The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-12-07

cloud between these two had evapora
ted and they we're on the old terms to-
gether. The scene was Charing Cross
railway station, where Holt had gone
to shake his colleague for the last time
by the hand. Lepelletier was already
seated with brace Of warders to look
after him in a reserved third-class COM
partment, and Ribot was in readiness
to enter his own carriage when a
memory suddenly occurred to him.
by the way" he said, Il forgot it In
the pressure Of affairs, but my bird
down yonder''-nodding his head in
the direction of the compartment in
| which the prisoner was confined
seems to have had some connection
with case in which you were con-
cerned."
"Indeed?" said Holt.
81 had him shadowed whilst l left
him at liberty, and knew, of course,
that he was living on the proceeds OF
blackmail. Who it was that he had
under his thumb I did not guess. It
was obviously some one who was we'll
| to-do, for he seemed to have little diff.
ficulty in obtaining money. He made
two visits whilst under surveillance,
and he came back from each of them
with fair supply"
who was the victim?" Holt asked.
Had l ever anything to do with him."
"You had, indeed" said Ribot. At
this instant the clear call OF the
guards whistle sounded. The French
man stepped into his carriage, dropped
the window, closed the door, and lean
ed forward with beckoning fore
finger. Holt drew near. THE name
was" A shrek from the engine
cut off the word. The wheels began
to move, and Holt walked beside the
window.
What was the name?" he asked.
"Brangwyn," said Ribot. THAT may
be a clue for you. Au revoir."
The train rolled on, and Holt stood
there pondering Brangwyn again!
had been set on the right track, and
with this new impetus he experienced
a new impulse to probe this old puzzle
to its center. He walked slowly and
thoughtfully toward New Scotland
Yard. There he found his immediate
chief in charge, the man from whom
he had taken his instructions In the
Brangwyn case since first it fell into
his hands. He laid the new facts be-
fore him.
Seems to me, sir" he concluded,
"the mans got something to hide. We
made pretty good inquiry into his
antecedents months ago. and outside
his record clear"
eyes," said the chief, II have the
case in detail. 1t is not strong enough
to act on a man in his position. But
this new clew must be followed. You
will get your remand on Monday, and
you will have a week in hand. Follow
Ribot to Paris on the evening Of Mon
day next. Learn everything that he
can tell you, and report on return. It's
an interesting case, sergeant.
Interesting, sir!" said Holt. IRA
give little finger to be at the bottom
Of it."
'It has waited so long that 1t may
wait little longer" his chief answer
ed. Paris, Monday. Good night"
Goodnight. sir"
At the Hotel Continental on the
Tuesday morning Sergeant Holt en-
countered an old acquaintance. 1t was
Billery, but such a different Billery
to the Billery he had known that at
first glance he was not sure OF him.
Billery with lady on his arm-a lady
so evidently in the first blush of wife,
hood that there was no mistaking her.
Billery so refurbished, SO resplendent,
so clear Of complexion, so bright OF
eye, so impaccable in aspect and at
tire that even at second glance the
sergeant DOUBTED. But just then their
eyes met, and Billery's instant fash OF
recognition settled the question. He
spoke to the lady, who smiled and
spoke in answer, and the two crossed
the courtyard.
MY DEAR" said Billery, "allow me
to introduce you to Mr.. Holt. My wife.
Mr.. Holt"
Ito BE continued.)