The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-04-18

oAOlC.
The meeting took place on the
first floor. The man had come
down, fully dressed, with his hat
on his head; and the deputy chief
roared:
"Stop! Hands up! Are you
Hubert Lautier9"
The man seemed disconnected.
Five revolvers were levelled at
him. And yet no sign of fear
showed in his face; and he simply
said:
"What do you want, monsieurf
What are you here for?"
"We are here in the name Of the
law, with a warrant for your +
rest"
"a warrant for my arrest9"
"a warrant for the arrest Of
Hubert Lautier, residing at 8
Boulevard Richard Wallace"
"But it's absurd!" said the
man. cts incredible! What does
it meant What FORT"
They took him by both arms,
without his offering the least re-
sistance, pushed him into a fairly
large room containing no furni-
ture but three rush bottomed
chairs, an armchair, and a table
covered with big books.
"There," said the deputy chief.
Don't stir. If you attempt to
move, so much the worse for you"
The man made no protest. While
the two detectives held him by the
collar, he seemed to be r~eflecting,
as though he were trying to un-
derstand the secret causes Of an
arrest for which he was totally un-
prepared. He had an intelligent
face, a reddish brown beard, and a
pair of blue-gray eyes which now
and again showed a certain hard
ness of expression behind his
glasses. His broad shoulders and
powerful neck pointed to physical
strength.
"Shall we tie his wristsG" Maze
roux asked the deputy chief.
Zone second. The projects COM
ing; [ can hear him. Have you
searched the mans pockets9 Any
weaponsY"
NO"
"No flask, no phialY Nothing
suspicious7'
"No, nothing"
M. Desmalions arrived ana,
while watching the prisoners face,
talked in a low voice with the dep
uty chief and received the particu-
lars of the arrest.
"This is good business he said.
"We wanted this. Now that both
accomplices are in custody, they
will have to speak and everything
will be cleared up. So there was
no resistance?"
"None at all, Monsieur lie
Prefet."
"No matter, We will remain on
our guard"
The prisoner had not uttered a
word, but still wore a thoughtful
look, as though trying to under
stand the inexplicable events of
the last few minutes. Nevertheless.
when he realized that the new
conner was none other than the
project of police, he raised his
head and looked at M. Desmalions,
who asked him:
1T is unnecessary to tell you
the cause of your arrest, l pre-
sume?"
He replied, in a deferential
tone:
Excuse me, Monster lie Prefet,
but l must ask you, on the con-
trary, to inform me. I have not the
least idea Of the reason. Your de-
t~ectives have made a grave mis-
take which a word, no doubt, will
be enough to set right. That word
| wish for, 1 insist upon"
The project shrugged his Shout
ders and said:
"You r suspected of taking
part in the murder of Fauville, the
civil engineer, and his son Ed
mond."
"Is Hippolyte deadY"
The cry was spontaneous, al
most unconscious; a bewildered
cry of dismay from a man moved
to the depths of his being. And
his dismay was %supremely strange,
his question, trying to make them
believe in his ignorance, supremely
unexpected.
lis Hippolyte deadf"
He repeated the question in a
hoarse voice, trembling all over as
he spoke.
"Is Hippolyte dead7 What are
you saying? Is it possible that he
can be deadY And how9 Muir
dered? Edmond, too9"
mn