The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-09-05

dermic syringe had been intro
duced by the same meansf It was
impossible to prove; and, on the
other hand, it was impossible to
discover how the newspaper cut
tings telling of Marie suicide
had found their way into Gas
ton Sauverand's cell. g
And then the original mystery
Of the marks Of teeth in the apple.
M. Eauville's posthumous confes-
sion acquitted Marie. And yet it
was undoubtedly Marie's teeth
that had marked the apple, The
teeth that had been called the
teeth CT the tiger were certainly
hers. Well, thenl
In short, as Mazeroux said, ev-
everybody was cropping in the
dark, so much so that the Project,
who was called upon by the will
to assemble the Mornington heirs
at "a date not less than three o
more than four months. after the
testator's decease, suddenly de-
cided that the meeting should
take place in the course of the
following week and fixed it for
the ninth of June.
He hoped in this way to put an
end to an ~exasperating case in
which the police displayed moth
ing but uncertainty and confus-
ion. They would decide about the
inheritance according to circum-
stances and then close the pro
ceedings. And gradually people
would cease to talk about the
wholesale slaughter Of the Morn
ington heirs; and the mystery Of
the teeth of the tiger would be
gradually forgotten.
1t was strange, but these last
days, which were restless and few
erish like all the days that come
before great battles-and every
one felt that this last meeting
meant a great battle-were spent
by Don Luis in an arm chair on
his balcony in the Rue de Rivoli,
where he sat quietly smoking Gig
aretes, or blowing soap bubbles
which the wind carried toward
the garden Of the Tuileries.
Mazeroux could not get over it.
"Chief, you astound me! How
clam and careless you look!"
81 am calm and careless, Alex
andre"
"But what do you meant
Doesn't the case interest you?
Don't you intend to avenge Nine.
Fauville and Sauverand? You
are openly accused and you sit
here blowing soap bubbles"
"There's no more delightful
pastime, Alexandra"
"Shall l tell you what / think,
Chief9 You've discovered the
solution of the mystery"
Perhaps / have, Alexandra,
and perhaps l haven't"
Nothing seemed to excite Don
Luis. Hours and hours passed /;
and he did not stir from his bal
cony. The sparrows now came
and ate the crumbs which he
threw to them. 1t really seemed
as if the case was coming to an
end for him and as if everything
was turning out perfectly.
But, on the day of the. meet
ing, Hazeroux entered with a let
ter in his hand and a scared look
on his face.
This is for you, Chief. 1t was
addressed to me, but with an
envelope inside. it in your name,
How do you explain thatf"
Quite easily, Alexandra. The
enemy is aware of our cordial re-
l%ations; and, as he does not know
where | am staying -"
"What enemy?"
"Iu tell you tomorrow even
ing"
Don Luis opened the envelope
and read the following words,
written in red ink:
There's still time, Lupin. Re-
tire from the contest. If not, it
means your death, too. When you
think that your object is attained,
when your hand is raised against
me and you utter words of tri-
umph, at that same moment the
ground will open beneath your
feet. The place of your death is
chosen. The snare is laid. Be-
ware Lupin."
Lon Luis smiled.
Good" he said. Things are
taking shape"
"Do you think so, ChiefY'
"T do. And who gave you the
letter."
"Ah, we've been lucky for
once, Chief! The policeman to
whom it was handed happened to
live at Les Ternes, next door to
the bearer of the letter. He knows
the fellow well. 1t was a stroke
Ihuck ~,yaan't it9c