El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-03-07
The Way Out
BY Henri Tessier.

proceeded to the smoking room and
there remained for some time reading
the latest edition of the "Soir.'' His
attention was confined to the columns
headed, The Vincennes Mystery" and
/ he followed with close interest the re-
port of the evidence given at the in
| quest that day. Laying down the pa
per presently, he gazed reflectively
out OF the window until disturbed by
the club waiter switching on the cleo
trio lights. Then he stood UP quite
suddenly, clicking his heels together,
ana staring straight ahead. 1t was a
peculiar action, and the waiter glanced
inquisitively in his direction.
Just as though he'd heard a word
OF command and jumped up at once to
OBEY It, was his version of the Incl
dent to a friend
Another moment and the captain was
back in his. chair. Shortly afterwards
ne read that the coroners inquest in
connection with the famous ''Vincennes
Mystery had terminated in a verdict
81 Wllful murder against some person
or persons unknown" He seemed to
be rendered more impressive than ever
by the news.
Col Lebrun was a bachelor living
in villa little distance above Su-
resnes.
1t was past. o'clock when Cant
Villiers arrived, ard voice hailed him
from the darkness~ss, he reached the
door
That you. villiers?"
Yes"
I'm here On the veranda." said the
voice.
The captain turned, seeing the red
glow of the cigar as Lebrun rose up
from his chair. He assembled the steps
and shook hands.
''WeII?'' he said
Well, ViIliers?"
L6brun raised his hand.
The drinks are on the table here.
Whatn you take?"
Without answering. villiers walked
to the table and helped himself There
was no word spoken for a long time.
Then Lebrun opened abruptly.
have been in Vincennes today"
Fincennes?" said Capt. Villiers =.
fVincennes," repeated Lebrun.
''Wen?''
Attending that inquest"
oh, yes" Capt. Villiers reached for
his glass Il have been reading the
evidence" he added. "A curious case.
Very interesting"
TOO damned interesting for you"
said Lebrun grimly. They've got you.
Villiers'
'Me?" said the captain, starting
That's awkward he admitted at
length.
Yes"
How dc You know of this?"
headquarters sent me. down. They
had hears rumors They knew was
a friend of yours. They hoped the i
rumors we're untrue. They hoped-as /
1 did-tlat the verdict would be sui /
eide The influence OF headquarters /
was powerful enough to keep your /
name cut Of the evidence today. But /
it could not prevent your arrest to-
morrow.
The captain thought.
'They flatter me by their concern"
he said. and he uttered sharp. hard
laugh. his first symptom of emotion.
Il suppose it is because I am highly
Not myself. but my wife |
AID it was because Of my wife that
slot that man. Odd thing, Lebrun."
odd" exclaimed Lebrun fierceIy.
hen recovering himself
Yes. it is odd" he admitted lamely.
nd fell into his chair again, saying
omething under his breath
i Will tell you a brief story" said |
be captain, after a while cit is about
woman, man, and fool. The
Dol was the woman's husband. and
lie man her lover The fool cared for |
is wife. and believed in her for Is |
ears, which is biggish slice out of a
fe- And for 10 years she had been
polling him. II
But he found out about it at last.
ound out by CHANGING on a letter
hieh the man had written to her ]
aking an appointment at a certain
ace near-Vincennes. The fool kept !
lie appointment instead of his wife !
e did not proceed direct to Vincennes,
T a reason of his own"
You went" interposed Lebrun. Ito
e second station farther up the line"
Yes, I went there" said ViIliers
THE station master remembered =
II. I showed him photograph"
II took a brace of pistols with me.
was getting dark. but 1 knew the n
untry fairly well, and the letter c
owed plainly enough where I should =
I'D my man. 1t was in an open space
tween the trees that I met him. He
fused to fight, so I shot him in his a
acks.."- s
~Just So" said Lebrun ;,
Il have careful to point out" ex- 6
aimed the captain, that his crime =
rs not that he had loved my wife II
she him. But that they had fooled s.
= for so long. 1t is not pleasant II
iuS u OS 1OOI0O lot ~ years. II
No." said Lebrun. by Cd. you're II
sht. What about your Wife?" h
Il told her nothing" h
Did she guess?" 81
Il think So" The cigaret fell list nj
sly from his fingers. "She went on IL
visit to her friends" he said II
Her highly connected friends" III
oke out Lebrun, savagely, where the ST
nors began. 70
he could not keep his seat For /,
'eraI minutes he paced restlessly up M
ddown. Then he stopped. n,
I have been instructed to put be- tr
e, you an alternative" he said. ii
I agree to it," replied the captain la
once. at
You know what I refer to-" ii,
I have already made arrangements, Sc
fellow" 81
1t seems damnabIe; but there is st,