The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1910-07-28

Appleton & Co.
''Snes all i've got. llgnoI: she's seven
ty years old aud intirm. and-no. no.
quit. l'm through
And the insurance?" Tignol asked
presently. what does that mean!"
II sent the renewal money to this
lawyer Abel" answered Couuenil in
dull tone. "They have used him
against me toto take my savings
There followed three days of pitiful
anxiety for Couuenii at his stricken
mothers side. Mime Coquenil. how
ever. never wavered in her sweet faith
that all was Well She was comfort
able now in the home of a hospitable
neighbor.
Finally Coquenii told her all-of the
murder of Martinez and OF the ad-
ventures that had befallen him in his
quest Of the slayer The old woman
would not listen to her sons stopping
his hunt because of any danger that
might threaten her. aud she insisted
that 1t was his duty to track down the
the situation FIR a day and a night
The next morning he came again to
his mothers bedside with his old
buoyant smile. and after loving greet
ings be said simply: Its all right.
little mother: ! see my way I'm go
ing to take the chance. and" he nod
ded confidently. "betwepn you and me.
I ! n II no tn in
this fight against the most pOlcertut forces
in all Frdnce''
Starting OH his newly outlined cam
paign against the false nohlelnan. Co
Quenil succeeded in having himself
employed as Il stablenan al his iuXu-
rious establishment on the itue de
Varennes. Next. by Il judiciouSly ex-
pended bride. he gained the aid of
bewhiskered t1unky Who was one of
the household attendants and who
kept him Informed as to the going and
coming of the maSter of the house
Thus it came to pass that Oh certain
night in August. about = O'Clock in the
morning. Paul Coquenil found himself
alone in the baron's spacious. silent
perienced burglar chaser naturally be-
comes Il bit of burglar himself. At
any rate. the safe swung open in due
course. without accident or interior
ence. and the detective stood before it.
All this Coquenil had done on
chance. without positive knowledge,
save for the assurance of the black
xx,IS c1. l<>%
frequently in diary which be kept
locked in the safe. Coquenil was GER
tain that In this diary would tie found
records that would prove valuable EVIL
dence in fastening the guilt of crime
on the unprincipled nobleman. And
the result of his dangerous quest prov
ed the great detective to have de-
duced correctly. On one of the shelves
Of the safe. among valuable papers
and securities. the detective found
thick book bound in black leather and
fastened with heavy gold clasps. 1t
was the diary.
With thrill Of triumph. Coquenil
seized upon the volume. then closed
the safe carefully.
Coquenil now paused. opened the
diary and began to read There were
some 400 neatly written pages-brief.
separate entries without dates. sepa-
rate thoughts. as 1t were-and as he
turned through them he found himself
more and more absorbed until pres
emily be forgot time, place. danger.
everything He was absolutely lost
in most extraordinary human docu-
ment-in one of those terrible utter
ances. sha meless and fearless. that are
flung out once in century or SD from
the hot. somler depths of a mans be-
ing:
LII have kept this diary because it
| amuses me. because | am not afraid. be-
cause my nature era YES and demands some
honest expression somewhere. Ii these
pages were read | should be- destroyed
understand that. but am In constant dan
ger of being destroyed anyway. / might
be killed by an automobile accident. A
small artery in my brain might snap. Be-
sides. have no fear. since | regard my
own life and all other lives as OF abso-
lutely triiing Importance.
u.-Half the great men OF this world
are great criminals The Napoeons of
trade and finance plumber tens OF thou
sands. 1t is the same among beasts and
fishes. among birds and insects. probably
among angels and devils. Everywhere we
find one inexorable law. resistiess as
gravttation. that impeis the strong to
plumber and destroy the weak.
Hit Is five years since | committed
what would be called a monstrous and
cowardiy crime. AS a matter OF fact,
did what my intelligence recognized as
necessary and what was therefore my
duty. However. let US call 1t a crime.
have been interested to watch for any
consequences or effects OF this crime in
myself. and l have discovered none
study my face carefully and fail to find
any marks OF wickedness. My eyes are
clear and beautiful: my skin Is remark
ably free from lines. l am In splendid
health. Ny nerves are absolutely steady
l have keen sense OF humor. | am Ger.
tainly better man. better looking, bet
ter feeling. stronger in every way, than
/ was before 1 committed this c,ime. II