Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-26

amable smile out from under the little clerks
mustache.
M Clarke-W Vaudeville C1arke?" the sleuth
questioned.
Yes, the clerk remembered the name; he had
heard it earlier in the evening; indeed, it had
then snatched out of his hand-so-and destroyed
"Ah!" 1t long aspirated expression of re-
lief from M. Remi; the Remi reputation threatened
to be crowned with new glory. "Ah! You will be
so kind as to 60 on?
The little clerk leaned forward dramatically Il
have reason to believe NJ Clarke is here in the hotel
seur, will say am positive he is here!''
"Ah!" The cunning black eyes were alive as
flames. Your reasons MONSIEUR"
He came here, American early in the evening
and his conduct suspicious in the extreme " the
little clerk volubly. He used strange Ameri-
can words and great many, of them. although he
who speak only the language of my beloved France
Il am awaiting details, Monsieur" remarked M.
Remi.
when first he came he repeated the name W.
Vaudeville Clarke many times, and finally, Mon
seur, came to know that he introducing him
self. All! You must give me credit for the great
seur, until finally he wrote the name upon slip of
paper; then, apparently realizing that he had COM
mitted blunder and betrayed himself he snatched
the paper from my hand ,-so.-tore it into bits and
cast it away. 1t must be here even now"
Together they bounced on the four bits of paper
which had been knocking about the floor all night
W. Mandeville Clarke! Little cries of Satisfaction
escaped them the grew beneath their deft
fingers, and when all was done they shook hands
mutely, admiringly.
Then when he had torn up and cast away this
so precious bit of paper, the clerk went breath
lessly, he seemed not himself, and again he said
many strange words Then he seized the register
so-and wrote upon it another name"
What manner" demanded the sleuth keenly.
See for yourself Monsieur"
He spun the book round on the desk and M Remi
read therein the large written:
John Smith Passa1c, N. ].
FOR a time NJ Remi looked then there came into
his beady black eyes supercilious light, and
finally he permitted sneering smile to curl the cor
of his mouth ut is strange thing Monsieur
he told the little clerk easily from the depths of his
infinite WISDOM that whenever and wherever an
American is arrested or is threatened with arrest he
gives his John Smith. If there had been any
doubt as to this-er-M. Smiths attempt to hide his
true identity, the mere fact that he signed the
John Smith would have tended to dissipate that
doubt. clumsy thing to do Monsieur! He is a
tyro bungler!"
"Oh, la 1a-la la 1a" the clerk exclaimed "a
child in the hands of so distinguished man as NJ
Remit
The sleuth permitted the compliment to pass I'm
needed and produced from the depths of his cav
ernous pocket large notebook Fascinated, the
clerk watched him as he deliberately turned the
pages; Then:
quired with deep meaning" this M. Smith-he
wears the full, square cut beard?"
The eager anticipation of the clerks face was
wiped out as by the brush of a painter house
painter
mo, Monsieur!" he exclaimed, and all hope had
fled. II must tell you the truth. He is of the clean
shave
M. Remi did not seem to be particularly cast down
at this chilling bit of information; the contrary
the sneering smile again to his lips, and there
was something akin to pity in the depths of his black
eyes. There razors in the world eh, Monsieur"
nc s a9si'e oa; qa os;7 Magni6centl"
M. Remi took his time about the next question.
" His hair is gray? Almost white?
His head is like the raven, Monsieur; but and