New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-07-03
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOk JUL D. 'O


bring the matter to a conclusion. 50 you
we're arrested. shall notify the agency in
New York Immediately, and
"No charge against me IN the united
States not even a charge against me IN
Paris, and still you pinched me!
M. Rcm leaned forward suddenly ana
mvsteriously whispered into the peari-iiKe
ear of his chief, whereupon glad smile spht
the perfumed whiskers, and the piercing
eyes grew cunning
Of you are thinking you are to be freed
Immediately, Monsieur, you are mistaken
NJ. Baudet remarked suavely. Ihere IS q
charge against you in Paris, and even your
American Ambassador cannot aid you until
that charge is disposed of. That IS that
YOU have violated our laws by living here
under an assumed name and in disguise!
THEN Mr.. Smith smiled. He leaned back
in his chair, crossed his sturdy American
legs. and continued to smile. Away back OF
that smile was the CONSCIOUSNESS tlat
Clarke's perfidy had not been discovered IN
the bank; that it had not been reported TO
the police; that the supposed package OF
United States bonds in the vault was still
unbroken; and that 50 long as those Things
were true. he, Mr.. John Smith, was not only
in no danger himself, but was at liberty 70
pursue the task he had set himself, OF finding
and returning those bonds. If their loss was
discovered, it meant the collapse OF the bank,
inevitably.
"Well, Cap and Mr. Smith was purring
like a tick1ed kitten, ''I'll just bet you ten
dollars to the hole in a pretzel that | am not
in Paris under an assumed name, nor am
disguised Sad as it may seem, this is my
own face
"Not disguised" exclaimed M. Baudet.
mot under an assumed name! But you are
M. Clarke!"
"Who told you so2'
"You did, Monsieur
Wrong, Cap. l merely didn't say
wasn't Clarke. You must have pretty ac-
curate description of Clarke. He's man
about my size''
Just your size. Monsieur.
with gray hair?
"You have dyed it. Monsieur. 1t has
that dingy look of dyed hair
Thanks, If you know of anything that
will take the dye off, get busy Your de-
scrption probably said too that Mr.. Clarke
has a full, square cut beard9'
"a razor. Monsieur" NJ Baudet smiled.
But your description did say a gray
beard2"
YES, gray, almost white
well, take it from me, I'm not Clarke.
All you We got to do to convince YOlTSeIl is 20
sit right still there for the next ten hours and
watch my whiskers grow. They'll come out
black
There was silence, dead silence. silence
fraught with tragedy. After a long time
M. Baudet turned upon M. REM with
sinister glare in his eye.
'If that is true, M. REM" he said meas
uredly, at is evident that YOU have made
the mistake"
M. REM bowed his head in shame and
sorrow; then another idea came. He spoke
aside to his chief, who in turn addressed Mr..
Smith.
Your name is John Smith, them
John Smith. of Passaic, New Jersey
You have been looking for NJ. Clarke,
too. Who are you? Why have you been
Because wanted to find him.. replied
Mr.. Smith. Nov you fly cops in Paris are
pretty nifty, Cap. Can't you imagine why
| came all the way from the United States to
find Clarke, the same man you are after
Doesn't it suggest anything to yOu2'
Gradually Iioht of r1ndercfa D1iT,o Grew,