The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-09-19
by LOUIS ]. VANCE
Copyright 1921. international Magazine Company

he had engaged IN a hotel and left
it a changed man.
The pointed beard OF Monsieur
Duchemin was no more. The rough
tweed walking suit had been replaced
by blue serge.
The papers OF Andre Ducheuin
were crisp black ashes in the FIRE
place Of the room which Lanyard had
just quilted, all but the letter OF
credit; and this last was enclosed in
an envelope, TO be sent to London by
registered post with a covering note
TO request that the unpaid balance be
forwarded in French bank notes to
Monsieur Paul Martin. general deliv-
cry. Paris; Paul Martin being the
name which appeared on an entirely
new set Of papers OF Identification
which Lanyard had thoughttulIy Sc
GREETED in the lining Of the tweed coat
before leaving London.
Lanyard had testimony to the thor.
oughness Of the transforms ton in his
looks twice within an hour.
The first was when, leaving the no.
tel he found himself suddenly face to
face with Dupont.
The beady little eyes Of the thug
comprehended him in a glance. and
rejected him as OF positively no in
terest to Albert Dupont. a complete
stranger and cheap one Mt that.
He re entered the hotel and sought
Its restaurant, where the untirinE
Long Arm OF Coincidence took him
by the hand and led him TO a table
Immediately adjoining ono occupied
exclusively by Monsieur le Conte de
Lorgnes.
But now. Lanyard told himself, one
knew what had dragged Duport IN
such hot haste to Lyons. Somehow
word had reached MIN. probably by
telegraph, that Monsieur Is Comte
was waiting there to keep a render.
vous. And il you asked him. Ian.
yard would confess his firm convic-
ton that the other party to tho rem
devious would prove 70 be the person
(or persons who had effected the
burglary at Chateau de Montalais
But as time passed it became evi
dent that there had been hitch
somewhere: de Lorgnes was frettin Z
when Lanyard first saw him: before
his dinner was half served his nerve
was giving way.
At length, de Lorgnes called for
his addition and fed the restaurant.
Lanyard arrived in the foyer in time
to see De Lorgnes settle his account
and hear him instruct a porter to
have his luggage ready for the 1:12
axpress for Paris.
At midnight De Lorgnes was Who'll.
~ in despair. Half an hour later he
wove an unsteady but most dignified
way back to the foyer of the hotel.
Immediately Dupont and his fellow
paid and left the cafe.
Lanyard returned to his room to get
a new bought travelling bag. and
started for the train afoot.
In the Care de Perrache Lanyard
witnessed a farewell scene between
the little man and Dupont.
And when Monsieur le Comte dc
Lorgnes had wavered through the
gateway in tow of a luggage-laden
porter, and Dupont had torn himself
away from his fond familiar and
lurched after the count, and Lanyard,
after a little wait, had followed in
turn; he was able to see for himself
that Dupont had contrived to be
berthed in the same carriage with lie
Lorgnes; proving that he did not
mean to let the count out of sight,
day or night.
Well weary, Lanyard proceeded to
his own compartment, in the car
ahead, and turned in.
But he was not Of those who sleep
well on trains. He was awake at
Dion and again at Laroche, about q
quarter after six. There, peering out
Of the window to identify the sta.
ton, he was startled to see the broad,
round-siouldered back of Albert Du.
pont making away across the rails
leaving the trainl
It was not feasible to dress and pur-
sue, even had 1t been wise.
The newspapers of Paris, that day,
had a sensation; in a compartment
which he had occupied alone on the
night express from Lyons, a man had
been found with his throat cut, his
clothing ripped to rags, even his lug
gage slashed to ribbons.
Whether through chance or inten-
ton. every possible clew to the vic
TINS identity was missing.