The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-09

tcsssrsh,. inA b tn. Mcclure Newspaper synd,.
- VERY tripper by the oan..s OF the
Seins must have noticed. between
-H the ruins OF Jumieges and thost
OF saint- wandrille. the curioui
little feudal castle Of the Malaquis
proudly seated on its rock in midstrea m
This erstwhile haunt OF heroes and rob
bers Is now occupied by Ba on Nathan
be called on the Bourse. where he made
his fortune little too suddenly. The
ruined owners of the Ma1aquis had tt
sell the abode OF their ancestors to him
for a song. Here he installed his won
derful collections of pictures and furni.
ture. OF pottery and carved wood. He
lives here alone. with three OLD servants
Baron Satan leads life of fear. He I.
afraid, not>for himself. but for the treas.
ures which he has a Accumulated with SC
tenacious a passion and With the persplc-
acity of a collector whom not the mosi
cunning OF dealers can boast Of having
Der taken In. Eaily. at sunset. the foul
iron-barred doors that command both
ends OF the bridge and the entrance te
the principal court are locked and bolt
ed. At the least touch electric bella
would ring through the surrounding 81.
isncs. There is nothing to be feared on
the side Of the seine. where the rock
rises sheer from the water.
One Friday in September the postman
| appeared as usual at the bridge head
and. IN accordance with his daily rule,
tina baron himself opened the heavy
door.
The postman handed him . pile OF
newspapers. Then he added: =,
"And now. monsieur lie baron. have
something special for you.'
something speclaii What DO you
mean?''
"a Ietter--and a registered letter Al
that.'
Living cut of from everybody, with nc
friends nor any one that took an interes,
In him. the baron never received letters
ana this suddenly struck him as an Ill.
omened event which gave him good
| cause for nervousness.
"I shall want your signature. monsieur
IL baron.''
He signed the receipt. cursing as hs
did So Then he took the letter. waited
until the postman had disappeared round
| the turn OF the road. and. after taking q
| few steps to and fro. leaned against the
parapet of the bridge and opened tho en-.
velepe. It contained a sheet Of ruled
paper. headed, In writing:
Prison de la Sante. Paris"
$1,000 - 49, .t0ost,trA-
| 'Arsene Lupin."
Utterly dumbfounded. ne read:
I Monsieur ie Baron-1n the gallery tina
| connects your two drawing.rooms there
Is a picture by Philippe de Champagne
| an excellent piece Of work. which 1 Ad
mire greatly. I also like your Rubeni
| pictures and the smaller OF your TIVE
| watteaus. In the ORA wins-room on tn,
| right 1 note the Louis xiii credsnee TIA
bic. the Beauvais tapestries. the Empire
| stand, signed by Jacob. ,and the Renais-
sanee chest. IN the room on the left tn,
| whole OF the case Of trinkets and NINA
| lures
4 This time win be satisfied with these
| objects. which. I think. can be easil,
turned into cash. 1 will therefore ash
| you to have them properly packed. Ant
| to send them to my name. carriage paid
to the Gaze de ratisnolles. on or bsfor,
this day week. failing which 1 will my
| self see to their removal on the night o.
| Wednesday. the 9th instant In the lat
| ter case, as IL only fair. Shall not b,
content with the Aforementioned OBJ
| jsets.
/ -
giving you. and believe me to be. your
very truly. ARsENE LUP1N."
This letter thoroughly upset Baron Ca
horn. It would have alarmed him con
Gderabiy had It been signed by any 9th
or hand. But signed by Afsens Lupin
He was q regular reader Of the news
papers. knew Of everything that wen
| on In the way of theft and crime. ant
| had heard All about the exploits Of tn,
Internal heusenreaker. He was quit,
aware that Lupin had been arrested ii
America BY his enemy. oanimard: tina
he was safely under lock and key; an,
that the preliminaries to his trial wer
now being conducted-with great din
Guilty. no Doubt But he also knew tina
one could always expect anything o
Arsene Lupin. Besides. this precis
knowledge OF the castle. of the arrange
ment Of the pictures and furniture wa
a very formidable sign. Who had In
formed Lupin of things which nobod.
had ever seen?
The baron raised his eyes and sAzed a
the frowning outline OF the MAlaquie. IL
abrupt pedestal. ths deep water ths
1 cHrnUHaA
ders. No. there was no possible danger
No one in the world could penetrate t
the inviolabie sanctuary that containe
hts collections.
That same evening he wfots to IN
public prosecutor az Eouen. He enclose
the threatening letter. and demanded po
lice protection.
The reply came without delay. the sal
Arssns 1upin was at that moment
| ,~S.aa~- 49, g. ~ -