Evening star., 1908-01-12

detective demurred to this particular as
signment on the plea that he was as YET
only a novice.
'.He has weak stomach" sneered
Joubert. "He will never make a good
cracksman."
Constantine hotly repelled the insinua-
tion. He put his hand on V:doeq's shoui-
der affectionately and said:
/ when this boy has had little more
experience -he will beat you all In the
business
vidocq smiled in sickly way at this
unexpected if dubious compliment. II
hearted scoundrel. But then business
was business. and il was too late TO turn
back now 1t was finally arranged that
Vidocq should remain on the outside OF
the garden wall and give the alarm II
the police should come in sight. III was
I now within a hour of the time When
they should sally forth on their unlawful
mission. ;.
! "Come. boys" cried Constantine. "a
drink all around and then we II get DOWN
i to business
i On the plea OF searching for his hat
and coat Nidocq contrved TO separate
| himself from the others for few minutes.
| He wrote hurried message on the back
of an old envelope. and finding gendarme
/ in the vicinity of the restaurant dispatch
] ed him with the note to the nearest pre-
! lecture. 1t was 70 the point. 1t told
. of the place of rendezvous and added:
I a
Frighten the cracksmen but make no
arrests until they have oeen driven TO a
place Of refuge.
When Vidocq returned to the table his
unsuspecting confederates were preparing
to leave. Their final toast was Sue
cess" drunk standing and in silence :
Under the exhilarating influence of their
LIQUOR they had scarcely noticed the mo-
mentary absence OF the detective. Once
on the outside they hurried along rapidly,
choosing the narrow and less frequented
thoroughfares. In about twenty minutes
they reached their destination. Con-
stantine halted. and putting his hand In
his hip pocket pulled out giistening re-
| voIver which he examined carefully.
] Vidocu was not a coWardly man. but the
resolute manner in which the chief thief
scrutinized his weapon sent cold shlver
down his spinal column. Constantine
then gathered his men about him and dis
| tributed a half dozen black masks which
thew adjusted with the ease that comes
from long practice. After that the chief
advanced to the gate with his brass key
the famous locksmith.s daughter. To his
surprise it would not work. He fun
bled with it for nearly minute and then
gave it up as a bad job.
BLAST the girl!' he muttered. She s
permitted them to bolt the door from the
inside
Perhaps she's peached whispered
Vidocq insinuatingly.
She wouldn't dare cried Constantine.
showing his teeth "She knows me and
she knows that would kill an informer."
Once again that cold shiver ran up and
down Vidocq's spinal column But 1t was
merely fieeting emotion. He had nerve
in plenty and to spare.
Boys" called the chief, we've got to
lump the wall and get down to business.
We can't fool around all night. Here
you''-to the detective-"give US a hand." !"
Vfdoca planted himself against the wall
Of the garden, and. holding out his two
hands. boosted the cracksmen over the
wall one at a time. Constantine was
to Vidocq and assisted him to the top
of the stone coping.
Now. Germain.' said Constantine to
the detective. you get in the shadow
sharp lookout. If you see the police give
low whistle. Be on the alert because
everything depends on you"
Vidocq nodded his head.
Yes he repeated. significantly. every
thing depends on me-
Two of the men had dark lanterns
Slowly. cautiously, they felt their way
toward the house. Constantine carried a
complete burglars kit. He got to work
Immediately.
vidocq on the wall watched the opera
ton intently. What unique positioni
He felt like an umpire for society al
that moment. The thieves on one side
of the wall the officers of the law on the
other. And himself in the middle Truly
everything depended on him.
Tick, tick, tick came the low, SHARP
J sound of the metallic instrument.
Finally the shutter was forced. Afte!
that a pane of glass was cut. and ther
nothing stood between the burglars and
their booty. Five minutes, ten minutes
they worked there industriously Every.
thing was done with business-like pre-.
csion. Four stout bags stood with yawn.
ing mouths ready to receive the swag.
Vidocq looked on the outside of the
wall. The streets were deserted Not
a soul was in sight Hau his note mis-
y carried? Would the police fail him? 1,
looked that way. What predicament