The Elbert County tribune., 1908-08-06

utes. ten minutes they worked thers
industriousiy Everything was done
with business-like precision. -Four
stout bags stood with yawning mouths
ready TO receive the swag.
vidocq looked on the outside Of tho
wall. The streets were deserted. Not
soul was in sight. Had his note
miscarried7 Would the police fail
him? II looked that way. What .
predicament for a sieuthI To be tho
confederate OF thievesl II one Of hts
many enemies should catch him in
such position he might have q hard
time explaining to M. Henry. Present
ly a measured tread was heard on tho
hard sidewalk. His heart bounded. II
was a squad Of police. He leaned
over and whispered.
Hist"
captein OF police approached
1T is I--vidocq," called the detect
i've in a subdued voice. Il win give
the alarm. but ] wish you to let them
go their way. Two OF them are
armed. Presently come to my old
lodgings"
The captain saluted and with his
men sought shelter At the same mo-
ment vidocq gave low, prolonged
whistle. Instantly there was com
motion within Bags were grabbed
up and all scampered toward the wall.
IT'S the police" whispered vidoca;
come quickly and you may escape"
They unbolted the gate and hur-
ried out. vidocq Joined them.
Where are the policeT" whispered
Constantine,
They've gone the other way" said
vldocq III we're careful we can
elude them"
They hurried along for few blocks.
The detective turned to the chief
cracksman
ITS dangerous to go through the
streets with these bags. Here's my
old lodgings Let's creep In here for
shelter?'
Can you get in" asked constan-
tine.
Sure" replied vidoca. Il have my
key and | know the rooms vacant"
Silently they orept inside, one at a
time, and closed the door behind them.
Constantine slapped Vidocq on the
back.
You're brick. German, l told you
he'd distinguish himself, boys
What do you call this placer
asked Joubert, looking around him.
Il call 1t the mousetrap," said Vi
docq, with leer.
The cracksmen laughs-. loudly az
this sally
The swag was poured out on the
table and the enterprising gentlemen
were soon engaged in dividing their
rich haul. Constantine and Joubert,
the only ones who possessed weapons.
laid their pistols on a chair. Silly
vidocq picked them up and secreted
them under a mattress. In the midst
OF the exultation a loud knocking was
heard at the door The thieves looked
at one another with pale faces. VI
docq crawled under the bed, unob-
served. No sooner was he out of
sight than the door was burst open
and swarm Of inspectors and police
men entered the room. In the twin
king OF an eye five pairs OF handcufrs
were showed onto the wrists Of thsr
cracksmen and they were being
marched to the nearest police station
III.
1t was New Years day at the pre-
lecture OF police. M. Henry, follow
ing long established custom, was
holding his annual reception. The
room was crowded and all Of the Of
ficers Of the police, high and low,
we're there to present their chief with.
the compliments of the season. M.
Bertaux, the cross-examiner of Grim
inals. and M. Parisot, the governor OF
prisons. were In the line receiving
with NJ. Henry. During lull In the
crowd the three men drifted into =
conversation concerning crime
by the bye, M. Henry" said M
Bertaux. what has become OF the
fellow vidoca7"
Il really do not know" said the pre-
feet gravely
What" exclaimed the other. mot
know."
NO" was the response II have
not seen him since the day j called
him In In your presence and dele
gated him to break up the burglariee.
that have disgraced the police systsm
Of the city
And the burglaries." continued the
other tauntingly. they have contin-
ued?'
M. Henry nodded.
And vidocq-he has disappeared2~
The prefect nodded again.
M. Bertaux burst into an ironicaJ
laugh.
IN. Henry, you have been deceived.
taken in: hoodwinked"