The Washington times., 1912-02-10
CHAPTER XXXII.-Continued.
CURSE"

Ine three detectives
" got UP and went out; as
usual, they separated and
walked along the streets as though they
were unknown to one another but the
glance from their sharp eyes fell in
every direction.
They went to Mother Three Sous, so
named because of the low price of her
consummations. She was a woman of
sixty years and had a broad back like
the Imperial Guard.
Very few customers were in the ca
baret when they entered. Mother Three
Sous sat as though on throne behind
her zinc counter. Over her cotton cami-
sole she wore a superb gold chain. from
which was suspended an enormous sill
yer watch. On her fingers, that were
IA, rat Ike sausages. she wore several
immense carnelian earrings.
1T overawes the customers" ex-
planned the fat dame. Whether II was
so or not she made a good living with
alone and did the cooking and served,
she never required any help to re-
store order when her customers became
too noisy.
the zinc was all that was necessary to
silence the toughest. Living continually
with Apaches, she was never afraid of
them. She was also protected by two
At Mother Three Sous there is no
pretense. This Is the real thing. 1t is
the cabaret for the Apaches, one of
the lowest murderers' dens in Paris. and
called "Amis de la Creuse."
"HalIo, mother!' cried Fil-a-Beurre,
give us some outlets and pickles, some
Brie cheese, and bottle of white. I'm
blowing"
showing his long. yellow teeth in a
broad grin; you've blazoned II out a
dozen times"
"Oh!" said the fat dame. but I've got
to know 1t, too" Turning to Fila
Mon petit, II you're going to blow
EN-, show up your wad. like things
done in an orderly manner"
There yer are" said Fila -Beurre,
taking a 5-franc piece out of large
yellow purse.
"Ah! that's good. Give it to me and
I'll put 1t on one side. II you don't
spend all I'll give you back the change
Right you are, mother"
She always acted so, and, in spite of
the terrible characters who frequented
her place, there was never any annoy
tween the landlady and her customers
Pousse-Pousse looked round the den
curiously; 1t was not the first time he
had been to this notorious resort, but he
wanted to take account of those pres
ent.
Some youths. ranging from sixteen to
eighteen years, were seated and talking
together In low voices.
"Mais sapristi"' cried Salsifs. isn't
the mother a long time making the
ragout?"
''Ah' here it comes Smell it, boys"
INV children" said the late can
.vcu have never tasted the like Of such
When the Gar came to Paris they
didn t, give him such a, dish as this"
a sharp odor OF onions. garlic. and
vinePar same from the ragout. Salsfis
sniffch
"Eigie," he said, Il wouldn't give up
my share for the place that's reserved
cor me- In Paradise"
You'd do right not to-" said Fila
BuurCe with 4 chuckle.
"Chut whispered Pousse- Pousse. in
the name Of thunder shut up! Watch
this new guy"
sure" said Pousse- Povsse, leaning
coward his companions and speaking
in Il whisper. I've seen that type be-
fore his face tells me nothing, hut I've
seen that Get-up."
The man who had Just entered the
cabaret was 4 little older than the in
dividuals to whom he was speaking. He
was dressed in Il kha XII colored suit like
"a aroonr and a jockey cap was drawn
ShaVen: his hair was worn a little long
and was light brown in color.
Hes got a wig on" said Pousse-
PouSse
Sit .lown. Gzagza," said one Of the
Individuals. AMI tell Us whv you're
Iere l thought you only went in for
The man called Gzagza looked round
the cabaret furtively; then he leaned
| toward the speaker and said something
| In low voice for a few minutes; then
got up and took a seat alone at an
"Voyon" said Salsifs, who was anx-
ious to do honor to the feast, I'VE re
| not eating"
Boys" said the old detective, "let us
| eat and make a noise as though we
don't mind being noticed. I'm going to
keep my eye open and watch that guy
who just came in"
let's drink while We wait for what's
! coming"
He poured out the wine freely Mean
while the man with the jockey cap had
ordered a quinquina, which the land
! lady had brought and demanded pay at
once. This proved that the customer
was unknown to her.
| GZagza paid the Is centimes and took
out a racing paper and pretended to
study II carefully.
| Pousse-Pousse sized up the man; he
| knew he had only spread out the paper
| for effect, for he was casting furtive
! glanCes over the top of the page every
now and again. Two or three times his
| eyes rested on the detective, then he
| turned away indifferently.
Ten o'clock struck A mason came
| into the cabaret.
At first Pousse- Pousse thought 1t was
! one of the three men who had dined
there that evening, and had returned
to fetch. something he had forgotten.