The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-03-26
CHAPTER v.

COQUENIL GETS IN THE GAME.
 T was a long night at the An sonia and hard night for NJ. Gritz. France is land of in-
 finite. red tape. where even such a simple thing as getting born or getting married leads to endless formal ities. Judge, then, of the complicated procedure involved in so serious mat ter as getting murdered. especially in a fashiona tle restaurant! Long before the commissary had finished his re- port there arrived no less a person than M. Simon, the chief of police, round faced and affable. a brisk. dap per man. whose ready smile had led more than one trusting criminal into regretted condolences. And a little later came M. Vaudeville, the judge in charge of the case. a cold, severe fig ure, handsome in his younger days, but soured. it was said. by social dis appointments and i'll health. He was in evening dress. having been sum moned posthaste from the theater.
 The officials discussed the case with a wide variance in opinions and con clusions. The chief of police and M. Pougeot were strong in the theory of murder, while M. Vaudeville leaned to- ward suicide The doctor was unde- cided.
 .But the shot was fired at the closest possible range" insisted the judge. E"The pistol was not a foot from the mans head. How else account for the facts? Martinez was a strong. active man. He would never have all lowed murderer to get so close to him without a struggle. But there is not the slightest sign of a struggle, no disorder in the room, no disarrange- ment of the mans clothing. It's evil dently suicide-''
 elf it's suicide" objected Pougeot. 'twhere is the weapon? The man died instantly. didn't he. doctor?''
 Undoubtedly" agreed the doctor.
 '"Then the pistol must have fallen beside him or remained in his hand. Well, where is it?''
 t@Ask the woman who was here. How do you know she didn't take it?''
 ttNonsense!' put in the chief. Why should she take it? To throw suspi- cion on herself? Besides. I'll show you another reason why it's not sui eide. The man was shot through the right eye. The ball went in straight and clean, tearing it's way to the brain. Well, in the whole history of suicides there is not one case where 8 man has shot himself in the eye. Did you ever hear of such case. doctor?"
 Never answered Joubert.
 "A man will shoot himself in the mouth. in the temple, in the heart. anywhere. but not in the eye. There would be an unepnquerable shrinking from that. So I say it's murder
 I-Sz. IL murderer?
 ".Ah, that's another question. We must find the woman. And we must can.''
 .sNo woman ever fired that shot or planned this crime" declared the com unconsciously echoing Coque- nils opinion.
 feThere's better reason to argue that the American never did it, retorted the judge.
 ''What reasen?''
 'fThe woman ran away, didn't she? And the American didn't. If he had killed this man do you think anything would have brought him back here for that cloak and bag?''
 ''A good point.'' nodded the chief.
 'tAh, yes; she knows reflected the commissary. And. gentlemen. all our talk brings us back to this-we must find that woman.''
 At half past 1 Gibelin appeared to announce the arrest of Kittredge. He had tried vainly to get from the Amer ican some cIew to the owner of cloak and bag.
 @I'u see what can squeeze out of him in the morning. said Vaudeville grimly.
 You've got your work cut out" snapped the detective. "He's a stub born devil"
 In the midst of these perpIexities and technicalitieS a note was brought in for M. Pougeot. The commissar! glanced at it quickly and then, with a word of excuse. left the room, return ing a few minutes later and whisper ing earnestly to NJ. Simon.
 ''You say he is here?" exclaimed tn latter. ''I thought he was sailing for
 M. Pougeot bent closer and whis pered again.
 "Paul Coquenilv' exclaimed the chief. t'Why, certainly, ask him to come in.''
 A moment later Coquenil entered. and all rose with cordial greetings that is. all except Gibelin.
 ssAs you know explained Coquenil briefly at the judge. ''I resigned from the force two years ago. need not