The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-09-19

The law will find it no easy
matter, Monsieur lie Prefet! A
man of his powers and resource
must have ~foreseen everything,
leyen his arrest, even the accuse
ton of which he would be the sub
Jeet; and there is little to be
brought against him but moral
charges without proofs"
Then you think -"
81 think, Monsieur lie Prefet,
that the thing will be to accept
his explanations as quite natural
and not to ashow any distrust.
What you want is to know who
he is. Later on, before long, you
will be able to unmask him"
The Project of Police continued
to walk around the table. Major
d'Astrignac kept his eyes fixed ON
Perenna,- whose GOODNESS amazed
him. The solicitor and the secre-
tary Of Embassy seemed greatly
excited. In fact nothing could be
more sensational than the thought
that filled all their minds. Was
the a%bominable murderer about to
appear before thems
"Silence!" said the Project,
stopping his walk.
Some one had crossed the ante
room.
There was a knock at the door.
Come I'M"
The office messenger entered,
CARRYING a card tray. On the tray
was a letter, and in addition there
was one of those printed slips on
which callers write their names
and the object of their visit.
M. Desmalions fastened to-
ward the messenger. He hest
tated a moment before taking up
the slip. He was very pale. Then
he glanced at it quickly.
"Oh!' he said, with a start.
He looked toward Don Luis, re-
Elected, and then, taking the let
ter, ne said to the messenger:
SIS the bearer outside
In the anteroOm, Monsieur lie
Prefet."
"Show the person in when l
ring"
The messenger left the room.
Nj. Desmalions stood in front Of
his desk, without moving. For the
second time Don Luis met his
eyes; and a feeling of perturba-
ton came over him. What was
happening?
With a sharp movement the
Prefect of Police opened the enve-
Hope which he held in his hand,
unfolded the. letter and began to
read it.
The others watched his every
igestWre, watched the least change
of expression OH his face. Were
Perenna's predictions about to be
fulfilled? Was a fifth heir put
1ting in his claimf
The moment he had read the
first lines, NJ. Destinations looked
lrp and, addressing Don Luis,
ianrncred:
"IOn were right, Monsieur.
This is a claim"
| "On whose part, Monsieur lie
Prefet!' Don Luis could not help
asking.
M. Desmalions did not reply.
He finished reading the letter.
Then lie read it again, with the
attention of a man weighing ev-
cry word. Lastly, he read aloud !:
"Monsieur lie Prefet:
N chance correspondence has re-
vcaled 10 me the existence OF an un-
nnown hair Of the Roussei family. II
vas .oniy today that l was able to
procure the documents necessary for
Identifying this heir, and. owing to
Unforeseen obstacles. It is only at the
last moment that ] am able TO send
them 10 YOU by the person whom
they concern. Respecting a secret
which il moi mine and wishing. as a
woman. 10 remain outside II business IN
which ! have beg Cil, rrc'T -..uy
,is''"iVcu, neg you, Monsieur ls prefet.
TO excuse me il / do not feel called
upon to sign my name to this letter"
So Perenna had seen rightly
and events were ,justifying his
forecast. Some one was putting
in AL appearance within the per-
,iod indicated. The claim was
made in good time. And the very
Way in which things. We're happen,
ing at the exact moment was cur
iOusly suggestive OF the. mechani-
heal exactness that had governed
the whole business.
The last question still re-
mained; whe. was this unknown
person, the possible heir. and
therefore, tho five or six fold
murdercrY He was waiting in the
next room. There was nothing
but a wall between him and the
others lie was coming in. They
VOiid e him. They would know
tHA9 lie vas. aae saaAs 49,
The prefect suddenly rang the