The Washington times., 1919-02-01
The Man With the X-Ray Eye
DelOrme Is Visited By Baron Plucke, Who Asks Hi
Aid in Clearing Mystery of His UnCle's Death
By GUY DE TERAMOND.
Synopsis Of Preceding Chapters.

BY GUY DE TERAM0ND.
Synopsis Of Preceding Chapters.
Lucien DeIorme, so bucoIic that even
the cabby who drove him TO MmA.
Armelin's family boarding house In
Paris points out the places Of note to
him, presents letters OF introduction 70
that cautious landiady and registers.
At dinner. he makes the acquaintance
OF his fellow boarders. These are
Mrs Fankerys rich American widow.
whose room adjoins that Of DelormS,
and Guatemalan general, Domingo y
Lopez, a man Of mystery.
Mrs. Tankery, about sixty, carries
about with her fortune in jewels.
Delorme attracts attention by reason
Of large dark-lensed glasses he wears.
The opinion prevails that his eyes are
weak and that he has come to Paris
20 consult an eminent eye specialist.
Mrs. TGnkery, a fortnight after De-
lorme's arrival. is found dead in her
room-nurdered. After an inyestiEa-
ton by the Commissaire of Police,
Delorme's is suspected Of the crime.
Later Deloru1e is released by police:
he announces his determination Of
leaving the Family House"
Deep sadness, a tone Of diB-
eouragement suddenly tinged his
voice, as he went on:
"The doctors can do nothing for
me -. It would be necessary
to undergo a serious operation, the
result Of which is doubtful e..
and have not the courage to sub
nit to It am going back
to my mother in Eu and
what must happen will happen"
Under these circumstances, sir,
I should be unwilling TO urge you.
But" she instantly continued, Elf
you have any friend who is coming
to Paris, / should be greatly
obliged IL you would recommend
my house"
you may be sure of that.
shall be glad to. say that your
cooking is excellent, your rooms
unusually neat, and that guests en-
Joy absolute quiet under your roof.
1 will even add that you sometimes
offer them entirely unexpected
mental diversions!'
Madame Armelin did not hear, or
pretended not to understand.
''One thing more. Madame" said
the young man, turning toward her,
as he was leaving the room. II
shall take the eleven O'Clock train.
Until then wish no one to be ad-
mitted. will receive neither
lQuEuaAlNLG LAQE IEpOELGEG.
They have come already"
"I suppose so, and that is why
I am making the request need
complete rest after the excitement
through which have passed to-
dayl All, you may believe that peO-
PIE don't easily forget a days i'm
prisonment on suspicion, in the
police stationw
But while, worn out by fatigue,
Esacien DelOFme quickly fell asleeps
the news Of his return spread
through the whole house, causing
a profound sensation
The first thought Of each was
that they had done right TO re-
lease the young man IL he were
not guilty. But was this certainf
After all, was that ever certain!
IL he were really entirely above
suspicion, why had the head Of the
Detective Bureau had him arrest
ed?
Then did not this haste to leave
the clearinghouse testify against
him, by showing that he considered
1t prudent to go away as quickly az
possible from the scene Of the
crime?
BY common consent IL was agreed
that the whole affair was not yet
clear and, II he was profting by the
niomentary doubt, it would be wise
20 wait before uttering any de-
ciston
So, in spite Of everything. Mad
agne ArmeIin did not feel perfectly
reassured about sleeping under the
same roof with her young lodger,
The old professor recommended his
soul 10 God when he went to bed
AS to the general, after loudly de-
claring that he had seen much more
singular things and that he was
afraid Of nothing, he barricaded
himself ia his room by pushing all
the furniture against the door.
I,ucian Delorme was still sleeping
a heavy, restful s'umber when to-
ward 8 o'clock, the walters re-
peated knocking reused him with .
start b..
aWhat is it?" he asked angrily.
a'Some one in the drawing-room
wants TO see you"
LET him go to the devil! Will
see no one, you know that very
we'll"
"He says It is absolutely neces-
sary for him to speak to you with
ont delay. for a few minutes" per-
El6Lcu LuG "GALCAB ~ "o-S N~N~N
less melted by a large fee.
'Is IL a newspaper man.?
mo, sir. More than twenty Of |
these people have called this morn
ing, but, according to your orders,
we have sent them away
"a police officer, then?"
"Oh, no, sir! II you would just /
look at the card he has sent up"
Young DeIOrme saw that there
was no escape from this importu- |
nifty. He rose grumblingly and took |
the bit OF pasteboard at the door.
Not without establishment he /
read:
BARON Z. PLUCKE
would be greatly Obliged to II. Lucien /
Delorme IL he would see him
for a few minutes.