. and its occupants
alighted. As they entered the station
Darrell was annoyed TO observe that
the detectives surrounded him with n
somewhat elaborate display OF precau
ton lest he should escape. and the
passage of the party through the outer
room excited an audible thrill of in
terest They entered a private office.
where Darrell perceived gray and sol
dierly officer seated by fat topped
desk. Behind him sat man who
leaned forward as IL buried in thought
his elbow OF his knee. his chin I'm his
hand. The attitude and the peculiar
arrangement OF the lights made this
mans face blurred shadow except for
his left eye. which. being turned to-
ward Darrell, shone like n Jewel.
The three men who had brought In
the prisoner fell away from him. leav-
Ing him standing alone before the desk
in glare of light. Immediately the
elderly officer took up n paper from
the table and began to read aloud i'm a
nasty but monotonous tone n fairly ac-
curate description OF John Darrell.
American, and OF his doings since he
had come to Paris.
Sir" said Darrell I'm his gentIest
tone. this record is very interesting
and surprisingly correct, but 1t does
not seem TO explain my presence here
at this time. Would you favor me with
few words on that point?"
'The charge against you," said the
officer, putting the paper carefully into
pile of them, as If to show that 1t was
only one OF many damning documents
In the case-"the charge against YOU.
Mr.. Darrell, relates to Captain Sergius
Ladislov."
IF Captain Ladislov has made
complaint against me-" answered Oar
E--l