Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1918-03-21

Don LUIS Perenna began to
walk across the room, reflecting.
The movement which the two de.
tectives made toward the two
doors told him that his arrest was
provided for. A word from M,
Desmalions, and Sergeant Mazer-
oux would be forced to take his
chief by the collar.
Don Luis once more gave a
glance toward his former accom-
plice. M%azeroux made a gesture of
entreaty, as though to say:
"Well, what are you waiting
fort Why don't you give up the
criminal? Quick, it's time!"
Don Luis smiled.
whats the matter?" asked
the project, in a tone that now en-
tirely lacked the sort of involun-
tary politeness which he had
shown since the commencement of
the examination.
"The matter? The matter?-''
Perenna seized a chair by the
back, spun it round and sat down
upon it, with the simple remark:
"Let's talk!"
And this was said in such a way
and the movement executed with
so much decision that the project
muttered, as though wavering:
II don't quite see"
"You soon will, Monsieur lie
P~refet."
And, speaking in a slow voice,
laying stress on every syllable that
he uttered, he began:
Monsieur lie Prefet, the posi-
ton is as clear as daylight. Yes
terday evening you gave me an
authorization which involves your
responsibility most gravely. The
result is that what you now want,
at all costs and without delay, is a
culprit. And that culprit is to be
myself. By way Of discriminating
evidence, you have the fact Of my
presence here, the fact the door
was locked on the inside, the fact
that Sergeant Mazeroux was
asleep while the crime was com
mitted, and the fact of the discov-
cry of the turquoise in the safe.
All this is crushing, I admit.
Added to it." he continued. eve
have the terrible presumption that
L had every interest in the re-
moval of NJ. Fauville and his son,
inasmuch as, if there is no heir Of
Cosmo Mornington's in existence,
/ come into 100000 900 francs. Elk
actly. There is therefore nothing
for me to do, Monster lie Prefet,
but to go with you to the lookup
or else"
"Or else what?"
COR else hand over to you the
criminal, the real criminal"
The project of police smiled and
took out his watch.
"I'm waiting he said.
"It will take me just an hour,
Monster lie Prefet, and no more, if
you give me every latitude. And
the search Of the truth, it seems to
me, is worth a little patience"
Tim waiting" repeated M.
Desmalions.
Sergeant Mazerous; please tell
Silvestre, the man servant, that
Monsieur lie Prefet wishes to see
him.
Upon a sign from M. Desma-
lions, Mazeroux went out.
Don Luis explained his motive.
Monsieur lie Prefet, whereas
the discovery Of the turquoise con-
stitutes in your eyes an extremely
serious proof against me, to me it
is a revelation of the highest i'm
portance. I will tell you why. That
turquoise must have fallen from
my ring last evening and rolled on
the carpet.
"Now there are only four per-
sons" he continued, "who can
have noticed this fall when it
happened, picked up the turquoise
and, in order to compromise the
new adversary that / was, slipped
it into the safe. The first of those
four persons is one of your detec-
tives. Sergeant Mazeroux, Of
whom we will not speak. The sec
ond is dead: / refer to M. Fauville.
We will not speak Of him. The
third is Silvestre, the manseryant.
/ should like to say a few words
to him. / shall not take long,"
Silvestre sqexamination, in fact,
was soon over. He was able to
prove that, pending the return Of
Nine. Fauville, for whom he had
to open the door, he had not left
the kitchen, where he was playing
at cards with the lady's maid and
another manservant.
VERY WE'LL" said Perenna.
{ One word more. You must have
read In this mornings papers Of