Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-04-12
trough tIleWal|
BY
CLEVELAND MOFFETT
c.,ys,.A.. 1909. ;, D. A,p,..oa . Co.
CHAPTER Xxx.
\ onAr CRIMINAL

CHAPTER Xxx.
4 alEAr CRIMINAL.
= Is Coquenil came back to con-
Ia aciousness he moved his arms
II" and legs and discovered no I'M
jury; then he reached out Q
hand and found that he was lying on
Q cold stone floor. with his head on q
rough sack filed apparently with shaw
ings. He caught a sound as Of rus
hing paper, then Z faint scratching.
Finally he spoke aloud in playful
reproach, "Its pity. baron, to write
In that wonderful diary of yours with
q lead pencil
The baron's voice showed his inter-
est. "Where do you think you are?
.'1n deep underground room where
you store firewood.''
''How do you know we are under
4round?"
"By the smell Of the floor and be-
cause you need 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
one side and around the walls piles Of
logs carefully roped and stacked to-
gether.
.coquenil,n said De Heidelmann-
Bruck slowly. II give you credit for
unusual cleverness, but If you tell me
you have any inkling what am wait
ing for
II know that you are waiting for the
girl"
.aThe girly' The other started.
1.-THE girl Alice or Mary, your step
daughter"
"God Almightyr' burst out the bar.
on. what guess"
NJ. Paul shook his head. 'No, not q
guess-a fair deduction. My ring Is
gone. It was on my hand before you
gave me that chloroform. You took
It That means you needed 1t. Why!
To get the girl. You knew 1t would
bring her, though how you knew it is
more than 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 hereY'
The baron nodded. "She ought to be
here shortly" then with q quick, cruel
smile, II suppose you know why
want. her?" -.
"I'm afraid 1do." said Coqusnil.
"Suppose we come in here" suggest
I'd 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 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.
I know all about you. and I'll say
this-you're the most interesting man
ever met. You've given me trouble
but-that's all right; you played fair
and-I like you, like you"
.sThanks," Coquenil said simply.
.'Its pity you couldn't see things
my way. WANTED to be your friend
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
snow see where you are! See what
you've forced me to dol! It's pity; II
cuts me up. Coquenil." He spoke with
real sadness.
III understand" answered NJ. Paul.
II appreciate what you say. There's 9
tsnd between good detective and
IA great detective" put in the baron
admiringly, the greatest detective
Paris has known In fifty years or will
know in nfty more. Yes, yes. it's q
pityp
Il was saying" resumed the other,
shat there IL bond between de.
tective and criminal. suppose II
gets stronger between ara great de.
tective." he smiled. land great Grim
inal."
De Heldelmann- Bruck looked pleas.
Cd. "You regard me AZ q great crtmi.
nalf'
Coquenil nodded gravely. II Ger
tainly do-the greatest since Ludovico
Echertzi. You know he had your tden-
IDEAL little nnger."
Is s.Reellvr'
Coquenil was silent moment. This
American--what of him-nowY
'.He witt be tried"
And b found guilty
ssYeA but-with Jealousy as an ex.
tenuatiug circumstance. He'll do Z
few years, say ave-"
':Ah. that brings mo to the main
point-how did Martinez get posses.
sion OF your secret?
"Hs met the girl accidentally and
remembered her"
aAs the one 10 had rescued from the
charity bazaar 6rs?'
eYes."