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

But there was something that struck
me even more than this awful sight
something that was the reason why 1
did not at once call out for help nor
fling myself on my knees to see IL the
man was still breathing: at two PAGES
from him q seven of hearts lay on the
floor!
1 picked It up. The lower point Of each
OF the seven pips was pierced with a
hole.
OF police of Neuilly arrived. followed, in
a few moments. by the police surgeon.
and by NJ. Dudouis. the head of the
d tective service. The officers discov-
cred nothing or very little.
At the last moment however. an Incl
dent occurred which seemed to US of
great Importance. Two policemen were
carry 1t away on a stretcher when they
perceived that the left hand. till then
closed and shrunk. had become relaxed.
and crumpled visiting card fell from
it The card bore the words:
GEORGES ANDERMATT.
81. Rue de Berry.
What did this mean? Georges Ander-
matt was big Paris banker. the founder
and chairman Of the Metal Exchange.
Gould that be the mans namer I
murmured.
The head of the detective service bent
over the corpse.
NO, NJ Andermatt il q pale-faced
man. with hair just turning gray. Have
you a telephone. sir?"
Yes. it's in the hall II you will
come this way.
He turned up the directory ana asked
for No. ISL.
rs NJ. Andermatt in7 My name Is
all speed to loo Boulevard Maillot It's
urgent.
Twenty minutes later NJ Andermatt
stepped out of his car. He was told the
reason why he had been sent for. and
was then taken upstairs to see the body.
He had q momentary emotion that
contracted his features. and said. in an
undertone. as though involuntarily:
"Etienne Varin."
do you know him?"
NO. or. at least. yes. but only by
sight. His brother
He has a brother?"
Yes. Alfred Warm. His brother used
to como and ask me to assist him. !
have forgotten in what connection"
And have you no suspicion OF the rea-
son why he shot himself?'
"None at ALL
1t was not cleared up. The inquiry
established that the YARNS were two
brothers. of Swiss origin. who had led
a very checkered life under different
aliases, frequenting the gambling houses
foreigners whose movements had been
watched and who had dispersed after a
series of burglaries in which their par
'ticipation was not proved until later.
confess that. FOR my part. the case
seemed to me so intricate that I scarcely
believed in the possibility of a solu-
ton. and I tried hard to Danish 1t from
my mind. But Jean Daspry. on the con-
trary-and 1 saw a great deal Of him at
that time-grew daily moro enthusiastic
about 1t. 1t was he that called my at
tention to the following paragraph from
a foreign paper. which was reproduced
and commented upon throughout tho
press OF the country:
"A new submarine is to be tried short
ly in the presence of the emperor. The
through an indiscretion in official cir
cles: she Is called the Seven of Hearts"
Two days later another piece of news
was reprinted from the German papers:
1T is now commended that the Seven
of Hearts. the submarine whose trials
are to take place forthwith. has been
designed by French engineers"
do not wish to insist too much upon
facts Of an extremely delicate character
which provoked considerable excitement.
as the reader will remember. in France
nevertheless since all danger of inter-
1 must speak of an article in the Echo
de France which made a great deal OF
noise at the time. and which threw q
moro or less vague light upon Tho
Seven of Hearts Affair" as It was called.
Here 1t Is. as 1t appeared under the
signature of "Salvator:'
I'VE will be brief. Ten years ago
Louis Lacombe. q young engineer in the
mines. resigned his appointment. and
hired q small house. at 102 Boulevard
Maillot. Through the intermediary Of
two brothers called Warm. Of Lausanne.
nf whnpn assisted him q a
parator in his experiments. while the
other went in search Of financial hackers
for his schemes, Lacombe entered into
relations with NJ. Georges Andermatt.
AFTER a number of interviews he sue
ceeded in interesting NJ. Andermatt in
the plans of submarine upon which he
was engaged.
For two years Louis Lacombe was
constantly visiting the Hotel Andermatt
and submitting his improvements to the
banker. until the day came when. hav-
ing lighted upon the final formula which
he was seeking and being fully satisfied
with his labors, he asked NJ. Andermatt
to set to work on his side.
ION that day Louis Lacombe dined
at the Andermatts'. He left the house
at 11:so in the evening. Since then he
has not been seen by mortal eyes. and
it was generally believed that Louis La
combe. who was looked upon as an ec-
centric and whimsical young fellow. had
gone abroad without acquainting any of
his friends with his intentions.
what became of the plans of the sub
marine? Did Louis Lacombe take them
with him? Were they destroyed?
I'VE are in a position to state as
certainty that Louis Lacombe's plans
are now the property of a foreign power.
and. II necessary. to publish the letters
exchanged in this connection between
the representatives OF that power and
the brothers Warm. At the moment of
writing the Seven OF Hearts conceived
by Louis Lacombe has been brought into
actual existence by that foreign power"
And a postscript added:
Private information received at the
moment of going to press nabies US to
state that the trials of the Seven of
Hearts have not proved satisfactory. 1t
is quite probable that the plans delivered
by the YARNS lacked the last document
which Louis Laconbe brought to NJ.
Andermatt, on the evening of his dis
annaarapra document W uos &C.