The Washington times., 1922-08-20
)VES OF LANDRU, THE FRENCH BLUEBEARL


Il0 Wa1 R1k D@~ShSes~ct tAS ~Sss
Juan. His manner was calm. ca
ressing, and sympathetic, and his
mode Of address was always af.
fable, courteous, and affectionate.
Surely. none would dream that
Henri Couchet-the name by which
this fresh victim knew him-was
the same ogre who had so brutal.
ly poisoned q woman and then
brutaIly struck her down because
she did not die quick enough!
'I love you. my adored," he as
sured her as he held her hand In
his while they sat over their after
dinner coffee.
"It is my greatest regret that I
have lately been compelled to be
absent from you SO much. But
soon-ah! very soon-you will be
my wife. and then we shall be al
ways together"
"I dream Of this always. Though
have to travel for my business
affairs I think ever Of you-only
you. Yet I wonder" he went on
in that soft musical voice he as
sumed when. ugly as he was. he
fixed women with his deep. intense.
snake-like eyes. ''I wonder II you
really love me half as much az
love you. my own darling"
"I swear I dor' declared the
woman firmly. She was a widow
Of experience. forty-seven years
old, and her only value in Landru's
eyes was that she had a consider
able quantity of furniture in her
flat. II love you. my darling
Henri" she added. II love you
with all my heart"
"Ah. my adored!" cried Landru.
suddenly taking her passionately
In his arms and kissing her mad
ly. I'VE love each other--nothing
else matters"
The woman stood locked in Ian
dru's arms-that embrace which
was invariably fatal.
FOUND HER WEALTHY. a~
Monsieur Couchet had. by care
full questioning. discovered that his
unsuspecting victim "Bresil" he
had nick.named her In his grim
diary of death-possessed about
ten thousand francs. which includ-
ed some rather valuable share GER
tificates, as well as her furniture.
It was this money for which he
was angling. and not her heart.
He despised her--as he did all
women. Yet this arch-criminal
could make such a pretence Of ar
dent and undying affection that he
had caused the heads of over a
hundred women to reel by his
carefuliy-chosen phrases. his poetic
SMILES, his love for flowers. for
birds, and for nature. That was
why he pretended to love the coun-
try.
That same evening that he had
removed all the traces Of poor.
confiding Madame Cuchet and her
entrapped son. he suggested to his
new fiancee that she should store
her furniture and give up her flat.
"I have a little villa out at Ver-
nouillet." he said. II have not
spoken Of It before. my sweet
heart, my wife to be. because I
hoped to have a little surprise in
store for you. You do not look
very well. I noticed It a week
ago. Country air and quiet sur
roundings would, feel sure, do
you good. Why not come and visit
met We win be married in June.
I have big contracts, and my af-
fairs will be more prosperous then.
I shall furnish for you a nice
apartment here In Paris and a
villa out in the country. My little
trou at Vernouillet is sufficient for
my wants as q bachelor, of course,
but It is too small, as you will see,
because we would want to enter
tain our friends"
Thus persuaded Madame Labord.
Line, the well.preserved, coy. but
conceited and unsuspecting widow.
fell into the trap.
Most excellentr' exclaimed NJ.
Cutchet enthusiastically. "I will
call in the car for you tomor-
row afternoon at 3, and we will
motor out there"
Then, after a kiss. they went
out together, walking across the
Place de rOpera to the Grand
Cafe. where for half an hour
they sat listening to the orches-
ira. It was nearly midnight when
he drove her in a taxi to her home
just off the Avenue de Villiers
when, after promising to call for
her the next afternoon, he kissed
her an affectionate bon soir.
Landru's bon soir spoken with
his lips meant a death kiss.
Next morning, in order to pre-