The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-09-12
THE
TEETH OF THE TIGER
MAURICE LEBLANC
TRANSLATED BY
ALEXANDER EIXEIRA DE MATTOS
CHAPTER FIFTEEN. (CCntinucd.)

"Yor, know it as well as |
do. Confess! It's possible that,
during the last ten days, you've
brought yourself, for love of that
woman, to look upon her as in
noccnt in spite of the overwhelm-
ing proofs against her. But to-
day the truth hits you in the eye.
| feel it, I'm sure of it. Isn't it
so, Chief? I'm right, am | not ?
You see it for yourself?"
This time Don Luis did not pro-
test. With a drawn face and set
eyes he watched the motor bus,
which at that moment was stand
ing still at the corner OF the
Boulevard Haussmann.
"Stop!' he shouted to the
driver.
The girl alighted. 1t was easy
to recognize Florence Levasseur
under her nurses uniform. She
east round her eyes as if to make
sure that she was not being fol-
lowed, and then took a cob and
drove down the boulevard and the
Rue de la Pepiniere, to the Care
Saint-Lagare.
Don Luis saw her from a dis
lance climbing the steps that run
up from the Cour de Rome and,
on following her, caught sight of
her again at the ticket office at
the end of the waiting hall.
"Quick, Mazeroux!' he said.
Sect out your detective card and
ask the clerk what ticket she's
taken. Run, before another pas
senger comes.'
MaZerouX hurried and ques-
toned the ticket clerk and re-
turned:
"Second class for Rouen."
"Take one for YOURSELF
Mazeroux did so. They found
that there IA an express due to
start in a minute. When they
reached the platform Florence
was stepping into a compartment
in the middle of the train.
The engine whistled.
"Get in" said Don Luis, hiding
himself as best he could. "Tele-
graph to me from Rouen; and I'll
join you this evening. Above all,
keep your eyes on her. Don't let
her slip between your fingers.
She's very clever, you know"
"But why don't you come your
self, ChiefY 1t would be much
better -"
"Out of the question. The train
doesn't stop before Rouen; and |
couldn't be back till this evening.
The meeting at the Perfect's at
five o'clock"
"And you insist on going?"
"More than ever. There, jump
i'm"
He pushed him into one of the
end carriages. The train started
and soon disappeared in the tun-
mel.
Then Don Luis flung himself on
a bench in a waiting room and
remained there for two hours,
pretending to read the newspa-
pers. But his eyes wandered and
his mind was haunted by the ag-
onizing question that once more
forced itself upon him: was Flor
ence guilty or notg
1t was five o'clock when Major
Comte d'Astrignac, Maitre Lep-
ertuis, and the secretary of the
American Embassy we're shown
into NJ. Desmalion's office. At the
same moment some one entered
the messengers room and handed
in his card.
The messenger on duty glanced
at the p~asteboard, turned his head
quickly toward a group of men
talking in a corner, and then ask
GU JIlc
Have you an appointment,
sirY"
cts not necessary. Just say
that I'm here: Don Luis Peren-
ma"
A kind of electric shock ran
through the little group in the
corner; and II Of the persons
forming it came forward. 1t was
{ Weber, the deputy chief detec-
tive.
The two men looked each other
in the eyes. Don Luis smiled am
iably. Weber was livid; he shook
in every limb and was plainly
striving to contain himself.
Near him stood a couple of
journalists and four detectives.
"By Jove! the beggars are
there for me!' thought Don Luis.
"But their confusion shows that
they did not believe that | should
have the cheek to come. Are
tbay noipO 70 orroct maqD