The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-07-07
A NOVEL A WEEK.
Next Week
"JOHN THE FOOL"
by Chas. Tenny jackson.

by means of pocket light, Du-
vail found the closet, and a mo-
ment later was safely ensconed
within. Here he waited, until
the chauffeur should arrive.
Mr.. Stapleton, meanwhile, sat
in the library waiting for the kid
naper. Promptly at eight o'clock
the man arrived.
II have come, monsieur, as
said ! would" he remarked calm
ly Il trust you have the money
ready"
Stapleton handed over a pack
age OF bank notes. Here it is" he
grOwled. You will in rturn for
this money, send me word at once
where my son is to be found"
within half an hour, provid-
ed, of course, | am not inter
fered with in my escape"
The kidnaper sat down with
the utmost GOODNESS and began to
count over the notes. AS soon as
he had finished, he placed the
bundle carefully in an inside
pocket and left.
For eight or ten minutes he
walked. at the expiration of which
time he crossed to the pavement
surrounding the great triumphal
arch.
Suddenly a big black racing car
swept from the line of traffic and
approached the curb. The man on
the sidewalk raised his hand. The
car quivered to the side of the
street, pausing but the fraction of
a second as the kidnaper stepped
in. Another moment. and 1t had
swept around the great arch and
was flying down the Avenue du
Bots de Boulogne.
Close behind it came a second
car, which, like the first, contain
ed but a single occupant in addi-
tion to the chauffeur. With
Scarcely fifty feet between them,
the two machines swept toward
the intersection with the Avenue
Malakoff.
Both reached it, but here their
ways parted. The first car, turn
ing in dangerous quadrant,
swept into the Avenue Malakoff
and sped southwark like the wind.
The second continued on toward
the Porte Dauphine.
Just inside the Avenue Mala-
Rolf lay a third car, its powerful
engine shaking. Two men sat in
the tonneau. One was watching
window In the rear of a house
on the Avenue Kleber with a pair
OF field glasses. The other kept
his gaze fixed upon the road be-
hind him.
Suddenly the man with the
field glasses turned and pointed
toward the car which was just
passing from sight along the Bots.
Quick" he muttered. After
him!"
The automobile shot forward
like a racehorse.
For several miles the two swept
on, the rear car gaining slowly.
Suddenly the forward car be-
gan to slow up. In a moment the
Projects men ranged alongside,
and covered the solitary passen-
ger with their revolvers.
Surrender" Vernet cried.
You are my prisoner"
The man in the other car look
ed up. Are you a bandit, my
friend?" he inquired calmly.
Il am an agent of the police,
monsieur"
am Anton Lemaitre, stock
broker" He handed a card to
Vernet. II am trying a new auto
mobile, which | think of purchas-
ing. l saw you following me. |
wish to own a fast car. l direct
ed my driver to see what he could
do"
Vernet directed his companion
to get in with Monsieur Lemaitre.
Drive to the Prefecture" he
said, land let the gentleman tell
his story to Monsieur Lefevre.
He ordered his chauffeur to drive
to Mr.. Stapleton's house. He felt
he must see Duvall at once.
Mr.. Stapleton was waiting in
the library for the telephone call
which would announce the hiding
al l.