The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-03-30

A ing and sleeplesSness after lEH her lovers arrest. The next day Mother Bonneton brought before her a lady of striking beau ty, who wanted to see the towers of the ancient cathedral. When alone l with her Alice was amazed to hear her visitor speak of knowing Lloyd Kittredge, and she learned that the woman in some mysterious way was connected with the shocking murder of Martinez. That the strange visitor had come to further some purpose as- sociated with Kittredge became evil dent to Alice, whose amazement grew apace, for, in addition, the woman seemed to know considerable about M. CoQuenil.
 Finally the visitor said: tFYou must go to M. Coquenn at once. Tell the old sacristan I have sent you on an errand for 20 francs"
 Alice smiled faintIy. ttI can manage that. But what shall I say to M. Paul?'
 The woman drew forth a roll of 100 franc notes and handed them to Alice.
 Speak to him about getting a good lawyer for the prisoner-and the mon- ey; will send more if necessary. Tell him what has happened between us duu Iu0A put yOuIS01l III HIS uduuSe Do whatever he thinks best. There is one thing I want M. Kittredge to be told-I wish you would write it down so as to make no mistake. Here is a pencil, and here is a piece of paper" With nervous haste she tore a page from a little memorandum book and dictated a message to the American prisoner in the conciergerie, which Alice took down carefully.
 It was not until after vespers that Alice was able to leave Notre Dame and start for the Villa Montmorency.
 Left alone in CoqueniPs study by a servant to await his coming, Alice glanced in surprise about this strange room. She saw a photograph of Cae- ser and his master on the wall and went nearer to look at it. Then she noticed his collection of plaster hands and was just bending over it when Coquenil entered. She turned with a start.
 '1-I beg your pardon" she mur- mured-
 Are you interested in my plaster casts?" he asked pleasantly.
 q was looking at this hand,'' replied the girl. "I have seen one like it.''
 Coquenil shook his head good na- turedly. 'HThat is very improba ble"
 Alice looked closer. "Oh, but have" she insisted
 'fYou mean in a museum?"
 'sNo, no; in life.''
 s'You have seen a hand with a little finger as long as this oneP'
 'sYes; it's as long as the third finger and square at the end I've often mo- ticed it.''
 s"Then you have seen something very uncommon. mademoisel1e. That is the most remarkable hand in my collec- t1on- It is the hand of a man who lived nearly POO years ago. He was one of the greatest criminals the world has ever known
 The detectives curiosity was arous- ed. tfWould you mind telling me the name of the person-of course it's a man-who has this hand?"
 "Yes,'' said Alice, tits a man, but l should not like to give his name after what you have told me-"
 "A man that you 1ike?"
 ''Why-er-why, yes, like him'' But the detective noticed strange look in her eyes. He. e.changed the subject.
 You'll have q cup of tea with me, won't you? Then we can talk com fortably. You haven't told me your name."
 My name is Alice Groener My family lived in Belgium, but have only a cousin left He is a woodcar- yer in Brussels. He would pay my board with the Bonnetons, but I don't want to be a burden, so I work at the church.
 The girl was seated in the full light and as they talked Coquenil observed her attentively, noting the pleasant tones of her voice and the charming lights in her eyes, studying her with a personal as well as a professional in terest, for was not this the young wo- man who had so suddenly and so unac- countably influenced his life?
 .FWould you mind telling me some thing, mademoiseIle?'' he said sud denly.
 'fWhat is it?''
 '1I'm asking this in the interest of M Kittredge. Tell me if you know any thing about this crime of which he is accused. Do you kpow who was mur- dered?'
 Alice shook her head blankly. ''How could [? No one has told me.''
 'tIt was a man named Martinez
 She started at the word. What the billiard player?" she cried.
 Did you know hinn?''
 tEOh. yes; very weIl-''
 Now it was CoquentPs turn to feel surprise.
 You knew Martinez very well?'
 '1 often saw him. she explained '.at the cafe where we went evenings
 ''Who were 'we?"
 ''Why, Papa Bonneton would take me. or my cousin, NJ. Groener, or NJ Kfttredge''
 .sThen M Kittredge knew Marti-