Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-03-17
CHAPTER II.
coQU1NM's GREATEST CASE.

IA steps toward the prefecture OF
90 police, but halfway across the
square he glanced back at the church
clock that shows its white face above
the grinning gargoyles, and. pausing,
he stood moment in deep thought.
"A quarter to ~ he reflected; then,
turning to the right. he walked quick
" to a little wine shop with flowers
In the windows, the Tavern Of the
Three Wise Men.
"Ah, thought so!'' he muttered as
he recognized his friend and assistant,
Papa Tignol, at one Of the tables on
the terrace. And approaching the old
man, who had red face and purple
tinged nose, he said In q low tone, 81
want you.''
Tignol looked up quickly from his
glass, and his face lighted. "Eh, M.
Paul again"
IT must see NJ. Pougeot," continued
the detective. It's important. Go to
his Office. If he isn't there go to his
house. Anyhow, find him and tell
him to come,to me at once. Hurry on.
I'll pay for this. And run across to
the church and tell Bonneton that he
needn't come either"
II knew it; I knew It," chuckled
Papa Tignol as he trotted of. There's
something doing"
With this much arranged Coquenil,
after paying for shis friends absinth,
strolled over to a cab stand near the
statue Of Henry Nv. and selected a
horse that could not possibly make
more than four miles an hour. Be-
hind this deliberate animal he seated
himself, and. giving the driver his adj
dress. he charged him gravely not to
60 too fast and settled back against
the cushions to comfortable medita-
tions. There is no better way to
think out tough problem" he used
to insist, than to take a very long
drive In very slow cab.''
1t may have been that this horse was
not. slow enough, for forty minutes
later Coquenil's frown was still unre-
Taxed when they drew up at the Villa
Mcntmorency, really a collection OF
villas; some dozens of them, in pri-
vate park near the Bots de Boulogne.
The detective occupied wing Of
the original Montmorency chateau, "a
habitation Of ten spacious rooms, more
than enough for himself and his
mother and the faithful old servant
Melahie, who took care Of them, espe.
cially during these summer months,
when Nine. Coquenil was away at q
country place in the Vosges mountains
that her son had bought for her. Paul
hoA Ia ~.
friends declared that besides his work,
he loved only two things in the world
his mother and his dog.
At g o'clock the detective rose from
the dinner table and withdrew into
his study, a large room opening of the
dining room and furnished like no 9th
er study in the world. Around the
walls were low bookcases with wide
tops, on which were spread, under
glass, what Coquenil called his Grim
inal museum. This included souvenirs
Of cases on which he had been en-
gagged, wonderful sets Of burglars
tools, weapons used by murderer
saws, picks, jointed jimmiss Of tenn
pered steel, that could be taken apart
ana folded up In the space Of a thick
cigar. and hidden about the person.
Melanie entered presently with cof-
fee and cigarettes, which she placed
ON "a table near the green shaded
lamp, within easy reach Of the great
rod leather chair where M. Paul was
seated.
Suddenly there came a clang at the
iron gate in the garden and the sound
Of quick, crunching steps on the gravel
walk. M. Pougeot had arrived.
M. Lucien Pougeot was one Of the
eighty police commissaries who. each
In his own quarter, oversee the moral
washing Of Paris dirty linen. NJ.
Pougeot was one Of the most distin-
guished and intelligent members of
this. interesting body. He was de-
voted friend Of Paul Coquenil.
sWell," remarked the commissary
when they were settled in their chairs,
II suppose it's the Rio de Janeiro
thing? Some parting instructions, eh?'
And he turned to light a cigar.
Coquenil shook his head.
when do you sail?"
"I'm not sailing"
''What?''
For once in his life NJ Pougeot was
surprised. he knew ali about this
foreign offer, with its extraordinary
money advantages. He had rejoiced
In his friends good fortune after two
unhappy years, and now-now Coque-
nil Informed him calmly that he was
not railing.
II have just made decision, the
most important decision Of my life,''
continued the detective, land I want
yousto know about it. You are the
only person In the world who will
housekeeping. So, listen! This
afternoon went into Notre Dame
church, saw young girl there
who sells candles. didn't know her
but she looked up in a queer way, as
II she wanted to speak to me. SO ]
went to her, and-well. she told me Of
dream she had last night"
- dreAm" snorted the commissary,
go she said. She may have been
lying, or she may have been put up to
&. know nothing about her, NOT
eve1 her name, but that's OF no con
eeQdence. The point II that in this
dream, q she called It, she brought
S$SSSS<Aec the two most impottant
awnfa IN nv life E