The Washington herald., 1915-04-04

to another sitting for further IN
quiries.
The inquiries forthwith revealed
the existence OF an entry in the
prison book to the effe.t that, eight
weeks previously, NJ n of the name
of Desire Raudru had spent the
night at the police star.ou. He was
released the next day, and left tie
station at o'clock in Tie yfternool.
Well, at o'clock on that day, Ar
sene Lupin, after undergo rig his final
examination, had lief, the police sta
ton in TIL prIson van for the Sarte.
Had the -saId ers m lor 4 mistake ??
This seemed hardly possible in view
OF the length of their scIvne.
Had the substitution been planned
/, in advance? Apart from the fact that
the disposition OF the loca' tiles made
this almost unrealizable, it would
have been necessary, N that case,
that Baudru should be an accom-
plice, and cause himself TO be arrest
ed with the precise object Of taking
Arsenc Lupin's place.
Desire Baudru was subjected to
the anthropometrical test; there vas
not single record corresponding
with his description. Besides, traces
OF hI.m were easily discovered. He
was known at Courbcycic, at AS
nieres, at Levallois.
Had he been suborncd by Arsene
Lupinr There were no grounds ior
thinking so. And even it this were
SO, it threw no light upon the pris-
oner's escape. The marvel remained
as extraordinary as before.
A':er month of careful invest;ya-
tons the puzzle continued TO prestrt
the same inscrutable character. Still,
it was impossible to keep tina. poor
wretch of Baudru indefinitely lock
ed un. The magistrate signed the or
der for his release. But the head of
the detective service resolved to keep
an active supervision upon his move
r:lentS.
The idea was suggested by CAM
mard. In his opinion, there was COM
plicity and no accident in tie matter.
Baudru was an instrument that Ar
sene Lupin had employed with his
amazing skill. With 9audru at large,
they might hope, through him. to
come upon Arsene lupin. or, at least,
upon one of his gang.
Inspectors Folenfant and Dieuzy
were told off as assistants to Cant
mard. and ono foggy morning in Jam
uary the prison gates were thrown
open to Desire Baudru.
At first he seemed rather embar-
rasscd, and walked like man who
has no very precise idea as to how to
employ his time He went down the
Rue dc la Santc and the Rue Saint
Jacques. Stopping outside an old
clothes shop. he took off his jacket
and waistcoat, sold his waistcoat for
few sous, put on his jacket again,
and went on.
He crossed the Seine. At the
Chatelet an omnibus passed him. He
tried to get into it. 1t was full. The
ticket collector advised him to take
number. He entered the waiting
room.
Ganimard beckoned to his two
men, and, keeping his eyes on the Of
fec, said, quickly:
Stop cab 70, two cabs.
that's better. I'll take one OF you
with me. Well follow him
The men did as they were told.
Baudru, however, did not appear.
Ganimard went into the waiting
room: there was no one there.
What fool ! ami he muttercd.
II forgot the other door
The Office. as a matter of TACT, is
connected with the other office in the
Rue Saint-Martin. Ganimard rushed
through the communicating passage.
Baudru on the top OF the omnibus
xH1 II I, InS
Plantes, which was turning the cor
ner of the Rue di Rivoli. He ran aft
er the omnibus and caught it up. But
he had lost his two assistants, and
was continuing the pursuit alone.
In his rage he felt like taking Bau-
dru by the collar without further
form or ceremony. Was it not by
premeditation and thanks to an in
genious trick that the so-called' idiot
had separated him from his two aux
iliaries, He looked at Baudru. The
man was doing where he sat, and
his head shook from right to left. His
mouth was half open, his face wore
an incredible expression of stupidity.
No, this was not an adversary capa-
Bile Of taking old Ganimard in; chance
had favored him. that was all.
At the Carrefour DIES GaierieS-La-
fayettc, Baudru changed from the
omnibus to the La Muctte tramcar.
Ganimard followed his example.
They went along the Boulevard
Haussmann and the Avenue Victor
Hugo. Baudru alighted at the stop
ping place at La Muettc, and. with
lounging step, entered the Bots dc
Boulogne.
He passed from one alley to an
other, retraced his steps, and went on
again. What was he looking for?
Had he an object in view?
After an hour of these mancuvcrs
he seemed tired and worn out.
Catching sight OF a bench, he sat
down upon it. The spot was not far
from Auteuil, on the brink of little
lake hidden among the trees, and was
absolutely deserted. Hall an hour
elapsed. At last, losing patience,
Ganimard resolved to enter into con-
versation.
He therefore went up and took
seat by Baudru's side. He lit Gig.
arctic, drew a pattern in the sand
with the end of his walking stick,
and said:
"A cold day" =,
Silence. And suddenly in this sill
ence a peal of laughter rang out-a
peal of glad and happy laughter, the
laughter of a child seized with a mt of
laughter. and utterly unable to keep