St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-07-04

her the most flattering attentions an
when the night was far advanced AM
ne and his associates were we'll unde
the influence Of wine, she managed t,
explore the upper portion of the house
IN a desk in his library, opened by tn,
AID OF one of the skeleton keys yol
provided, she discovered paper con
tanning the minutes of the last meet
ing held by the society. Here it is
You viii perceive that M. Claude il
named as the next victim to be
marked by the Scarlet Arrow"
She tossed folded paper on the
CHIEFS desk, and M. Claude. spreading
1t out, perused the contents with eager
eyes. At the conclusion of his examin
alton he said:
This document establishes beyond
doubt the completely of M. Landre
In the series of mysterious murders
nine in all, that have taken place re.
Gently. In each case one of these
tokens was attached to the victims
clothing"
opening a drawer, he produced a
miniature metal arrow painted a
bright scarlet, with pin attachment
apparently intended for the purpose of
allowing it to be worn as an orna.
ment.
In the flrst two instances" resumed
the chief, where this symbol made its
appearance, | was disposed to lock
upon 1t as mere coincidence. But
when third corpse was discovered
this time in the waters of the Seine
also bearing the scarlet arrow. I saw
that the thing possessed a sinister sig
nlt1cance. Since then six more MIR
ders have occurred, with the arrow as
sole clue to the perpetrators. Within
the last month my men have succeed
ed in tracing eight of these crimes tn
the so-called Society of Avengers
which numbers among its members
over so of Europe's most desperate
and daring criminals"
Yet no arrests have been made"
remarked Nine. Rigault.
That is So" returned the chief "be-
cause / held my hand, with the design
OF obtaining evidence against the mas
ter fiend who organized the society
and whose cunning enabled it to ex-
ISL 10 wound a serpent's body Is not
sufhcient; one must crush the head
m order to render the reptile harmless
It was for that reason required your
assistance in sharing M. Landre The
position he holds at court and the
powerful political influence he exerts |
made 1t necessary to be cautious when
lealing with him"
What possible advantage can M
andre hope to derive through his as
ISOLATION with a band of deprayed
'riminals?" inquired Nine. Rigault,
'uriously.
The advantage of having danger.
'us instruments at his command" re-
lied the chief. "The society's avowed
'bject is to avenge the betrayal of any
riminal to the law on those who have,
ither unwittingly or by design, as
listed in his capture. Each of the
Inc victims so far sacrificed was a
IAN who had supplied information to
he police that resulted in the appre-
ension and punishment of some male.
actor. But NJ. Landre is clever +
nough to know that with such evil
orces under his direction he could
lso employ them to serve his person
ends. The scarlet symbol was un-
chosen for the purpose of
npressing the public with the exist
nee of mysterious and deadly DOW
in its midst which it would be fatal
lie creation of state of chaos that
offend. M. Landre looks forward to ]
ould materially assist the designs of
russia upon this country. With an
'chy rampant in the principal city t
France, our government would be v
1t to serious straits in the event Of t
;gression by foreign power" t
These proofs should be submitted d
the emperor at once" exclaimed $
me. Rigault in agitated tones.
my dear lady" rejoined the chief b
acidly, the fruitsis not yet ripe for G
ucking. Something more is needed a
9 Louis Napoleon can be convinced
at the man whom he has loaded with y
nefits is a traitor most foul M. p
.ndre, although possibly the most 3
ngerous. is not the only Prussian n
Y in the Chateau, as you are well
are" lie