The Washington times., 1912-02-18
CHAPTER XXXvIII.
Where All Is Explained

TNlIE inquiry relating to the murder
| of the architect was ended. The
i two accomplices were dead. Nine
| beverly again took her own
name She left the gloomy house in the
Rue Nalette and took a pretty apart
ment in the Ternes, where she lived
with Georgette, little Lucienne and her
| faithful servant, Therese.
| Her brother WIS still I'm prison, ac-
| cuSed or the murder of NJ. Chauffard
and of robbing his employer of 1880
| francs. Dufreny was convinced that he
and Maitre Bretonnet worked indefatI-
Sably to clear him of these grave
charges.
| Appearances were strongly against
Laroche The mystery surroundings tho
moneY-lender's death was as deep as
ever And for the charge o. robbery
1t could not be denied that he had re-
turned to the office after business hours
ana stayed there for over an hour.
Dufreny and Maitre Bretonnet had
Just had a serious talk over Leou's
situation. The lawyer returned TO his
client and Dufreny went in search OF
adventure.
The young detective had noe been to
sec Nine. Barnet-Dufour since the
night of her reception, hut he had
watched her closely
From the day that she learned of
Johannes terrible death she seemed to
take greater enjoyment in life. She
was seen eVerTwhere--in the Bois, at
the opera, the Franchise all the smart
receptions, teas, concerts and exhibit
tions.
When Dufreny left Maitre Bretonnet
he sauntered !nto the Bois. lie was
walking down one of the allees when
his attention was attracted by smart
~ gowned woman who walked before
him.
1t was Sabine. She had come from
the road by lateral path, and had not
seen Dufreny. She was charmingly at
tired in dark gray tailored costume
with large fur collar and a fur toqus
to match. She had the chic Of a true
Parisienne.
She had left her automobile and was
walking along the alice as though she
were looking for something.
Dufrenys sharp eve watched every
, moment
"Tlcn9!' he said. the gods favor me,
but perhaps there's nothing after all.
They were at the end of the Bois, not
far from the Pont de Neuilly, on the
Suresnes side. 1t was a deserted part
of the wood
At last Sabine stopped before a twisted
tree. The young detective hid behind
another tree and held his breath. How
he would like to have possessed at that
moment the ring of Gyges!
Sabine held an umbrella in her hand
rather a strange thing for a smart wom-
an to have. 1t was certainly a very
handsome one, with the exuuistely-
carved handle, but all the same this
useful object should never be carried
by woman who is slave to fashion
above ALL in Paris.
She's got that umbrella for a rea-
SON." said Dufreny. Now, my little
Dufreny, you're going to see some
= thing"
$ Nine Barnet-Dufour took a careful
!, survey of her surroundings to make
sure that she was alone.
Then. with the point of the object
v dear to LOuis-Phlippe, she scraped the
dug for long time, then suddenly she
got up: the handle of the umbrella
i struck a hard substance.
Her face was flushed with her work.
She had found what she was searching
/ for, and she quickly replaced the earth.
n When the hole was filled up again she
e stamped on 1t with her dainty shoes,
e then scattered a few dried leaves over
1t. Then, with linen handkerchief that
she took from her pocket, she carefully
dried the handle of her umbrella, and,
rolling the handkerchief into ball,
threw it away in the direction where
Then she walked back to where her
car was waiting on the grande alec
n Without losing an instant, Dufreny
= hurried down the avenue. He arrived
. she was taking her seat.
Dear madame" he said. bowling
d courteously, "how luck favors me.
e had no idea that I should have the
=, Nine Barnet-Dufour turned pale.
1T is such a beautiful day l thought
would profit by it, she answered
p copy; "T was fortukate in choosing toda,
s to walk in the Bois," said Dufreny. 81
e rarely see you now"
t Madame was embarrassed. She did
not want to appear as though she sys.
tematiCally avoided Dufreny. but it die
not require a keen observer to detect
that this meeting annoyed her extreme
Y You will pardon me she said, iii
/ seem in hurry, but l have an i'm
- portant engagement"
- many things to tell YOU All! Sabine
- have you forgotten how much"
II will write, to you" said SABINE
a "Alors au Tevoir; je Nous present'
q mes respects" said DufTeny, holding
his hat in his hand and bowling pro
fusey. "A bientot."
n She leaned back in her car and drov,
l. away.
" Dufreny pretended TO walk TOWARD
II Suresnes, but when the car was ou
of sight he returned and went dow
the alec, where he had first seen Sa
bine. The oddly twisted tree was cas-.
enough to find
He took out his knife opened tn
n largest blade, and dug out the earth a
Sabine had done. Then he found al
Of After having looked around to Sc
IN that no one was near, he broke ope
1t the lid and saw that the safe was full
~ of papers of financial values. At
glance he saw that the notes wer
made out to the bearer.
te Afraid of being seen, he did not stO
is to verify them in detail. but just a
ic he was closing the box he noticed on
X corner of the lid some characters whic
in looked like Chinese writing
The sight Of this strange Inscription