Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-25

| way about on the platform, cooked his
head on one side and gased up 1T the
ceiling. awaiting the pleasure OF the
mayor.
surcon Announced that Descarte was
dead: there could he no doubt on that
point. for he lay in the lower room OF
Pilon's house. where he had been viewed
by many. Yes. II was certain that he
was dead. OF the instrument of his
death there also was no question. since
the knife which had slain him stiil
| manned In his hack. II was charged that
| I had murdered him. Therefore tho
cause and nature of the killing were 10
! be determined: hence this Investigation.
Pilon was ordered to speak.
Monsieur woodworth Is guilty and .
| great rascal" said he complacent
| The mayor raped tho table.
I You're not TO pass judgment. bur To
give evidence. Begin at the beginning.
Where is the beginning. monsieur the
mayor?" Pilon inquired with caimness.
That was in truth question. unless
We were TO start over again with my
arrival upon the island. However. after
| musing on the matter briefly, SurcoH said
the witness should begin with the morn
ing when watch was set upon the move
| mentS Of the German and me.
| That is agreeable. monsieur the
| mayor" the witness stated. not neglect
| ing his mustache. 1T was upon con-
| sultation Of the committee who visited
Monsieur Woodwork. and after they
| had beheid the German stranger come on
his own legs to make bargain with
him. that 1t was decided TO watch the
| pair and prevent the sale OF the map.
| I. Pilon, suggested this Had not this
man Woodwork attempted to knock out
my brains with an oar and pursued me
even to the village? Therefore to watch
| him and the German was wise. And,
| therefore Pilon suggested Esper and Des-
carte. because they were skillful. loyal.
| and loved France: and they were chosen.
All of one day they kept guard. 1t Is
| true that monsieur the prisoner this
| was rather anticipating facts-'sought to
bride Esper; Ii is also true that the Ger
| man spy endeavored to escape from Des-
carte. walking him about until Describes
feet were like boiled potatoes. But now
| that Descarte has been murdered" he
went on philosophically. Ibis feet do not
| matter. Alas yesterday. the next day
| after his watch on the German, he could
| not walk
IT observed him on the street. the
mayor interrupted.
That is. he could not follow the Ger
| man.
The mayor held up a foretnger.
I'm all things we must be exact. III
Descarte could not walk, We must say
| so: il he could not follow the stranger:
it Is needful to say so. But IL he could
go on his feet at all. that lis a different
matter and must so be written. Do you
observe the distinction, Pilon?'
Yes. monsieur the mayor. and very
good one. Descarte could walk but not
! walk after the spy"
"Exactly-but hold! Was the man .
| spy? That is yet to be proven. There
fore. Pilon. speak of him as the
stranger
"It Is true nevertheless. he is spy.
| I, PIlon, say SO. That should be suffi-
Gent" And he cast a challenging look
about the room. ITO continue. while
Esper watched Monsieur Woodwork. l
| looked about for the stranger in order
to"
Monsieur the mayor a new voice
interrupted.
All turned about. 1t was the inn woman
who had spoken.
What is it. Madame Corbeau?" the
| mayor inquired attentively.
"Pilon and Esper and Descarte sat in
| the inn yesterday from half-past 10 until
/ ]. and from 2 until I'm the evening.
They drank much wine and brandy, OF
which the score was but partly paid
How. then, could Esper have watched
Monsieur Woodwork. and Pilon have
searched for the Stranger
Having popped this question into the
] investigation. she proceeded with her
knitting. Pilon glanced at her-she TO
trip up so good a customer as himself.
Madame must be mistaken he said
politely.
There is no mistake. monsieur the
mayor. My score book tells no lies. This
was yesterday"
Note that madame takes exception TO
this statement. Gaspard.'' the mayor adj
vised. Proceed, Pllon.
AT about o'clock Esper came from
the house Of Monsieur Woodwork to In
form me that he and the German were
to meet by the boats. whereupon the
map would be exchanged for money.
France betrayed l had already observed
the stranger go out of the inn al
o clock
Monsieur the mayor"
1t was the inexorable voice of the inn
woman again.
well, madame
The German paid his account and de-
parted at noon.
Pilon pulled his nnustache furiousIy
Mile de nom dun CHEN. Am | to
tell the story. or am | not?' he cried.
1T is perfectly proper that madame
take exception"
Pion glared about. Well. one cannot
be expected to speak easily when a chat
tering woman buzzes hike fly on a win
dow. AS / was saying. the stranger was
to meet monsieur the prisoner at the
boats. There was no time to run to the
mayor, to warn the village. Come, my
comrades said l. we will save France.
We three Her honor is our honor. Come,
we are her sons. " pause followed this
sentiment. while he rolled his eyes about
for approval. We ran into the street.
The fog was yellow with the moon. To
the boats. said l. Thither ran. |
leading But when we reached them no
one was to be seen and We walked all
among them, looking in their hulls and
! among the sails and at the shadows. but
no, mon Deu! they had not come.
| Stand thou here. Descarte-and thou
here. Esper. said /, leading him TO am
other spot. Then l went to third place.
He who saw them first was to whistle
twice, but not until they had come to-
gether so we could catch them and make
them prisoners and save France"
This was at what hour Mr. MoorD
asked.
About s, monsieur.
A third time the inn woman inter-
rupted.