The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1910-06-16

i A AuS olu SiccpltSSucSS UlteF
I'M her lovers arrest. The next
~ day Mother Bonneton brought
before her lady of striking beau
ty. who wanted to see the towers
OF the ancient cathedral. When alone
with her Alice was amazed to hear
her visitor speak of knowing Lloyd
Kittredgc. and she learned that the
woman i'll sorlc mysterious way was
connected with the shocking murder
Of Martinez That the strange visitor
had come to further some purpose as
ISOLATED with Kittredge became evil
dent to Alice. whose amazement grew
apacc, for. in addition. the woman
seemed to know considerable about NJ.
Coquenil
Finally the visitor said: You must
60 to NJ. Coquenil at once. Tell the
old sacristan l have sent you ON an
errand for 20 francs"
Alice smiled family. II can manage
that. But what shall l say to NJ.
Paul?"
The woman drew forth a roll of 100
franc notes and handed them to Alice.
lawyer for the prisoner-and the mon
ey; will send more If necessary. Tell
him what has happened between us
and then put yourself in his hands.
Do whatever lie thinks best There
is one thing want Nj. Kittredge to
be told-1 wish you would write it
down SO as to make no mistake. Here
is Il pencil. and here is piece OF
paper" With nervous haste she tore
a page from a little memorandum
book and dictated Il message to the
! American prisoner in the conciergerie.
which Alice took down carefully.
1t was not until after vespers that
Alice was able to leave Notre Dame
and start for the Villa Montmorency.
Left alone in Coquenirs study by a
servant to await his coming, Alice
glanced in surprise about this strange
room. She saw photograph Of Gaze
ser and his master on the wall and
went nearer to look at it. Then she
noticed his collection Of plaster hands
and was just bending over it when
Coquenil entered. She turned with a
start.
81 beg your pardon" she muir
INJURED.
Are you interested in my plaster
casts?" he asked pleasantly.
81 was looking at this hand" replied
the girl II have seen one like it,
Coquenil shook his head good ma
turedly. 'That is very improbable. !"
l<,n Dl.> IN,,< I
she insisted.
"You mean in museum?"
"No. no; in life"
"You have seen Il hand with a little
finger as long as this One?''
Yes: it's as long as the third finger
and square at the end. I've often no.
ticed it,"
'Then you have seen something very
uncommon. mademOiselle. That is the
most remarkable hand in my collec.
ton. 1t is the hand of a man who
lived nearly 200 years ago. He was
one of the greatest criminals the world
has ever known"
The detectives curiosity was arous
ed. Would you mind telling me the
name of the persOn-Of course it's q
man-who has this hand?"
YES" said Alice, Its a man, but
should not like to give his name after
what you have told me-
"A man that you like?"
"Why-er-why. yes, like him.
But the detective noticed strange look
in her eyes. He changed the subject.
You'll have IL cup of tea with me
won't you? Then we can talk com
fortably. You haven't told Inc youl
name"
MY name is Alice Groener. My
family lived in Belgium, but l have
only cousin left. He is a wOodcar
= yer in Brussels. He would pay my
board with the BOnnetons, but | dom
want to be burden, so work at the
church.
The girl was seated in the full light
and as they talked Coquenil observed
her attentively, noting the pleasant
tones of her voice and the charming
lights in her eyes, studying her with 6
personal as well as professional in
terest, for was not this the young wo
man who had so suddenly and SO unac
countably Influenced his life?
"Would you mind telling me some
thing, mademOiselle?" he said sud
denly.
what is it?'
"Im asking this in the interest Of NJ
: Kittredge. Tell me If you know any
thing about this crime Of which he /!
accused. Do you know who was .nur
dered?"
Alice shook her head blankly. "Hov
could 1? No one has told me-"
ut was man named Martinez"