The Washington times., 1922-10-01

tHo scudtlVo huNenturer. IN SUCH
surroundings hope soon to be we'll
again. We will go next week to-
see your boy. And then we will
return to Paris and marry"
Just as is the habit OF everybody
in Barritz. they lunched and dined
at the long table OF the pension,
where men and women OF all ma
tionalities assembled to enjoy the
sunshine and escape the continual
war alarms of the capital.
To describe in detail their daily
life at that pleasant watering place
would serve no purpose. They
thoroughly enjoyed the gayety OF
the Casino and the Etablissement,
and several times went to st. Jean
de Luz. Cambo. and other places
in the vicinity. For a fortnight
they remained at the comfortable
pension.
Landru's plans were completed.
The hue and cry for the assassin
of Madame Cuchet and her son
had died down. for he watched
the Matin daily. Gaffiot. evident.
ly beaten, had given up the affair
and relegated Madame Cuchet's
death to the long list OF unsolved
mysteries Of Paris.
FEW FRANCS LEFT.
Madame Buisson's hank balance
had been sadly depleted. and only
a few hundred francs remained.
She still possessed her furniture
at the little flat in the Boulevard
Ney. and Landru was already Won
dering how much 1t would realize
in old Caillard's hands. In any
case. having promised marriage TO
the widow, he must wriggle out OF
an awkward predIcament.
His clever wits had been at work,
and at last he resolved upon a bold
piohs III tOldSh DUN
several letters of hers. bearing her
signature. which old Boas in Paris
would copy SO cleverly that any
bank teller would be deceived.
II only he could rid himself OF
her, then her few remaining be-
longings were his.
For several days his abnormal
brain worked upon the problem
how best to dispose Of her. At last
he hit upon a plan.
Madame Buisson was eager to
continue her journey and pay 4
surprise visit to her blind son,
while Landru. on his part, had no
such intention. A visit to Bay.
onne might lead to Identification,
SO he decided that his victim must
meet with a swift end and disap-
pear without trace.
Once or twice he had been out
motoring alone along the coast,
for madame had unfortunately
been confined to her room with a
chill. Those motor runs had been
taken for purposes of investisa-
ton and with distinct object.
He still pretended to be violently
in love with her, and one after.
noon he said:
PROPOSED RIDE.
THE nights are moonlit and de.
lightful. dearest. Why should we
not leave here tonight, and con.
tinue our journey to Bayonne?
We could drive along the sea road
in the moonlight. and be in Bay
onne in the morning" Then he
added: Go tomorrow, by daylight,
II you wish. but I always love driv.
ing by moonlight"
Madame Buisson. despite her
age, was full OF romance, as most
women are. Romance. the all.im.
pelling influence, plays a great and
often unsupported part in all our
lives, from our teens to our
graves; so, naturally, his sugges-
ton appealed to her.
After dinner, Landru paid their
bill, and packing the suitcases into
the car, they drove away about 2
o'clock along the crooked old post.
road which runs by the rocky coast
to Bayonne and beyond to Hen.
days. the closely.guarded frontier
of Spain. The railway line crosses
the wide salt marshes, called The
Landes. far inland, but the road
runs, now low upon the beach,
and now high over the cliffs, due
south around the high snow.
capped Pyrenees which divide the
two nations OF France and Spain.
They had travelled for nearly an
hour. His stout companion,
wrapped in a warm coat. with firs