The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-11-07

taine should be spoiled" And Polozzi. who appeared to think much more about the Poulet Neapolitaine than the unfortunate man in the taxi hoped ntmbly out and hurried his friend up the steps. They were ushered into M. Cara dec's office without any formaLties,
 Polozzi informing Arnold that he had the entree at all hours. It was a large
 apartment, painfully orderly, ana furnished with so severe chairs and two desks, one of which was occu- pied by M. Caradec himself and the | other by a secretary. who at the present time seemed to be taking | notes.
 M Caradec was engaged with a | roughly dressed man who back was 1 toward them. but he nodded preaS- antly to Plozzi and indicated some 1 seats Polozzi, finding his friend occu- 1 pied, started a conversation with the l clerk who had admitted them, and
 Arnold, feeling de trop. seated him. | self.
 In few minutes the man at the | desk turned to leave the room. He | stopped short as his eye fell on Ar mold. The recognition was mutual | In him Arnold recognized the driver l of the taxi. His sensations began to
 rival those of the man in Poe's story l l driver, returning hurriedly to M. Car 1 adec's desk, bent over it, and in @
 sibilant whisper, accompanied by l glances in Arnold's direction, made | some communication, the import of | which Arnold guessed only too we'll | M. Caradeo listened attentively, with | an occasional expressionless glance at | Arnold, who strove to appear at ease | and unconscious of offense- His own | conduct, viewed from every stand | point, seemed to him most suspicious,
 and he remenlb cred with horror his 1 attempt to avoid an interview with M- l Caradec.
 | The drivers communication f1nish- | ed, M. Caradec instructed his clerk to | escort him to another apartment, and.
 the two detectives having arrived by l this time, M. Caradec motioned to | them to advance.
 | PoIozzi joined them with his usual | effusive manner, and after a few | words had passed between himself | and M. Caradec, the latter dismissed 1 the two detectives. Polozzi made 8 | communication to M. Caradec in a
 low tone, in which the word "morgue" | occurred several times, and then Ar~ l mold was summoned to the desk of Ms
 Caradec, where he was presented with
 all formalittes by M. PoIozzi. l Arnold again murmured his formu- l l delight upon this occasion, and M. Caradec received him as much in the
 manner of one gentleman making the
 acquaintance of another at his clubt | as was compatible with the circum~ | stance.
 He was a dark, capa'ble-look1ng
 man, whose serenity of manner mask l ed great strength of character. He | did not treat Arnold at all like a sus- pected person-doubtless on account | of Polozzi's prestige, which was ob- | Wously consideraDle-and gave quiet
 attention to Polozzis account of their
 visit to the morgue the discovery of | the earring, and his assertions that
 Arnold was quite above suspicion. | During all this, Arnold conscious
 that M. Caradec would soon surprise Polozzi with the information he had received from the taxi-driver, felt eX-
 quisitely uncomfortable. He realized
 that M. Caradecs polite attention to 1 Polozzi meant nothing, and that he
 would be quite infexble in whatever | he conceived to be his duty, and he
 had no doubt that if there had been i the smallest grounds for suspecting Polozzi himself, Monsieur Caradec
 would have personally guillotined | him, if necessary, without any abate-
 ment of his courtesy and considera- | ton.
 l
 establish the fact of the purchase" | he said, after hearing Arnold's short | account of the tranaction, and while speaking he drew toward him some l papers which he looked over atten-
 lively, evidently refreshing his mem
 ory while the statue1ike gentleman at | the other desk. having ceased to
 write for the moment, stared fixedly
 at Arnold, who guiltily felt that he | knew him in his true colors. Polozzi | fidgeted little, if disturbed by l apprehension regarding the Poulet | Neap olitaine.
 '"The man who was here when you l came in," calmly said M. Caradec after few moments, "has identified 1 you as the gentleman whom he met | last night in the Rue St. Denis, and whom he asked to stay beside a cer- | tain body while he went to notify | the police regarding.
 That is correct" assented Arnold i quietly, not looking at Polozzi a1- 1 though aware that he was gazing at 1 him as if he had suddenly developed | horns and a tail.
 | 'I understand that you did not wait | for the arrival of the police, mon- sieur.'
 t'No, monsieur, but I did not Ieeve | until I saw the police coming. I
 would not have left the body unpro- tected.''
 And your reason for going?" in- | Quired M. Caradec.
 | 'I did not wish to be called as g. witness"
 ''Wil1 monsieur explain why?" My time is limited in Paris, and thought I might be delayed" | Monsieud Caradec inclined his head
 grayely. It was impossible to tell from his expression how this explana- ton struck him. Did you recognize the body at the morgue this morning, monsieur?" he continued.
 ''Yes, monsieur; that is, had not previously seen the face as the man had evidently fallen forward-but recognized the clothes at once" Did you mention to M. PoIozzi that you recognized this nan?" "No. monsieur"