The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-30

the hiding placed You seem to b ~ ven
informed ~ salvatori''
The letters are not In the hiding
place"
'.They are."
"Open it"
A look of distrust passed over Warns
face Were Dasprey and Salvador really
one. as everything led him to presumed
II 30. he risked nothing by revealing
hiding place that was already known
open it." repeated Daspry.
Il haven't a seven of hearts."
Eyes. here's one" said Daspry. hold.
Ing out the iron plate.
varin fell back in terror.
''No. I will not"
''Never mind that."-Daspry went up to
mosaic panel OF an old emperor with .
flowing beard. climbed q CHAIR and ape
Piled the seven of hearts to the bottom
OF the emperor's sword. against the hiit.
so that the edges OF the place exactly COW
cred the two edges Of the blade. Then.
with the point Of an awl. which he
pushed successfully through each Of the
seven holes contrived in the end OF the
seven pips. he pressed upon seven Of the
the seventh stone was driven In. . catch
was released and the whole Of the ena-
peror's bust turned on q pivot. reveal
ing wide aperture arranged ~ . safe.
Of cleaning steel
you see. Warm. the safe II empty"
"Just so. Then my brother must have
removed the letters
Daspry came back to the man, ana
said: i
There IL another hiding place. Where
is it?''
There isn't one"
rs 1t money you wantf How muehr'
Ten thousand francs"
M Andermatt, are those letters worth
10000 francs to your
Yes" said tho banker. In . firm
voice.
warm shut the safe. took tho seven
Of hearts. not without . visible repug.
nance. and applied 1t to the blade, at
exactly the same place. against the Init.
He drove tho aVl successfully through
tho end Of the seven pips. There WAS .
second release OF q catch. but. this time.
an unexpected thing occurred: only .
part OF the safe turned round. disclose
ing q smaller safe. contrived in the
thickness Of the door that closed the
large one.
The bundle Of letters was there. tied
up with tape and sealed. Warm gave IL
to Daspry. who asked:
rs the ch1ck ready. N. Andermattr'
Eyes"
"And have you also the last document,
which Louis Lacombe left with you.
completing the plans OF the submarinef''
yes"
Tho exchange was made Daspry
pocketed the document and the check.
and offered the packet to M. Andermatt.
Here il what you wanted. sir'
The banker hesitated . moment. ~
though he were afraid to touch those
cursed pages which he had been so
eager to ind. Then he took them. with
| q nervous moveDent.
And Daspry said to the banker:
Il think. sir. that our conversation II
| ended. Oh. no thanks. beg of you. II
was q mere accident that enabled me to
| serve you
NJ. Andermatt withdrew. taking with
him his wife's letters to Louis Lacombe.
"Splendid!" cried Daspry, with An air
Of delight Everything 10 arranged for
| the best. You and have only to settle
| our business. my lad. Have you the
papers?"
They are all here
Daspry looked through them. examined
them closely. and stuffed them into his
| pocket.
quite right: you have kept your
| word
But" :
But what?''
''The two checks1 The money!
''weli. you're = cool hand. you arsi
Out Of the question. I appropriate It"
MY money!
Come. be reasonable. and drop that
dagger, VIII your!
He caught him by the arm 20 roughly
that the other roared with pain. And
he added:
go away. my lad. the air viii DO you
good. Would you like me to see you
| on? We Will 70 by the waste ground.
and will show you 4 heap OF stones and
brambles under which,
ITS not true! It's not truer"
yes. 1t IL true. This little Iron plate
| with the seven pips came from there.
Louis Laconbe used always to carry it
about with him. don't you rememberf
the corpse and with other things which
will interest tho police enormously"
Varin covered his face with his rae.
Ing fsts Then he said:
VERY we'll I have been done. Lstss
say no moro about It. One word. how.
| safe. in the larger Of the two. Was it
there when you came here on the night
Of the END OF JuneT'
| yes"
And did you take nr'
| by Jove! what would you have done
in my placer"
"Then It was after he discovered the
disappearance Of the cash box that my
brother committed suicide7"
Probably. The disappearancs Of your
correspondents with Maj. Won, IAsbsn
would hardly have been enough. But the
| cash box was another matter. II that
| all you wanted to known
| "One thing more-your Manner
''Arsena Lupin.''
The man staggered back a. though h
| had received q blow on the head with Q
| club. Those two words seemed to dash
all his hopes. Daspry laughed. And.
without another word, he pushed him out
at the door.
| pulled back the velvet curtain.
| Lupin ran up.
| what II It? What's the matterf"
Nine. Andermatt IL fainting."
He FASTENED UP. made her sniff at Q
| bottle of salts. and, while he was bring
1 ing her round. asked:
| well. but what happened?
1.-THE letters" I said. Tho letters
| which you gave her husband"
He struck his forehead.
What, But. after all. why shouldn't