Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-25

THAT was dropped over Armand's
head as he came up the stairs" said
/ Godfrey, ''or flung over him as he
came into the room. Then the dead
man yonder jumped upon him and
/ trussed him up with those ropes"
! Pushing the net aside. ! saw upon
the floor a little pile of severed cords.
Yes" | agreed; he would be a BILE
! TO do that. Have you noticed his size,
! Godfrey? He was almost a giant"
He couldn't have done it if Armand
hadn't been willing that he should
| reto-ted Godfrey CURLY. You see he
had no difficulty in getting away" and
he held up the net and pointed to the
great rents in it. He cut his way
out while he was lying here. ought
TO have known
He threw the net down upon the
floor with n gesture of disgust and dis
pair. Then lie stopped in front Of the
Boule cabinet and looked down at il
musinGly. and. after n moment. his
face frightened The burlap wrap
pings had been almost wholly torn
away.
But well get him. Simmonds." said
DOulTSy. anu MS Ups DlOhe luto a
smile I'm fact we've got him now.
We have only TO wait. and he'll walk
into our arms. Simmonds. | want you
10 lock this cabinet up in the strongest
cell around al your station. carry the
key yourself aud give your reasons TO
nobody"
.Thatll he easy" laughed Simmonds.
Il haven't got any reasons"
''Oh. yes. you have" and Godfrey
bent upon him a gaze that was pos
itively hypnotic. You will do it be
cause want you to and because | tell
you that. sooner or later. if you keep
this cabinet safe where no one can get
at ii. the man we want will walk into
our hands And III tell you more than
that. Sirnmonds: if we do get him. I'll
have the biggest story | ever had. and
you will be world famous France
will make you chevalier OF the
Legion OF Honor. Simmonds. mark my
words. This fellow is the biggest catch
we could make. Hes the greatest
criminal OF modern times
With Armand, so finished. so self
poised. so distinguished. in my mind.
and the body of his latest victim be
fore my eyes. nodded gloomily
But. Godfrey. who is this mau?"
asked. why did he kill that poor
fellow up there? Why did he kill
Drouet and vantine? How DID ne get
into the Vantine house? What is ii al,
about?"
All he said. looking ut me with
smile. That is the important ques
tion-what is ii all about. II can.
III drop in tonight to see you. and we I
can thrash it ont Will that suit you?" |
Yes" | said: land for heavens sake.
don't fail 20 Gomez
That night ! had begun to fear tina,
Godfrey was going to tlisannoint me.
so late IL WAS before his welcome |
knock came ut my door | FASTENED To |
ct him in. and / could tell by the sigh /
II relief with which he SINK into |
hair that he was thoroughly weary
IF you have an explanation. God (
'rey," said. for heavens sake ;eIi
ne. Tell me first how you ana Sim
nurd< came to be following Armand
simply because ] had found out tie
wasn't Arms. nj rciix Armand Is In
Paris al this mou:enL You were too
,redulous. Lester.
Why. ] never had any doubt OF fi3
being Armand" stammered He
knew about my cableGraIn; he kEew
lbout the firms answer
of course he did because your ca
Die was never received by the Ar
hands. but by confederate in This
elbows employ. aud IL WAS that con
ederate who answered il
Then you still believe that the cabi-
let was sent TO vantiue by design and
lot by accitlent?'
"A bsolutely IL was sent by the Ar
hands in good faith because they be
ieved chat IL had been purchased by
'autin1. all OF which had been nrrang
N very carefully by the great TN
Inown'
Tell me- how you know all this,
godfrey" ! said
Il cahled our man nj Paris TO inves,
iGate Our man went NJ once to the