Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-08-11

rough sack filled apparently with SHAY
ings. He caught a sound as OF rus
thing paper. then a faint scratching.
Finally he spoke aloud in playful
reproach, ITS a pity, baron, to write
in that wonderful diary of yours with
a lead pencil"
The baron's voice showed his inter
est. Where do you think you are?"
I'm a deep underground room where
you store firewood."
GLOW do you know we are under
ground?"
"By the smell of the floor and be-
you need a candle when it's full
daylight above"
Coquenil was now looking about him
wonderingly. noting the damp stone
walls and high vaulted ceiling of a
large. windowless chamber. By the
uncertain light Of the baron's candle
he made out an arched passageway at
n side and around the walls piles of
logs carefully roped and stacked to-
gether.
"Coquenil." said De Heidelmann-
Bruck slowly, II give you credit for
unusual cleverness, but If you tell me
you have any inkling what I am wait
ing for
II know that you are waiting for the
girl"
'The girl.!' The other started.
"The girl Alice or Mary. your step
daughter"
God Almighty" burst out the bar
on. What a guess!!"
NJ. Paul shook his head. "No, not q
guess-a fair deduction. My ring is
gone. 1t was on my hand before you
gave me that chloroform. You took
it. That means you needed it. Why?
To get the girl. You knew it would
bring her. though how you knew it is
more than l can understand"
"Gibelin heard you speak of the ring
to Pougeot that night in the automo-
bile"
"Ah! And how did you know where
the girl was?"
Guessed it partly and had Pougeot
followed"
"And she's coming here?"
The baron nodded. "She ought to be
here shortly" then with a quick, cruel
smile, Il suppose you know why l
want her?"
"Im afraid l do" said Coquenil.
suppose we come in here" suggest
ed 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 up logs. In the middle of
the floor were a rough table spread
with food and two rough chairs. On
the table lay the diary.
"Sit down." continued the baron.
"Coquenil, I've watched you for years.
1 know all about you. and I'll say
this-you'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, I like you"
Thanks" Coquenil said simply.
cts a pity you couldn't see things
my way. l wanted to be your friend;
l wanted to help you. Just think how
many times I've gone out Of my way
to give you chances, fine business
chances"
II know"
"Now 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.
II understand" answered M. Paul.
IT appreciate what you say. There's q
bond between a good detective and"-
"A great detective" 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
pity"
II was saying," resumed the other,
that there is a bond between a de.
tective and a criminal. I suppose it
gets stronger between "a great de.
tective.' he smiled, land a great Grim
inal."
De Heidelmann-Bruck looked pleas
ed. "You regard me as a great crimi.
nal?"
Coquenil nodded gravely. II GER.
tainly do-the greatest since Ludovico
Schertzi. You know he had your iden.
teal little finger"
Really"
Coquenil was silent a moment. 'This
American-what Of him-noww
"He will be tried"
"And be found guilty?
eyes, but-with jealousy as an ex.
tenuating circumstance. He'll do q
few years, say fve."
"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."
"As the n he had rescued from the
charity bazaar 1re?"
Eyes"
Coquenil thought a moment. "Oh!
Did you know that private No. Z
would not be occupied that night by
Wilmott and the dancing girl?"
mo-"
''Then how did you dare go in
there?"
sSyxYiy--zA A. -s.p So,