The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-03-28
For the benefit of those readers who failed to
start this novel yesterday, The Times is re-
peating the first installment today. Yester-
days chapters follow today's. III
Continued from our last issue. }
CHAPTER III.
A Remarkable Disappearance

Ill
A Remarkable Disappearance
Monsieur Eetienne LeFevre,
project of police, was sitting at
his desk when he received the
telephone message calling him to
the house of Count D'Este.
He pressed button on his
desk, and requested the clerk
who answered his summons to
send to him Mr.. Richard Duvall.
Richard Duvall was an Ameri-
can, and his presence in the Of
flee OF the project of police Of
Paris requires a word of explain
alton. A college graduate, who
had begun his career in the prac-
tice of law, he had soon found
that his inclinations were toward
that profession commonly desig-
mated by the word detective. I"
He did not, however, approach
the subject of the detection of
criminals along the old-fashion-
ed lines so usual in his profess
sion. On the contrary. he had
taken up the matter with all the
care and intelligence of a we'll
trained mind, and before long
had established an enviable repu-
talon for himself as a master of
the science of criminology.
Some six months earlier he had
come to Paris upon an important
case, and had presented letters
of Introduction to NJ. Lefever,
with the request that the latter,
in order to facilitate his opera
tons. should give him position
upon his staff. He explained
that the criminals upon whose
trail he then was, were known to
have left New York for Paris,
He also explained TO the per-
feet that the men of whom he
was in pursuit were known to
have swindled a prominent Amer
lean business man out of large
sums of money by clever black
mailing scheme, and it was for
this reason that the perfect sum-
mOned him upon the receipt of
the Count D'Este's message.
In few moments. Duvall en-
tered the office. He was a man
of rather more than medium
height, and of athletic build. His
light-brown hair and eyes gave to
his smooth-shaven face some
what boyish expression.
Monsieur Duvall," the per-
feet began, II have just been adj
vised of another mysterious black
mailing case. Since you have
shown such an interest in the
previous cases of this nature, l
am going to ask you TO take
charge of this one"
Duyall nodded, smiling.
Thanks, chief" he said. "Who
is the victim this time?"
An acquaintance OF mine, the
Count D'Este, in the Avenue Vic
tor Hugo. don't know the de-
tails yet. He called me up over
the telephone just a few minutes
ago. | agreed to meet him at his
house in half an hour" He look
ed at his watch, then glanced at
the papers before him. There
are a number of matters here
which require my attention. Sup
pose you meet me there at one
o'clock"
| Duvall rose. every good" he
said, and in few moments was
whirling down the street in a
taxicab.
Half an hour later the perfect
entered his automobile and pro-
ceeded to the house in the Avenue
Victor Hugo.
Upon his arrival he was at once
ushered into the library. The
count greeted him with unusual
, effusiveness.
Il presume that nothing has
happened since you telephoned
me?" inquired the project
Yes. Girard has been here. "
"Girard?"
Eyes. The fellow who has been
demanding this money. He was
here less than half an hour ago."
"Sacre! What pity | did not
come earlier" =
1T would have been useless.
We have no evidence against
him"
But the letters?"
"Typewritten," said the count,
dryly.
"Ah!" The project was becom-
ing interested. II might have
known, of course. Nevertheless,
we should have held him on sus-
picion."
| We'll get him--later."
| Later" inquired the project
In surprise. "How so?"
| "He assured me positively that
he would return to get the money
he demands" added the count,
with a laugh.
The project laughed also. "If he
does, he'll be a fool"
The party were so interested in
their conversation that they failed
to observe the tall figure which
for several moments past had oc-
cupied a position just outside of
the French windows. Just before
the count finished speaking, the
man outside the window drew il
gently open and stepped into the
library. D'Este was the first to
hear the footsteps. "Girard" he
shouted. pointing.
Emile and the project rose In
alarm.
"At your service. Monsieur the
Count" said Girard, easily, as he
drew revolver from one of the
pockets of his overcoat.
What do you want here?" the
! project demanded, firmly.
Permit me to explain" said
Girard, bowling. 81 want one mil
lion francs. II you Wish to ar
rest me, you must place that sum
on the table in this room at ~
o'clock tonight. Unless the money
Is here, I shall not come for it,