The Prescott daily news., 1910-04-01

it's 4 thinp is to ask NJ. Kittredge about a chest of drawers in his room at the Hotel des Etrangers. It is piece of old oak, rather worm eaten, but it has good bronzes for the drawer handles, two dogs fighting on either side of the lock plates"
 Alice listened in aStonishment. "I didn't suppose you knew where NJ. Kittredge lived"
 Nor did l until this morning." he smiled. Since then I-well. as my friend Gibelin says, I haven't wasted my time"
 Your friend Gibelin?" repeated AL ice, not understanding
 Coquenil smiled grimly He is an amiable person for whom am prepar- ing a-a little surprise"
 "Oh. And what about the chest of drawers?"
 Its about one particular draw wer, the small upper one on the right hand side. Better write that down."
 'The small upper drawer on the 1 right hand side,' repeated Alice
 ''I find that M Kittredge always kept this drawer locked. He seems to be methodical person. and want to know if he remembers opening it a few days ago and finding it unlocked Have you got thatT'
 Yes"
 Good. Oh, one thing more. Find out if NJ. Kittredge ever suffers from rheumatism or gout'
 The girl smiled. Of course he does not. He Is only twenty eight" Please do not take this lightly. mademoiselle," the detective chided gently. Tt is perhaps the most i'm portant point of all. His release from prison may depend on it."
 It was after G when Alice left the circular railway at the Monrouge stu tion. She came to an open pl"a where she recognized Bartholdi's famous Bel fort lion Then she kneN her way, and. hurrying along the Boulevard Arago, she came presently to the gloomy mass of the Sante prison, which. with it's diverging wings and galleries. spreads out like great gray spider in the triangular space between the Rue Humboldt, the Rue de la Sante and the Boulevard Arago
 No sooner had the guard heard that she came with note from M. Paul l., ..t,N l.N,, al to small waiting room. A door open ed and hard faced, low browed man of heavy build bowed to her with crooked, sinister smile and motioned her into his private office. It was NJ Dedet the chief jailer.
 She wanted to speak with the Amer ican, M Kittredee. who had been sent here the night before-she wanted to speak with him alone.
 The jailer snapped his teeth and mar rowed his brows in hard stare. Did Paul Coquenil send you here for that?" he questioned.
 "Yes, sir" answered the girl, and her heart began to sink. You see, it's a very special case and
 Special case" laughed the other harshly "I should say so. It's case of murder"
 But he is innocent, perfectly inno cent" pleaded Alice.
 "Of course but If l let every mur- derer who says he's innocent see his sweetheart-well. this would be fine prison. No, no. little one" he went on, with offensive familiarity "I am sorry to disappoint you. and hate to refuse NJ. Paul, but it can't be done. This man is au secret, which means that he must not see any one except his lawyer
 Alice did not move. She had been sitting by a table on which large sheet of pink plotting paper was spread before writing materials. And as she listened to the directors rough words she took up a pencil and twisted It nervously i'll her fingers. Then, with increasing agitation as she realized that her effort for Lloyd had failed, she began without thinking to make little marks on the blotter and then written scrawl-all with a singular fixed look in her eyes.
 You'll have to excuse me-" said the taller gruffiy.
 Alice started to her feet IT beg your pardon" she said weakly.