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

The guard of the train confirmed
my superstition. He had seen a man
scrambling down the embankment
at two hundred yards from the sta
ton.
There he isl - Look! 80 At
the level erossing"
l darted in pursuit. followed by my
two satellites. or, rather. by one of
them, for the other, Massol, turned
out to be an uncommonly fast sprint
er. gifted with both speed and stay
ing power. In few seconds the dis
lance between him and the fugitive
was greatly diminished. The man
saw him, jumped hedge. and scam
pered off toward slope. which he
climbed. We saw him, farther still,
entering a little wood.
When we reached the wood we
found Massol " Lifting for us. He had
thought. it no use to go on. lest he
should lose us.
you we're quite right, my dear fell
low" L said. AFTER a run like this
our friend must be exhausted. We've
got him."
l examined the skirts of the wood
while thinking how l could best pro-
coed alone to rest the fugitive. in
order myself to effect certain recov.
cries which the law, no doubt. would
only havc: allowed after a number OF
disagreeable inquiries. Then re-
turned to my companions.
Look here, it's very easy. You,
Massol. take up your position on the
left. You, Delivet, on the right. From
there you can watch the whole rear
of the wood. and he can't leave it I'M
seen by you except by this hollow,
where I shall stand. If he does not
come out, I'll go in and force him
back toward one or the other of you.
You have nothing to do, therefore.
but wait. Oh. was forgetting-in
case of alarm, I'll fire shot"
Massol and Delivct moved off, each
to his own side. AS soon as they were
out of sight made my way into the
wood with infinite precautions, so
consisted of close thickcts, contrived
for the shooting. and intersected by
very narrow paths. in which it was
only possible to walk by STOPPING. a.
though in a lcafy tunnel.
One of these ended in a glade,
where the damp grass showed tho
marks of footsteps. I followed them,
taking care to steal through the UNI
derwood. They led me to the bottom
of little mound. crowned by tum-
bledown 1ath-and-plaster hovel.
HE must be there" thought. "Ho
has selected good post of observa-
ton"
I crawIed close up to the building.
A slight sound warned me of his pres
cree, and. in fact, / caught sight OF
him through an opening with his back
turned toward me.
Two bounds brought me upon him.
He tried to point the revolver which
he held in his hand. did not give
him time, but pulled him to the
ground in such a way that his two
arms were twisted and caught under
him. while l held him pinned down
with my knee upon his chest.
Listen to me. old chap" I whis-
pin You've got to give me back. this
minute and without any fuss, my poek-
etbook and the lady's wristbag
in return for which I'll save you from
the clutches of the police and en-
roll you among my friends. Which
is it to be-yes or no?"
"Ycs," he muttered.
That's right. Your plan of this
morning was clevcrly thought out.
We shall be good friends"
got up. He fumbled in his pocket,
fetched out a great knife and tried
to strike me with it.
With one hand I parted the at
tack. With the other caught him
violent blow on the carotid artery.
the blow which is known as "the caro-
It'd hook" He fell back stunned.
In my pocketbook l found my pa
pers and banknotes. I took his own
out of curiosity. On an envelope adj
dressed to him read his name
Pierre Onfrey. ~. i
1 gave a STAR. Pierce Onfrey, tho
perpetrator of the murder in the Rue
Lafontaine at Autesill Pierce Onfrey,
the man who had cut the throats Of
tiers. I bent over him. Yes, that was,
the face which. in the railway car,
rage, had aroused in me the memory
of features which / had seen before.
But time was passing. placed two
hundred franc notes in an envelope,
with visiting card bearing these
words:
"Arsene Lupin to his worthy a..
sistants, Honore Massol and CASTOR
Delivet. with his best thanks"
laid this where it could be seen,
l placed Nine. Renaud's wristbag.
Why should it not be restored to the
kind friend who had rescued me?
confess, howev r, that 1 took from
it everything that seemed in any way
interesting. leaving only a tortoire-
she'll comb, stick of lip salve and an
empty purse. Business is business
when all is said and donci And, be.
sides, her husband followed such .
disreputable occupationl
There remained the man. He was
beginning to move. What was l to
do? was not qualified either to save
or to condemn him.
took away his weapons, and fred
my revolver in the air.
THAT will bring the two Others"
thought. HE mus: find way out Of
his own difficulties. Let fate take its
course"
And I went down the hollow road
at a run.
Twenty Minutes later a cross-road
which l had noticed during our pur-
suit brought me back to my car.
At 4 o'clock / telegfaphed to my
friends from Roucn that an unex-