Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-03
The Strange Adventures of Mr..
John Smith in Paris
Continued bor page s


tiers in Passaic-on the He de la Cite facing
NJ. Baudet, a grim visaged man of middle
age who perfumcd his whiSkers and smoked
vile cigarettes. Mr. Smith wondered if he
perfumed his whiskers to kill the odor of the
cigarettes. or if he smoked the cigarettes to
kill the odOr of his whiskers. Nj. Remi was
there, along with two or three other French
sleuthS, who glowered at Mr.. Smith indi-
vidually and collectively and babbled in
comprehensive asides. Mr.. Smith stood it
for a long time; then, to Nj. Baudct, who
seemed to be the chief:
We'll, Cap. you got me, he remarked
pleasantly. Nov would YOU mind telling
me what it's all about"
Evidently this was what they had been
waiting tor, the prisoner to break the silence.
Nj. Baudet stabbed him with glance of his
piercing eyes and remained silent. 1t was Il
highly effective method of his own, this
silence, to reduce a man To fear and awe in
the beginning. 1t Slapped his courage and
left him weak and fabby.
If you re going to ask any questions, be
gin. MIR. Smith requested.
u shall ask the questions, Monsieur. at
the proper time" NJ. Baudet's tone was
cold, incisive, steolv
And all have to do is to answer 'cn?"
That is all, Monsieur
WELL, son, we'd better understand each
other in the beginning" Mr.. Smith
remarked easily. If YOU don't answer some
OF my questions right now, don't answer
any of yours. In other words, if YOU hold
me here without telling me why, III get
man down here from the American Embassy
and let out a scream they'll hear all the way
to Washington. In the first place, | want to
know why | was pinched.'
har ,,t, ,1,D l.
smith s voice, utter composure in the power
full hands which lay IDLY on the arms of his
chair. His straight staring eyes were fixed
squarely upon those of NJ. Baudet
Understand me, I'm not going to start
any roughhouse or anything; but YOU We
got to tell me why I'm here" he concluded
You shall answer my questions. Mon
sieur!' A slender, manicured hand, delicate
as woman's, tugged complacently at the
pertumed beard; there was a mercless gilt
ter in the eyes above it. You are w. Man
deville Clarke!'
We'll, suppose | ann" queried Mr..
Smith. What has he done? Is there an
order for his arrest from the United States?"
All! You do not deny it! SO you are
W. Vaudeville Clarke, alias John Smith,
alias Watts Ittoovu"
I'm not denying anything" Mr.. Smith
returned placidly IF I'm Clarke. what
have | done? Have murdered somebody,
or wrecked train, or burned a barn, or
robbed a safe?''
GU admit that you are Clarke"
In not denying it, am |? | want to
know why m here. What's Clarke done?"
1t was most disconcerting, really. quite
unprisoner like Nj. Baudet had anticipated
denial. This man denied nothing merely
wanted to know. That precipitated an en-
barrassing situation. Why had Clarke been
arrested: Why was he being heidi
YOCR arrest was necessary Monsieur
And he hoped Mr.. Smith would read
some deep, underlying threat in the words
Why" Mr.. Smith beloved at him sud
denly, beigerently. who ordered it?
Have | committed a crime in Paris If not,
then the order for an arrest came from the
United States. Who ordered it ?"
NJ Baudet blnked a little, and a long 81
lence fell. These burly Americans, What
monstrous voices they had, to be sure! And
how evil they could look about the eyes!
After little NJ. Baudet glanced at Nj. Remi
blankly
Tell it to me now; | want to know
MIR. Smith insisted in voice as if he was
roofing for the home team. You can't hold
me here forever without telling me why, and
If Won don I tell mo Won We oot 70 tell tho