The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-04-12

eContinued-S
 M. Paul shoo1 LIS head. '.No. not guess-a fair deduction. My ring is gone It was on my hand before you gave me that chioroform. You took 1t. That means you needed it. Why? To get the girl. You knew it would bring her, though how you knew it is more than I can understand .''
 "Gibelin heard you speak of the ring to Pougeot that night In the automo- bile''
 s.Ahs And how did you know where the girl wasp
 Guessed it partly and had Pougeot followed
 ssAnd sheG coming hereY'
 The baron nodded. .She ought to be smile, '.I suppose you know why I want her?"
 sI'm afraid do.' said Coquenil.
 Suppose we come in here," suggest cd the other.
 With this he led the way through the arched passageway into another stone chamber very much like the first. only smaller. and lined in the same way with piled mp logs. In the middle of the floor were a rough table spread with food and two rough chairs. On Ine TaDle lay the diary.
 '.Sit down continued the baron. "Coquenil. I've watched you for years. know all about you. and I'll say thfs-yoH're the most interesting man I ever met. You've given me trouble, but-that's all right; you played fair, and-I like you. like you
 etThanks." CoQueniI said simply.
 Its a pity you couldn't see things my way. wanted to be your friend: wanted to help you Just think how many times I've gone out of my way to give you chances, fine business chances"
 ssI know.''
 'sNow see where you are! See what you've forced me to do! It's a pity; it cuts me up. Coquenil." He spoke with real sadness.
 T understand" answered M. Paul. eT appreciate what you say. There's bond between good detective and"-
 "A great detect1ve.'' put in the baron admiringly. '-the greatest detective Paris has known in fifty years or will know in fifty more. Yes. yes, it's a pityY'
 @I was saying,s' resumed the other, sthat there is a bond between de- tective and criminal. I suppose it gets stronger between a-a great de tectiVe.'' he smiled. ..and a great crim- inaI."
 De Heidelmann-B Bruck looked pleas ed. "You regard me as a great crimi- nal?''
 coquenil nodded graveIy. @I cer- tainly do-the greatest since Ludovico schertzi. You know he had your iden- tical little finger
 "ReaIlyi"
 CoqueniI was silent a moment. "This American what of him-now2'' 2''
 He will be tried"
 And be found guilty?''
 Yes. but-with jealousy as an ex- tenuating circumstance. He'll do a few years. say five"
 '.Ah. that brings me to the main point-how did Martinez get posses sion of your secret?'
 He met the girl accidentally and :, remembered .her.''
 -tAs the one he had rescued from the charity bazaar fire2'
 s.Yes'
 CoqueniI thought a moment. "Oh Did you know that private room No. would not be occupied that night bs WiInaott and the dancing girl?,' .Then how did you dare go in there?''
 .eWilmott and the girl were not due until g. and l had-finished by hait past g."
 How did you know Wiln1ott would mot be there until 9?,
 Martinez told me. It was in Anita's petit bleu that Mrs. WiImott showed him." .eHad you no direct dealings with Anfta?'' The baron shook his head. .I never saw the girl. The. thing just happened and-I took my chance.'' ssYou bought the auger for Martinez | aad told him where to bore the hoIesy' ssYes'' ~And the key to the aileyway doorT' s'I got duplicate key-through Du- bois. Anything else:'' .sAhr' said coeuentI. "By the way. how long have you known that was working here in your stableT' The baron smiled. Since the first day" s.And about the safe?" sIt was all arranged" ssThen-then you wanted me to read the diary ?y .sYes." answered the other, with strange expression. .I knew that if you read my diary I should be pro tected
 don't understand.