The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-11-14
THE
TEETH OF THE TIGER
MAURICE LEBLANC
TRANSLATED By
ALEXANDER TEIXEIRA DE MATTOS
By
MAURICE LEBLANC

A
ran the risk of being buried under
the rubbish. 1t was not a ques-
ton, therefore, of Staying the
villain, but of saving Florence on
the spot.
He was halfway across in two
o. three seconds. But here, in
one of those mental flashes which
are even quicker than the mad
dest rush, he became aware that
the tracks Of trampled grass did
not cross the central circus and
that the scoundrel had gone
round it. Why? That was one
of the questions which instinct,
ever suspicious, puts, but which
reason has not the time to answer.
Don Luis went straight ahead.
And he had no sooner set foot on
the place than the catastrophe oc-
cured.
1t all happened with incredible
suddenness, as though he had
tried to walk on space and found
himself hurdled into it. The
ground gave way beneath him.
The clods of grass separated, and
he fell.
He fell down a hole which was
none other than the mouth of a
well four feet wide at most, the
curb of which had been cut down
level with the ground. Only this
was what took place. as he was
running very fast, his impetus
flung him against the opposite
wall in such a way that his fore
arms lay on the outer ledge and
his hands were able to clutch at
the roots Of plants.
So great was his strength that
he might just have been able to
drag himself up by his wrists.
But responding to the attack, the
scoundrel had at once hurried to
meet his assailant and was now
standing at ten PAGES from Don
Luis, threatening him with his
revolver:
Don't novel; he cried, cor
I'll smash you'll"
Don Luis was thus reduced to
helplessness, at the risk Of re-
ceiving the enemy's fire.
Their eyes met for a few sec
onds. The cripple S were burning
with fever, like the eyes of a sick
man.
Crawling along, watching Don
Luis's slightest movement, he
came and squatted beside the
wall. The revolver was levelled
in his outstretched hand. And his
internal chucklc rang out again:
"Lupin! Lupin!' That's done
it! Lupin's dive!
What a mug you must be! /
warned you, you know, warned
you in blood red ink. Remember
my words: The place of your
death is chosen. The snare is laid.
Beware, Lupin!' And here you
are! So you're not in prison?
You warded off that stroke, you
rogue, you! Fortunately, | fore
saw events and took my precau-
tions. What do you say to it?
What do you think of my little
schemeY | said to myself, All the
police will come rushing at my
heels. But there's only one who's
capable of catching me, and
that's Lupin. So Wen show him
the way, We'll lead him on the
leash all along a little path
scraped clean by the victims
victims body.
"'And then a few landmarks,
scattered here and there. First,
the fair damsel's ring, with a
blade of grass twisted round it +;
farther on a flower without it's
petals; farther on the marks Of
five fingers in the ground; next,
the sign of the cross No mis-
taking them, was there? Once
you thought me fool enough to
give Florence time to play Hop
Thumbs game, it was bound to
lead you straight to the mouth
of the well, to the clods of turf
which | dabbed across it. last
month, in anticipation Of this
wind fall.
Remember: The snare is
laid And a snare after my own
style, Lupin; one of the best! Oh,
l love getting rid of people, with
their kind assistance. We work
together like friends and part
ners. You've caught the notion,
haven't youG
Il don't do my own job. The
others do It for me, hanging
themselves or giving themselves
careless injections--unless they
prefer the mouth of a well, as you
seem to do. My poor old chap,
what a sticky mess you re in!
never saw such a face, never, on
my word Norence. do look at