The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-16

iouH0ed Dlade. lie twisted the nan
die to the left and then to the right.
gave way and became unscrewcd.
The knife was hollow, and served as
a sheath for a slip of paper.
i |Pooh!' he said. that's not very
artful for man like Arsene. But let
us waste no time. Do you go to the
restaurant, Dicuzy. and make your
inquiries"
i TIL he reao;
every day ct distance 1 shall so in
front I shall see you soon. my dear
and adorable friend"
AT last" cried NJ. Dudouis, rub
ping his hands. Things are going
better, l think. With a little assist
ance from Our side the escape will
succeed just enough to enable
u to bag the accomplices."
And suppose Arsene Lupin slips
through your Lngers?" said the gov
ernor.
] I'VE shall employ as many men as
I arc necessary. If. however, he shows
himself too clever well. then,
SO much the worse for himl As for
the rest the gang, since the leader
refuses to talk the others must be
msde>to."
The fact was that Arsene Lupin did
not talk mitch. For some months NJ.
jules Bowler, the examining magis-
trate. had been exerting himself TO
no purpose. The heterogeneous
were reduced to uninteresting COL
loquics between the magistrate and
Maltre Danval,S one of the leaders of
the bar, who, for that matter knew
as much and as little about the de-
fendant as the man in lhe street.
Tired out, tht magistrate had sus-
pended these wearisome intefroga-
tories. He resumed them, after BE-
siFes. And regularly at Il o'clock
ever day Arsene Lupin was, taken
rom the Sante to the police station
IN van, with number of other pris-
oners. They left again at 3 or 4 in
the day.
! Ore afternoon the return journey
took place under exceptional condi-
ton. AS. the other criminals from
j the Sante had not yet been examined
it was decided TO take Arsene Lupin
tick first. He therefore stepped into
the van alone.
4 These prison vans, vulgarly known
in France. and as "Black Marias" in
England, are divid4d lengthwisc by a
central passage. giving admittance to
ten compartments or boxes. five on
each side. Each of these boxes' is so
ARA ID that its occupant has to
adopt sitting posture, and the five
-soners are consequently seated
lone beside the other, and are scpa-
Ifated by. parallel partitions. A hlunic-
ipal GARD sits at the end and watches
the central passage.
l
ssarte sWhe. ana th hes cached tshi tae
middle. Of the Pont Saint Michel he
pressed kis cute foot.--that is u 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 inpcrceptibly. He
saw that he was just between the two
wheels.
He waited, with watchful eye.
I .-:c van went along the Boulevard
Saint Michel at foot's pace. At the
A dray horse had fallen. The traf-
fic was stopped, and soon there was
a block of cabs and omnibuscs.
. Acme Lupit- 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 one of the spokes of the hind
!: wheel, and jumped to the ground.
II. A cab driver sa.. him, choked with
laughing, and then tried to cali out.
the traffic, which had started sfresh h.
Besides, ARISEN Lupin was already
some distance away.
He. had taken few steps at a run !;
but, crossing to the Ieft-hand pave
|. nent, he. turned back, cast glance
around him, ana seemed to be taking
his '5reath, like man who is not
J tquits sure which direction he means
to follow. Then, making up his mind,
he thrust his hands into his pockets,
and, with the careless air of person
taking stroll, continued to walk
, along the boulevard.
The weather was mild; IL was a
brigh., warm autumn day The cafes
were full of people. He sat down
outside one of them.
Il He called for book and a packet
Of cigarettes. He emptied his glass
with little sips. calmly smoked a Gig
arett. am lit q second. Lastly, he
stood up and asked the waiter to
fetch the manager.
, TIL manager came, and Arsef1e
said, in voice LOUD enough to be
heard by all around:
Il m very sorry. but I have come
out without my purse. Possibly you
know m, name and will not mind
trusting NE for day or two; am
. Arsene Lupin."
And he walke, away amid the gen.
!, eral laughter before the other dream
ed of raising a protest
i He slznted across the Rue Soufflot,
,, and turned down the Rue Saint
, jacques. He PROCEEDED along this
/ strees quietly. looking at the shop
windows and smoking one cigarette
. after the other. On teaching the
I Boulevard de Portrayal he took his
earrings, asked the way. and walked
' straight toward the Rue de la Sante
i 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:
"Is this the Sante prison?"