Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-07-07
~Ah. YOU VILLAIN


did not return TO the attack, but
made rapidly OF.
THAT was certainly Layers" said
the clown, "and Clameran must be
somewhere near. While walked
around one side Of the church. they
must have gone she other and lain In
wait for me-"
His wound began TO pain him; he
stood under a gas lamp to examine IL.
It did not appear to be dangerous,
but the arm was cut through TO the
bone.
he tore his handkerchief into four
bands. and tied his arm mp with the
dexterity of surgeon.
81 must be on the track of some
great crime, since these fellows are
resolved upon murder. When such
cunning rogues are only in danger Of
the police court, they do not
gratuitouSly risk the chance of being
tried for murder"
He thought by enduring a great deal
OF pain he might still use his arm;
so he started in pursuit Of his enemy.
taking care TO keep in the middle of
the road. and avoid all dark corners.
Although he saw no one. he wss
convinced that he was being pursued.
He was not mistaken. When he
reached the Boulevard Montmartre,
he crossed the street, and, as he did
so, distinguished two shadows which
he recognized. They crossed the same
street n 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. They seem 20 be accustomed 10
this kind Of adventure, and the car
riage trick which fooled Fanferlot
would never succeed with them. Be
sides. my light hat is a perfect beacon
20 lead them on in the night" He
continued his way up the boulevard,
and. without turning his head, was
sure that his enemies were thirty feet
behind him.
IT must get rid of them somehow"
he said TO himself Il can neither re-
turn home nor 10 the Archangel with
these devils at my heels. They are
following me 20 find out where l live.
and who ] am If they discover that
the clown is Monsieur Nerduret, and
that Monsieur Nerduret is Monsieur
Lecoq, my plans will be ruined. They
will escape abroad with the money.
ana I shall bc left TO console myself
with wounded arm. 4 pleasant end
ing 90 all my eNertionsl"
The idea OF Raoul and Clameran es-
Gaping him SO eNasperated him. that.
for an instant. he thought OF having
them arrested at once.
This was easy; for ne only had 20
rush upon them, scream for help. and
they would all three be arrested. car
ried 20 the watch house. and CON
signed 10 the commissary OF police.
The police often resort 70 this in
genious and simple means OF arrest
ing a malefactor for whom they are
on the lookout. and whom they can
not seize without warrant.
The next day there Is a general eN-
PLANTATION. and the parties. If inno-
cent. are dismissed.
The clown had sufficient proof TO
sustain him in the arrest OF Layers.
He could show the letter and the
mutilated prayer book. he could re-
veal the existence Of the pawnbrok-
ers' tickets in the house at Vesinet,
he could display his wounded arm.
lie could force Raoul TO confess how
and why he had assumed the name OF
Layers. and what his motive WIS in
passing himself of for relative OF
NJ. Fauvel.
On the other hand, in acting thus
, hastily. he was insuring the safety OF
che principal plotter, De C&.meran.
Mat proofs had he against him? Not
onV He had strong suspicious, but
no N-ell-grounded charge to produces
again.t him.
On reflection the clown decided that
he would act alone, as he had thus fax
done, and that alone and unaided he
would discover the truth of all his
suspicious.
Having reached this decision. the
first step TO be taken was TO put his
followers on the wrong scent.
He walked rapidly up the Rue Sc
oastopol, and, reaching the square OF
the Arts de Meters. he abruptly
stopped. and asked some insignificant
.
standing talking together.
J The maneuver had the result he ex
pected; Raoul aud Clameran stood
perfectly still about twenty steps off
not daring 10 advance.
Twenty stepsl That was as mucI
start as the clown wanted. Will,
talking with the consta bles, he hac
pulIed Tho hell Of tho dNor l.of0r.
which they were standing, and it,
hollow sound appraised him that the
door was open. He bowed, and en-
tered the house.
A minute later the constables haC
passed on, and Layers and Clamersi
in their turn rang the bell. Whei
the concierge appeared, they asked
who il was that had just gone in dis
} Ruised as a clown.
K Oh