The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-09-06
BY JOSEPH REMAND.

81 have read most Of these modern
detective stories that are SO popular"
said the old Judge. Both criminals
and detectives in them are wonder
fully clever. but still think can tell
a story that beats them all, but that
is rot very flattering to myself.
II was quite young, and had been
made project of police in a depart
ment near Paris. and had been quite
successful from the start. A gang of
burglars. WHO did not shrink from
murder. were infesting the neighbor-
hood. They called themselves the in
vincibles." In less than six months
broke up the gang. and had all the
leaders sent to prison for long terms
and when this was done went to
Paris for 4 muck needed rest.
"One morning received the follow
ing letter written in big firm hand:
"'Our group still exists and we
command you under penalty OF death
to pay over to us the sum of $4,000
francs. II you are wise you will sig
Nifty your willingness by tying a white
handkerchief to the hook outside your
window.
THE Invincibles."
Il laughed. 1t was evidently a joke
Of some comrade. But two days later
when I was returning home rather late
something crashed against the wall
near me and exploded. saw two
shadows disappear among the trees.
struck a match and saw that a bullet
had struck the wall quite near me.
Among my letters the next morning
found one written in pencil:
First warning.
THE Invincibles."
1.-TWO days later little after having
had my breakfast coffee I was seized
with violent attack of pain that last
ed until night and an examination
showed that some milk / had drunk
contained a mixture of arsenic and an
emetic. The next morning this letter
arrived:
Second and last warning; we might
increase the dose.
THE Invincibles."
1T was not possible. Was I a police
official or a creature of Conan Doyle's
Imagination? And still that shot!
This milk bought in the creamery on
the corner and served by the old valet
who had known me since was boy.
I admit lost my wits. I can hardly
describe the terror that seized me- It
was like the anguish of a prisoner In
his cell waiting to be executed.
"Still ! succeeded in controlling my
feelings. They were not to intimidate
me. They had tackled the wrong
man. and I would triumph over this
gang once more. I carried q loaded re-
volver and everything ate was care
fully examined. I even took the pre-
caution to write my bank not to pay
any check signed by me, SO that even
II they forced me to sign one by tor
ture 1t would not be honored.
when I returned from my usual
walk had an idea On the first door
In the house where I lived I had no
ticed a doorplate with the inscription:
Dick Nortrand, Private Detective
had seen advertisements in the paper
announcing this mans wonderful sue
cessful work. Why should not I en-
gage him to watch over me. A digni-
ned valet led me into Monsieur Nor
trand's Office where met . calm. self
possessed bald-headed gentleman. who
listened very attentively to my tale.
This seems. to be very serious
affair, Judge. These scoundrels are
evidently trying to revenge their COM
rades. They want your money. but
are even more anxious to take your
= a. A.
lar cases. Ny price. Il successful. viii