The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-29

tueu WcuI III anu Ou lie TeSloteT saw
the name. Francois Tribadeaux. South
Carolina.
The problem before me now was
duplex. must procure funds with
which to follow the man-perhaps to
Europe-and l must prevent the pos
sibility Of his transferring the sap
phire to a confederate The former Of
these two matters must be attended to
at once. I shut myself In a telephone
booth, called up Mr.. Ackley and In
formed him Of what had occurred. He
at once sent me by messenger an
envelope containing ample funds for
immediate use and letter authorizing
me to draw on him for further neces-
stiles.
The Frenchman remained in his room
till 8 o'clock. then came down stairs.
walked with elaboration to a news
stand. bought a morning Journal and
went into the breakfast room. A num-
Der Of persons were now about. and
I did not fear being spotted as
shadower. l followed my man into
the breakfast room and ordered meal
for myself. finished before he did
and waited for him outside. He went
to the rack containing time tables and
selected one Of the Pennsylvania rail-
road.
could have called for assistance to
arrest him. but feared that might not
find the gem on him. preferred to
wait till could get him where he
could not pass 1t to some one else or
hide 1t. If he took train, this would
indicate that he had it with him.
felt confident that he would take
train on the Pennsylvania road, and
when he left the hotel soon after
breakfast he went out, called taxi
cab, and l in another followed him to
the station of that road. He bought
ticket to Philadelphia and being at
the window at the same time bought
one for the same city.
The train was not an express, but !
felt confident that my quarry was 60
Ing to Philadelphia to sail for Europe.
I determined to prevent his leaving
the country II possible. but wished to
settle the matter between US without
the interference Of any one else. How
could do this?
| I determined to give him a clew to
the fact that was on his trail, hoping
that to elude me he would leave the
train. Taking seat near him began
to ogle him suspiciously, and I saw at
once by his expression that he had
taken alarm. When convinced of this
fact, I took a cigar out Of my pocket
and put 1t in my mouth and by my
expression indicated that was eager
for a smoke. Then shortly before the
train was to stop at a way station l
feigned to be so anxious to light my
cigar that could no longer resist and
went into the next car ahead, which
was a smoker.
But I was on the lookout for my
man. The train had already started
on from the station at which 1t had
stopped when 1 saw my man walking
!. away from the track. He had let him
self down from the rear end Of the car
The train was going at good speed
but I Jumped off and hurried after
| him, heading him Off from the houses
about the station. Seeing me, he made
in the other direction. Aiming to cross
his track drove him into the open.
He had made a mistake in leaving
the train at very small town. l had
secured a condition that had earnest
, ly wished for. He undoubtedly hat
the gem with him, and no possible op
portunity to pass it to any one else Of
to hide 1t. But the French are 1ngen
ious people, and he had perhaps {
, method Of outwitting me that I hat
not counted on.
There could not have been any doub
by that time that l was a detective
seeking the sapphire in his possession
. AS It turned out he was figuring to ge
me where he wanted me, just as wa
figuring to get him where I wante'
! him. He led me along the railwa.
track till he reached a cut and turf
in the road at the same time. The
he turned and, drawing a pistol, sal,
to me in broken English:
"Stop where you are or 1 will xii
!. you"
had been routed out Of bed early Il
= the morning and had started off Il
:. such hurry that l had not provide,
y myself with my revolver. Somehow
u did not believe the man would carr
: out his threat, and l kept on towar
him. But he fired at me. Then, to m
u surprise, he threw down his pistol an
said:
: Monsieur, do not know what 70
3 want of me. At any rate l am read
q to convince you that am citizen 9
e France travelling in America and tha
/ you cannot have any real interest
e me-"
! was now convinced that he had e
q rid of the sapphire and was very niue
e taken aback as to how he had done
n l did not propose to leave his pist'
J. behind and picked it up. 1t was an oil
/ fashioned weapon with single barr
; large enough to contain large size
= l u