The Washington herald., 1915-04-04

Il
die to the left and then to the right
When turned to the right the handle
gave way and became unscrewed
The knife was hollow, and served as
sheath for slip of paper.
"Pooh!" he said. that's not very
artful for man like Arsene. But let
US waste no time. Do you 60 to the
restaurant Dieuzy, and make your
inquiries"
Thu he read:
Il leave it to you. Let H. P. follow
every day at a distance / shall go in
front. I shall see you soon. my dear
and adorable friend"
cat last!" cried NJ. Dudouis, rub
bling his hands. Things are going
better, l think With a little assist
ance from our side the escape will
, succeed just enough to enable
us to bag the accomplices."
and suppose Arsene Lupin slips
through your hngers?" said the gov
ernor.
1--WE shall employ as many men as
are necessary. If, however, he shows
So much til the worse for himl w. As s" for
| the rest O. the gang, since the leader
refuses to talk the others must be
made to-
The fact was that Arscne Lupin did
not talk much. For some months NJ.
jules Bowler, the examining magis-
tratc, had been cxcrting himself to
no purpose. The intcrrogatories
were reduced to unintereSting col
loquies between the magistrate and
Maitrc Danval, ono of the leaders of
the bar. who, for that matter, knew
as much and as little about the de-
PENDANT as the man in the street.
Tired out, the magistrate had sus-
pended these wearisomc intcrroga-
tories. He resumed them, after be-
ing shown the two intercepted mis-
| sives. And regularly at IL o'clock
every day Arsene Lupin was taken
from the Sante to the police station
i in a van. with number of other pris-
oners. They left again at 3 or in
! the day.
One afternoon the return journey
| took place under exceptional condi-
tons. AS the other criminals from
the Sante had not yet been examined,
it was decided to take Arsene Lupin
back first. He therefore stepped into
the van alone.
These prison vans, vulgarly known
as paniers saladc, or salad baskets,
in France, and as BLACK Marias' in
England, are divided lengthwise by a
| central passage, giving admittance to
ten compartments or boxes. five on
each side. Zach OF these boxes is so
n sod that ,t has 70
adopt a sitting posture, and the five
prisoners arc consequently seated
ono beside the other, and are sepa-
ipal lard sits at the end and watches
the central passage.
Arsenc was placed in the third box
on the right. and the heavy vehicle
started Whc1 they reached the
middle OF the Pont Saint Michel he
pressed his quite. foot-that is to say,
his right foot, as he had always done
against the sheet iron panel that
closed his cell. Suddenly something
was thrown out OF gear, and the pam
ell opened outward imperceptibly. He
saw that he was just between the two
wheels.
He waited, with a watchful eye
The van went along the Boulevard
SaintMichel at foot's pace. At the
Carrefour Saint German it pulled UP.
A dray horse had fallen. The traf-
ic was stopped, and soon there was
a block OF cabs and omnibuscs.
ATsene Lupin put out his head.
Another prison van was standing be-
side the one in which he was sitting.
He raised the panel farther, put his
foot on ono of the spokcs of the hind
wheel, and jumped to the ground.
A cab driver saw him, choked with
laughing, and then tried to call out.
But his voice was lost in the din of
the traffic, which had started afresh.
Besides. Arsen! +upin was already
some distance away.
He had taken a few steps at a run;
but. crossing to the left-hand pave
ment, he turned back, cast a glance
around him, and seemed to be taking
his breath, like a man who is not
to follow. Then, making up his mind,
he thrust his hands into his pockets,
and. with the careless air of person
taking a stroll, continued to walk
along the boulevard.
The weather was mid; II was
bright. warm autumn day. The cafes
were full OF people. He sat down
outside one OF them.
He called for book and a packet
of cigarettes. He cmptied his glass
with little sips, calmly smoked Gig
arctic ant lit a second. Lastly. he
stood I'D and asked the waiter to
fetch the manager.
The manager came, and Arsene
said, in a voice loud enough TO be
heard by all around:
Il am very sorry, but | have come
out without my purse. Possibly you
know my name and will not mind
trusting me for day or two; | am
Arsene Lupin."
And he walked away amid the gen.
eral laughter before the other dream
ed of raising protest.
He slanted across the Rue Souflot,
and turned down the Rue Saint
Jacques. He proceeded along this
street quietly, looking at the shop
windows and smoking one cigarette
after the other. On reaching the
Boulevard de Port-Royal he took his
bearings, asked the way, and walked
straight toward the Rue de Ia Sante.
Soon the frowning walls of the pris-
on came into view He skirted them,
and, going UP to the municipal guard
who was standing sentry at the gate,
raised his hat and said.