The Green Forest tribune., 1908-10-30

opportunity of demonstrating the worth of those faculties which have gained for you the sobriQuet of The Lynx. There is an Englishman named Horace We're, living at No. 2S Boule- yard Haussmann. Find out all you can concerning his habits and personal at tendants and report to me as soon as possible"
 ''The Lynx" tall, thin individual with small restless black eyes, saluted and went forth upon his mission with out replying. He was man of few words, with an infinite capacity for obtaining information from unpromis- ing sources, a quality which enabled him to rank as one of M. Claude most trusted aids. Therefore the chief was not surprised when early the fol lowing morning his willy subordinate offered an exhaustive report on the daily life and pursuits of the object of Mime. Rigault's hatred.
 "This so-called Alfred Beausine, con fidential valet to M. We're, whose name appears marked with a red cross in your notes-is he then one of our missing birds, M. Serge?" inquired the chief
 'Beausine is his alias, M. Claude, replied the Lynx He is none other than Levard, wanted in connection vita the robbery of Pierre Simons, the jeweler, last year. I did not arrest him as l preferred to wait for further orders"
 Have him brought here at once,' or dered the chief. Is there substantial evidence against him in the Simons case?"
 Enough to warrant a speedy con- viction and galley sentence, M. Claude" returned the Lynx. T will produce him in little while.'
 M. Serge was as good as his word, for within the space of an hour he re- appeared with the prisoner, a shifty- eyed, undersized man, who blinked nervously as he stood before the pre- feet.
 You are Lavard, at present mas querading under the name of Beausine, one of four confederates concerned in an attack upon M Simons, the jewel er?" queried the chief
 The man murmured faint reply in the affirmative and M. Claude con tinued:
 "The evidence against you is con- plete and of sufficient importance to provide heavy punishment. It now rests with yourself whether you will be given the galleys for 15 years or re- ceive a comparatively light sentence upon my recommendation. Whether I shall interfere or not depends upon the manner in which you carry out a certain task at my bidding."
 A faint tinge of color crept into the prisoners pallid face.
 What do you require of me, M. Claude?" he asked timidly.
 "ln the possession of your master, M. vere," said the chief, there are several letters written by Mile. Blanche Leclair to his cousin, now de- ceased. Obtain those documents and 1 promise that your punishment for complicity in the Simon affair will be merely nominal"
 Two days after the above conversa- ton had taken place the chief was sitting alone at his desk when one of his subordinates announced that an Englishman named We're desired an audience with him. M Claude, much surprised, but curious as to the cause of the unexpected visit, gave orders that he be admitted, and the door opened to disclose the person of one of the most formidable looking men that had ever entered the prefecture.
 We're was a giant in stature, with huge shoulders, long, muscular arms and a chest whose tremendous width and depth gave promise of herculean strength His broad face, red and swollen, gave eloquent testimony of nights spent in reckless dissipation. and from under heavy brows his little bloodshot gray eys gleamed maE ..ous- ly Without troubling himself to go through the formality of asking per mission he deposited his immense frame on a convenient chair, and leaning back at ease, surveyed the chief with an air of cool defiance.
 If M. Claude's indignation rose at the insolent demeanor of the English man. it did not appear on his tran