The Washington herald., 1914-11-22

Apply 10 my ponce 10 90 me Ine ScINlCc
which you have refused"
l was not indiscreet enough to cast a
doubt as to the result of this applica-
ton.
On quitting the Elysee I found my
self already under surveillance; and ]
may say here that during the days that
followed was obliged to put forth
all my powers to shake off the sleuth
hounds who were on my track.
Punctually at 1880 on the morning
after my interview with NJ. Casimir-
Perier / presented myself in the char
acter of William Arbuthnot at the liz
tie room on the Place de Ia Sorbonne.
found my client reclining on the
bed, exactly as 1 had left him more
than twelve hours before, placidly
smoking the last cigarette Of the fifty l
had provided him with over night. Ap-
parently he had not once closed his
eyes, or rather he had closed them only
in that languorous meditation Of which
Asiatics possess the secret
He scarcely opened them at my en-
trance, and he did not condescend to
ask me how l had Jared.
1 was obliged to tell my story unso-
licited, and it was received with the
most perfect apathy.
AT this moment" wound up by
saying, every detective in France is
hunting for you high and low"
81 informed you that that would be
the case" the Persian commented with
slight sneer. well, l will give them
week. These cigarettes suit me; will
you please buy me thousand"
By the end OF the week the French
police were in despair. l was almost
worn out, and there were exactly
twelve cigarettes left
Whether my client had actually moved
or slept during the interval l am un-
able to say. 1 only know that l invar-
iably found him in the same posture,
and that l never saw him change it ex-
cept to conceal himself when the door
was opened.
As l had forseen, the police paid me
domiciliary visit. But the concierge
had evidently satisfied them as to the
character of her new tenant, and the
visit appeared to be merely a matter of
routine
/ waited with some anxiety for the
next development II was evident that
my nameless client had not yet done
with the President Of the republic, nor
with me.
On the seventh day, precisely at the
same hour as before, he deigned to re-
new his instructions
Tonight" he said, speaking in that
slow, assured tone which seemed to
bear down all possibility of contradic-
ton, tonight you will take another
message
Knowing beforehand that it was use
less to resist, l could only ask:
ITO the President again."
The speaker lifted his eyebrows a
shade.
TO Casimir- -Perier."
What is the message:"
The Oriental seemed to consult his
memory before replying.
This time you will say to him: The
cord OF the Plummet is worn through"
This second introduction of architec-
tural terms caused me to reflect
1t could not be by chance that the
unknown employed such language, and
l tried to see in It some clew to his
meaning. and to the obscure links
which evidently connected him with the
French President
After a mild protest for the satisfac-
ton of my professional pride l agreed
to carry the message-perhaps l ought
to call it the threat.
1 found the first citizen of France in
mood very different from the one
when l last saw him. His face was
haggard and anxious-I doubt whether
he had had much more sleep than the
man l had come from.
you have been too clever for the po-
lice, Monsieur "" were his first
words. you have hidden your client
well"
"The police have done their best" I
said mildly. They, have been in the
same room with my client and even
near enough to hear him breathe"
you are sure of what you say?" the
startled President cried.
"Since 1 opened the door to them
myself" I answered modestly
The chief of the republic could not
conceal his chagrin, as he muttered:
"And they swore to me that you had
never been out of their sight night or
dayP
81 am grieved to be the bearer of an
other message" I said presently. And
I repeated the mysterious phrase with
which I was charged.
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