Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-07-28


surprised, but quietly said:
THE game needs hunting. Well. Jo-
seph, my boy. do YOU still think that
your noble master was duped by your
acting injured innocence
You assured me 20 the contrary.
patron" said Joseph. in q humble
tone; land you opinion Is more con-
vincing than all the proofs ia the
world
This pretended outburst of rage
was premeditated on the part OF your
noble master. Knowing that he IL
being tracked. he naturally wishes TO
discover who bis adversaries are. You
can imagine how uncomfortable he
must be at this uncertainty. Perhaps
he thinks his pursuers are some OF
his old accompliees. who. being
starved. want a piece of his cake. He
will remain there until you come out,
then he viii come in to find out who
you are
But, patron, can go home with
out his seeing me-"
Yes, / know. You will climb tho
little wall separating the Archangel
from the wine-merchant's yard, and
keep along the stationer's area, until
you reach the Rue de la Hachette."
Poor Joseph looked as IL he had
just received bucket Of ice water on
his head.
Exactly the way I was going. pa
tron," he gasped out. II heard that
you knew every plank and door of I'LL
the houses in Paris, and IL certainly
must be So"
The fat man made no reply 20 Jo-
seph's admiring remarks. He was
thinking how he could catch Cla-
meran
As 20 the cashier. he listened won
deringly, watching these strangers,
who seemed determined TO reinstate
him in public opinion. and punish his
enemies. while he himself stood by
powerless and bewildered. What their
motives for befriending him could be.
he vbinly tried to discover.
Il will tell you what can do" said
Joseph, after deep thought.
What is it2'
Il can innocently walk out OF the
front door, and loaf along the street
until 1 reach the Hotel du Louvre"
And then?"
Dame! Clameran will come in and
question Madame Alexandra, whom
you can instruct beforehand. and she
is smart enough TO put any sharper
OF the track"
bad plant" pronounced NJ. Yer
duret, decidedly; "a scamp so compro-
missed az ClsmerRn l. not easily put
OF the track: now his eyes arc
opened, he viii be pretty hard 20
CATCH
Suddenly. In a brief tone Of authori-
~ which admitted OF no contradic-
tion, the fat man said;
Il have way. Has Clameran- since
he found that his papers have been
searched, seen Lagors?"
NO, patron"
Perhaps he has written 90 him2'
III bet my head he has not. Hav-
ing your orders TO watch his CORE
spondence. I invented a little system
which informs me every time ne
touches pen; during the last 20
hours the pens have not been
touched"
"Clamerau went out yesterday"
But the man who followed him
says he wrote nothing on the way"
Then we have time yeti" cried Yer
duret. "Hurryl hurry give you
IS minutes 20 make yourself head.
you know the sort; l will watch the
rascal until you come up"
The delighted Joseph disappeared in
n twinkling. while Prosper and NJ
Nerduret remained al the window OBJ
serving Clameran. who, according 10
the movements OF the crowd. -~as
sometimes lost 10 sight, and some
times just In front OF the win
dow, but was evidently determined
not 20 quit his post until he had OBJ
tanned the information he sought.
why do you devote yourself ex-
slusively 10 the marquis?'' asked Proo-
per.
Because, my friend" replied NJ.
Nerduret, "because-that il my husi-
ness and not yours"
Joseph Dubois had been granted
quarter Of an hour In which 10 meta
morphose himself; before ten minutes
had elapsed he reappeared-
The dandified coachman with Ber-
gam whiskers. red vest, and foppish
manners, was replaced by a sinister
looking individual whose very APP
pearance was enough TO scare any
rogue.
His black cravat twisted around a
paper collar. and ornamented by an
imitation diamond pin; his long-tailed
black coat buttoned up to the chin;
his greasy hat and shiny boots and
heavy c0ne-revealed the employe OF
the Rue de Jerusalem, as plainly as
the shoulder-straps mark "a soldier.
Joseph Dubois had vanished for
ever; and from his livery, phoenix
like and triumphant, arose the radi-
ant Fanferlot. surnamed the Squirrel.
When Fanferlot entered the room.
Prosper uttered cry of surprise and
almost fright.
He recognized the man WHO had as
| sisted the eommissary OF police to ex-