The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-02-07
"Another word, major" cried

"Another word, major" cried
Don Luis gaily, land this time
really will go out! l must say you
have a nice way of sparing my
modesty!"
My dear Pcrenna,' replied
Comte d'Astrignac, Il always tolC
you that YOU had every good quail
ity and only one fault, which was
that you were not a Frenchman.'
And always answered, major
that | was French on my mothers
side and a t'renchman in heart and
temperament. There are things
which only a Frcnchman can do
The twomen again gripped each
others hand affectionatcly.
Come said the project, eve
will say no more of your feats OF
prowess, monsieur, nor of this re.
port. | will mention one thing
however, which is that, after two
years, you fell into al ambush Of
40 Berbers, that you were cap,
tured, and that you did not rejoir
the legion until last month"
Just so, Monsieur lie Prefet, in
time to receive my discharge, as
my five years service was up"
but how did Mr.. Cosmo Morn.
ington come to mention you in his
will, when, at the time when he
was making it, you had disap.
peared from view for Is monthsH'
"Cosmo and 1 used to CORE,
spond."
What"
eyes, and l had informed him
of my approaching escape and my
return to Paris"
"But how did you manage it.
Where were youi And how did
you find the meansiss""
Don Luis smiled without an
swering.
"Monte Cristo, this time" said
M. Desmalions. 1.-The mysterious
Monte CrlstO."
Monte Cristo, if you like, Mon.
sieur lie Prefet. In point Of fact,
the mystery of my captivity and
escape is a rather strange one. 1t
may be interesting to throw some
light upon it one Of these days.
Meanwhile, I must ask for a little
credit
A silence ensued. M. Desmalions
once more inspected this curious
individual and he could not re-
fraim from saying, as though in
obedience to an association OF
ideas for which he himself was un-
able to account:
lone word more, and one only.
What were your comrades reas-
ons for giving you that rather odd
nickname of Arsene Lupinq Was
it just an allusion to your pluck,
to your physical strength"
There was something besides,
Monsieur lie Project: the discov-
ry of a very curious theft, of which
certain details, apparently incapa-
bic of explanation, had enabled me
to name the perpetrator."
80 you have a gift for that
sort Of thing9"
Eyes, Monsieur lie Prefet, a Ger
tain knack which / had the oppor-
tunity Of employing in Africa on
more than one occasion. Hence
my nickname of Arsene Lupin. 1t
was soon after the death of the
man himself, you know, and he
was much spoken of at the time"
Was it as serious tbeft2"
1T was rather; and it happened
to be committed upon Cosmo
bloomington, who was then living
in the province Of Oran. That was
really what started our relations
There was a fresh silence; and
Don Luis added:
Poor Cosmo! That incident
gave him an unshakable conf
dence in my detective talents. He
was always saying, 'Perenna, if I
die murdered'--he had a fixed no.
ton in his head that he would
meet with a violent death--'if ]
die murdered, swear that you will
pursue the culprit.'"
His presentiment was not jus,
tified,' said the project of police.
"Cosmo Mornington was not nun.
dered."
"That's where you make a mis-
take, Monsieur lie Prefet,' said
Don Luis.
M. Desmalions gave a start.
What! What's that? Cosmo
Mornington---9"
II say that COsmo Mornington
did not die, as you think, of a
carelessly administered injection,
but that he died, as he feared he
would, by foul play"
But, monsieur, your assertion
is based on no evidence what