The Virginia enterprise., 1908-08-07

was a squad of police. He leaned
over and whispered:
Hist"
A captain of police approached.
1T is I-Vidocq," called the detect.
i've in a subdued voice. Il will 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 CON-
motion within. Bags were grabbed
up and all scampered toward the wall.
Its the police" whispered Vidocq:
come quickly and you may escape"
They unbolted the gate and hur-
ried out. Vidocq joined them.
Where are the police?" whispered
Constantine
They've gone the other way" said
Vidocq. If 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 Vidocq. Il have my
key and know the rooms vacant"
Silently they crept inside, one at q
| time, and closed the door behind them.
| Constantine slapped Vidocq on the
| back.
| You're brick, Germain. I told you
he'd distinguish himself, boys"
What do you call this place."
asked Joubert, looking around him.
| Il call it the mousetrap," said VI
| dccq, 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
I rich haul. Constantine and Joubert,
the only ones who possessed weapons,
laid their pistols on chair. Silly
Vidocq picked them up and secreted
| them under a mattress. In the midst
of the exultation 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 handouts
were showed onto the wrists of the
| 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 a long established custom, was
holding his annual reception. The
room was crowded and all Of the Of
fcers of the police, high and low,
were 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 a lull in the
crowd the three men drifted into a
conversation concerning crime.
"By the bye, NJ Henry" said M.
Bertaux, what has become Of the
fellow Vidocq?"
Il really do not know said the pre-
feet gravely.
What" exclaimed the other, mot
know"
not seen him since the day l called
him in in your presence and dele.
gated him to break up the burglaries
that have disgraced the police system
of the CITY,"
"And the burglaries," continued tho
other tauntingly, they have contin-
ued?"
M. Henry nodded.
And Vidocq-he has disappeared"
The prefect nodded again.
NJ. Bertaux burst into an fronical
! laugh.
m. Henry, you have been deceived;
taken in; hoodwinked"
The prefect shook his head.
II am not ready to confess defeat"
At that moment a great commotion
was heard on the outside. An At
tendant was summoned.
What is the confusion?'
"All of the valuables stolen from the
Lanker's house in the Champs Elysees
have been recovered"
Good" retorted NJ. Henry; ''but IL
that all?"
"No; Vidocq is outside demanding
admittance. He has no card"
admit him!" snapped the prefect.
A moment later five men handcufed
entered the room. Bringing up tho
rear was VidocQ. The first prisoner
was Constantine, the others Joubert
and his companions. Vidocq made a
profound bow and, smiling his per-
petual smile, pointed to the cursing
culprits.
m. Henry, 1 wish you the. compn'
ments of the season, and as a New
Years gift present to you the re-
doubtable Constantine and his fellow
cracksmen." .~iz Fl! -. ~ e. =, ;,
(Copyright, by W. g. Chapma0)