The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-02

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by road on the previous day. l
was to meet it by train. and go
on to some friends, who have a
house on the Seine.
A few minutes before we left
Paris my compartment was invaded
by seven gentlemen, FIVE of whom
were smoking. Short though the
journey by the fast train be, 1 did
not relish the prospect of taking it
in such company, the more so as
the old-fashioned carriage had no
corridor. 1 therefore collected my
overcoat, my newspapers and my
railway guide and sought refuge in
one of the neighboring compart-
ments.
1t was occupied by lady. At the
sight of me- she made movement
of vcxation which did not escape
my notice. and leaned toward a gen.
tlenan standing on the footboard-
her husband, no doubt, who had
come to see her off. The gentleman
took stock of me. and the examina-
AASAh SSSAiSo ~ SolANiaoO W Ad-
vantage; for he whispered to his wife
and smiled, giving her the look
with which we reassure a fright
ened child. She smiled in her turn,
and cast "a friendly glance in my di-
rection, as though she suddenly real
lied that l was one of those we'll
bred men with whom a woman can
remain locked up for an hour or two
in little box six feet square without
having anything to fear.
Then the guards whistle sounded,
and the train started.
AT that moment, and in spite OF
the warning shouts of the railway Of
fcials, the door opened and man
burst into our carriage. My travel
ing. companion, who was standing up
and arranging her things in the rack.
uttered a cry of terror, and dropped
down upon the seat.
/ am no coward-far from it; but
I confess that these sudden incur
sions at the last minute are always
annoying. They seem SO ambiguous,
SO unnatural. There must be some
thing behind them. else $3.50
The appearance of the newcomer,
however, and his bearing were such
as to correct the bad impression pro-
duccd by thu: manner of his entrance.
He was neatly, almost smartly, dress
ed; his tie was in good taste, his
gloves clean; he had a powerful face.
So But, speaking of his face. where
on earth had I seen it before?
But when my eyes reverted to the
lady sat astounded at the pallor and
disorder of her featWes. She was
staring at her ncighbor-he was
seated on the same side of the car
riage-wIth an expression of genuine
alright, and I saw one Of her hands
steal trembling toward little travel
ing bag that lay on the cushion few
inches from her lap. She ended by
taking hold of l.. and nervously drew
it to her.
Our eyes met. and I read in her.
anxiety that could not help saying:
81 nope you are not i'll, madam.
Would you like me to open the
Window"
She made no reply, but, with
tinid gesture, called my attention to
the individual beside her
just then he turned toward us con-
templatcd US, one after the other,
from head to foot. and then huddled
himself into his corner, and made
no further movement.
A silence ensued; but the lady, as
though she had summoned UP all her
energies to perform an act of de-
spair, said to me, in hardly audible
voice:
~ ~X9u X know he is in our train"
"Why. he -" he himself ""'1
assure you."
Whom do you meant"
"Arscne Lupinp'
He pulled his hat down upon his
nose. Was this to conceal his agita-
ton. or was he merely preparing to
go to sleep?
I objected.
"Arscne Lupin was sentenced yes
terday, in his absence, to twenty
years penal servitude. 1t is not like
ly that he would commit the impru=
dence of showing himself in public
today. Besides. the. newspapers have
discovered that he has been spending
the winter in Turkey ever since his
famous escape from the Santc."
HE is in this train" repeated the
lady. with the ever more marked in
tention of being overheard by our
companion. my husband is dep
uty prison governor, and the station
Inspector himself told US that they
were looking for Arsene Lupin."
That is no reason why
"He was seen at the booking Office.
He took ticket for Roucn."
ut would have been easy to lay
hands upon him"
"He disappeared. The ticket collec-
tor at the door of the waiting room
did not see him; but they thought
that he must have gone round by the
suburban platforms and stepped into
the express that leaves ten minutes
after U.S."
I'm that case they will have
caught him there"
"And supposing that, at the last
moment, he jumped out OF that ex-
49, as he probably as he most
certainly did,"
I'm that case they will catch him
here; for the porters and the police
cannot have failed to see film going
from one train to the other, and,
!when. we reach Rouen, they will net
him finely"
HHir,9 NevAri Ii. x,,,11 Ca