The evening world., 1911-02-10

istn torty-e1xht noufs OF tho most COM
plex life.
Tho particulars which he had gath.
cred wers These: M. Destsnge, who
was in failing health and anxious for
rest. had retired from business and
was living among the architectural
books which II had been his hobby TO
collect. He a no interest left in life
beyond the handling and examining OF
those old dusty volumes.
As for his daughter Clotilde. she
was looked upon as eccentric. She
spent her days. ike her father. in the
house. but In another part of II, and
never went out.
This In ALL" thought Shears. as he
wrote down the titles of the books In
his catalogue, to VI. DestranRe's die
tation. this IL all more or less In
definite; but - IL a good step forward.
! am bound 20 discover the solution OF
one at least OF these exciting prob
lems. In NJ Destrange an accomplish
OF Arsene Lupin's' Does he see him
now Are there any papers relating
to the building Of the three houses7
Will these papers supply me with the
address OF other properties, similarly
faxed. which Lupin may ave reserved
for his own use and that OF his gangf"
NJ. Destango M accompllce OF Ar
senc Lupin's! This venerable man. an
officer OF tho Legion Of Honor. work
ing hand in hand with n burglar' The
presumption was hardly tenable. Be-
sides. supposinR that they we're ac-
completes, how did NJ. Destange come
to provide for Arsene Lupin's various
escapes thirty years before they oc-
Cured. at II time when Arsene was IN
his GRADER
No matter. the Englishman stuck 10
his guns. With his prodigious intuition,
with that instinct which v all his own
he felt n mystery surrounding him. This
was penceptible by small signs, which
he could not have described with pre-
clsion. but which impressed him from
the moment when he first set loot In
the house.
on the morning OF the second day
he as yet discovered nothing Of In
terest. lie irst saw Ciotiide Destange
at 2 o'clock, when she came TO fetch .
book from the library. She was n wom-
an OF thirty. dark, with slow and 81
lent movements; and her features bore
the look OF Indifference OF those who
Mve much within themselves. She ex-
changed a few words with NJ. Destange
and left the room without 80 much as
glancing at Shears.
The afternoon dragged on monot
nously. Al 8 O'Clock NJ. Destange stated
that he was going out. Shears remained
alone In the circular gallery that ran
round tho library. halfway between
noor and ceiling. II was growing dark
and he was preparing to leave. in his
turn. when he heard n creaking sound
and, at the same time. felt that there
was some one In the room. Minute fol-
lowed slowly upon minute. And. sud-
denly, he started: n shadow had
emerged from the semi-darkness. quite
close 10 him. on the balcony. Was "
credible? How long had this unseen
person been keeping him company9
And where did he come from?
And the man went down the steps ana
turned In tho direction of a large oak
cupboard. C%rouching on his knees be-
hind the tapestry that covered the rail
OF the gallery Shears watched and saw
the man rummago among the papers
with which the cupboard was crammeJ.
What was he looking for?
And. suddenly. tho door opened and
Mile. Destange entered quickly. saying
TO some one behind her:
80 you have quite changed your
mind about going out. father?
In that case. I'll turn on the light
Wait u minute don't
move''
The man closed the doors OF the up-
board and hid himself in the embrasure
OF n DTOii WINDOW uTdN Ils Ine cur
tains In front OF him. How was Il that
Mile. Destange did not see him. How
was It that she did not hear him? She
calmly switched on tho electric light
and stood back for her father to pass.
They sat Town side by side. Mile.
Destange opened n book which she had
brought with her and began to read.
'THas your secretary gone7" sire said
presently.
Eyes so II seems"
Are you still satisfied with him." she
continued. as II in ignorance OF the real
secretary's illness and of the arrival Of
Stlckmann in his stead.
"Ouite . quite
NJ. DISTANCES head dropped on his
chest. He fell asleep.
A moment elapsed. The girl went on
| reading. But n OF the window cur
| tnins was moved aside and the man
slipped along the wall toward the door
an action which made him pass behind
NJ. Destange. but right In front or Go
tide and In Aich a way that Shears
was able 10 see him plainly. IL was
Arsene Lupin'
The Englishman quivered with delight.
UIs calculations were correct. he had
penetrated to the very heart OF the mys-
terry and Lupin was where he had e.
psctsd TO md HIM.
Clotlde, however. did not stir, a.
| enough Il was impossible that a single
movement OF that man had escaped her.
And Lupin was close 10 the door ana
mad his arm stretched toward the handle
when his clothes grazed a table ana
something fell TO the ground. NJ Des
tango woke with a start. In a moment
Arsene Lupin was standing before him
smiling. hat in hand.
Marine Bermondl" cried " pes-
tango. IN delight. my dear Maxine
What stroke OF good luci brings
you hero to-oayf"
.Ths wish % sss you and Mile Dee
tango"
when aid you come back"
~ Yesterday
.Aro you staying 20 dinner
THANH you. no. I am lining out with
soms friends.S
Come oo-moavow. then. clotilde'
make him coms tomorrow. My dear
Maximsi 7 was thinking OF you
only tho Other day"
'Rsallyf-
sYss, I was arranging my old papers
In that cupboard, and l came across our
last
(Which oner~
THE Avenue Henri Martin
-po you mean 20 say you keep all that
....,. ra,arg NNhaf for 80