The Spectator., 1915-12-28

 leau bent over, making such search as he could of the silent evidenSe of the crime. It seemed to him almost certain that he had seen this man somewhere, but he could not be sure He stopped, hesitated, and then swift ly sprang aside and sought conceal. ment behind the hangings of the room. He was sure that he had heard some one move in the rear room of the apartments.
 He had no more than concealed him. self before he had full evidence of the justice of his suspicion. He heard rustling behind the curtained door, heard the slight shuffling of a step. and saw emerge from the concealing curtains a face which he knew we'll enough; he could not mistake that cunning, ratlike chin, the shifting eyes, the almost silent footfall which carried him forward. Yes, Roleau knew him, knew him we'll enough. He had met him not so long before in combat at the lodge of Count Sachio, had saved the life of her excellency from this very man. He had fought him again in his own den in the slums of Gretzhoffen here. Yes, 1t was Blake, the renegade king of the apaches
 He stopped over the body and knelt by it's side, thrust hand into the pockets of the coat, and at length drew out folded paper, which he hur- riedly crowded into his own pocket. Then he was about to arise, but at that instant he felt the tigerlike weight of the giant Roleau upon his own back. A hand caught his arm back of his, crowded it up toward the back of his neck, strained it into a position of excruciating pain. An arm came around his neck, choking him. He was helpless.
 Get up," said Roleau, at length, grimly T know you. So, you did this? Come along with me-"
 Now it was this strange apparition, of Roleau marching his prisoner be- fore him, which gave pause to the procession of the law as it advanced toward the scene of the crime. The prefect of the city, his officers, Count Frederick, Count Sachio, Kitty Gray, all these others, paused now.
 What is that?" demanded the pre- feet imperatively. Who are you, and what do you do with this man?"
 He is the guilty man, excellency,", said Roleau stoutly. T took him but just now in our apartments. He was bending over the dead man there when 1 saw him. I sprang upon him and took him, as you see. l know this man we'll enough. He is a robber and a chief of robbers: he Is the leader of the apaches of this city"
 What you say may be true" said the prefect, as he cast swift glance at the prisoner; but we can jump at no conclusions. Retain him. retain them both."
 Do you know this man?" he de- manded of the clerk.
 But the latter shook his head. Il never saw him. said he. But all these things rouse additional suspi- cion of this young woman. She is too mysterious; she has too many strange friends. tell you, monsieur le pre- feet, she Is the one who knows all about this, She knows the victim. whoever he may have been. Depend on that"
 The prefect. had he made like ques- tion of Count Frederick or of Kitty herself might have heard that they both had seen before now this latest addition to the list of captives. But that official, for the time, was engaged in larger matters.
 There is truth in what you say" he assented to the last remark of the