Evening star., 1908-01-12
GREAT CASES OF THE WORLDS GREATEST DETECTIVES
5--vDOCQ

for sleuth. To he the confederate of
thieves. If one of his many enemies
should catch him in such a position no
might have a hard time explaining to
NJ. Henry. Presently measured tread
was heard on the hard sidewalk His
heart bounded 1t was a squad OF police.
He leaned over and whispered:
Hist"
A captain OF police approached.
1T is I-Nidocq." called the detective in
| a subdued voice. Il will give the alarm.
but wish you TO let them go their way.
wo of them are armed. Presently come
| to my old lodgings
| The captain saluted and with his mon
| sought shelter. At the moment
Nidoca gave low prolonged whistle.
instantly there was a commotion within.
Bags were grabbed up and all scampered
/ toward the wall
/ ITS the police. whispered Nidoca.
Come quickly and YOU may escape
| They unbolted the gate and hurried
out. Nidocq joined them.
Where are the police" whispered Con-
They've gone the other way" said
/ Nidocq. IF were careful We can elude
4 them.
| They hurried along for a few blocks.
The detective turned TO the chief cracks
man:
ITS dangerous to go through the
streets with these bags. Here's my old
lodgings. Let's creep in here for shelter"
4 IAN you get IN. asked IOnSthnllne.
| 0Eure." replied vidocq. 4 have my
key and know the rooms vacant"
/ Silently they crept inside. one at a
! time. and closed the door behind them.
Constantine slapped vidoca on the back.
You're brick. Germain. ] told you
| he'd distinguish himself. boys.
What do you call this place. asked
Joubert. looking around him.
Il call 1t the mousetrap.' said Nidocq.
/ with leer.
The cracksmen laughed loudly at this
sally.
The swag was poured out on the table
and the enterprising gentlemen were soon
engaged in dividing their rich haul. Con-
stantine and Joubert. the only ones who
possessed weapons, laid their pistols on
a, chair. Silly Vidocq picked them up and
secreted them under mattress. In the
! midst of the exultation a loud knocking
was heard at the door The thieves
looked at one another with pale faces.
! Vidocq crawled under the bed, unob-
| served. No sooner was he out Of sight
| than the door was burst upon and a
swarm of inspectors and policemen en-
/ tered the room. In the twnkling of an
| eye five pairs of handouts were showed
onto the wrists of the cracksmen and
they were being marched TO the nearest
police station.
/ "
1t was New Year day at the prefecture
established custom. was holding his an
nual reception. The room was crowded
and all of the officers of the police. high
and low, were there to present their chier
with the compliments of the season. NJ.
Bertaux, the cross-examiner of criminals.
and NJ Parisot. the governor of prisons.
were in the line receiving with NJ. Henry.
During a lul in the crowd the three
men drifted into a conversation concern
ing crime.
by the bye. NJ. Henry" said NJ, Ber-
taux. what has become of the feiiow
| Vidocq?'
Il really do not know" said the pre-
feet gravely.
What" exclaimed the other, mot
know.
seen him since the day l called him in in
your presence and delegated him to break
up the burglaries that have dlsgraced the
police system of the city.
"And the burglaries, continued the
other tauntingly. they have continued?"
NJ Henry nodded.
And Vfdoca--he has dsappeared?"
The prefect nodded again.
NJ Bertaux burst into an ironical laugh.
I'M. Henry. you have >been deceived;
taken in; hoodwinked.
/ The prefeGt shook his head.
"I am NOT ready to CONFESS defeat"
At that moment STedl cOfHHiolioH was
heard-on the outside An attendant was
summoned.
What is the confusion?"
"All of the valuables stolen from the
bankers house in the Champs ElyseeS
have been recovered
Good" retorted NJ. Henry, "but is that
an?"
No: VidOcq is outside demanding ad-
mittance. He has no card.
admit him. snapped the prefect. A
moment later five men handcuffed entered
the room Bringing up the rear was
Vidocq. The first prisoner was Con-
stantine the others Jouhert and his COM
panions. Vidocq made a profound bow.
and smiling his perpetual smile. pointed
to the cursng culprits.
| M. Henry. l wish you the compliments
of the season. and as New Year gift
present to you the redoubtable Constan-
tine and his fellow cracksmen."
Next week-"Chef Brooks and the Man
With the Lazy Eyes.'o