Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-05-19

Let me ask first" replied Coquenil
deliberately. "what you regard as the
most important thing to be known in
this case just now"
"The name Of the woman" answered
Hauteville promptly.
"Then the man who gives you this
woman's name and address will rem
der a real service?"
"a service% exclaimed Hauteville.
"The whole case rests on this woman"
"Come, come" interrupted the chief.
"What are you driving at"
II have the woman's lame and ad-
DRESS" exclaimed Coquenil.
Impossible" they cried.
II got them by my W efforts, and
I will give them up on my own terms"
He spoke with a look of fearless pur-
pose that NJ. Simon we'll remembered
from the old days.
"a thousand devils! How did you
do it," cried Simon.
II watched the American in the cab
as he leaned forward toward the Ian
tern light, and 1 saw exactly what he
wa doing. He opened the lady's bag
and cut out a leather flap that had
her name and address stamped on it."
"No," contradicted Gibelin; there
was no name in the bag. I examined
it myself"
"The name was on the underside of
the flap" laughed the other, "in gilt
letters"
Gibelin's heart sank.
"And you took this flap from the
American" asked M. Simon.
"No. no! Any violence would have
brought my colleague into the thing,
for he was close behind, and I wanted
this knowledge for myself"
what did you do? pursued the
chief.
II let the young man cut the flap
into small pieces and drop them one
by n as we drove through dark lit
tie streets. And I noted where he
dropped the pieces. Then I drove back
and picked them up-that is. all but
two"
"Marvelous!" muttered Hauteville.
II had a small searchlight lantern to
uC1p Lie AudL was Oue W Iuc luluSS
I took from my desk.'' he added to
Pougeot.
"And these pieces Of leather with
the name and address, you have
them?" continued the chief.
II have them"
"With you"
Eyes"
MAY I see them?"
certainly. If you will promise to
respect them rs my personal prop
erty?
Simon hesitated. "You mean He
frowned and then said impatiently.
ooh, yes, I promise that"
Coquenil drew an envelope from his
breast pocket and from it be took a
number Of white leather fragments.
And he showed the chief that most of
these fragments were stamped in gold
letters or parts Of letters.
"I'm satisfied" declared Simon after
examining several Of the fragments
and returning them. "Bon Dieu"!' he
stormed at Gibelin. "And you had
that bag in your hands,"
Gibelin sat silent. This was the
w~retchedest moment in his career.
"Well," continued the chief, 1--WE
must have these pieces Of leather.
What are your terms?"
II told you" said Coquenil, 81 want
to be put back IN the force. I want
to handle this case"
M. Simon thought a moment. "That
ought to be easily arranged. T will see
the prefet de police about it in the
morning"
But the other demurred. IT ask you
to see him tonight. It's ten minutes
to his house in an automobile. I'll
wait here
The chief smiled. you're in a hur-
ry, aren't you? Well, SO r we. Will
you come with me, Hauteville?"
eyes"
In less than an hour the men re-
turned with good news for the great
detective.
"The prefet was extremely nice.'
said M. H%auteville. "He took our
view at once"
"Then my commission is signedY
Precisely" answered the chief.
"You are one of us again, and-Tm
glad"
"Thank you, both of you," said NJ.
Paul, with a culver Of emotion.