Evening journal., 1922-12-11
CHAPTER II


"Dernburg was undertaking to falsi
~ work of art. 1t was a very re
markabla work of art, and one O
value The persons who originall
produced this work OF art expende
a great sum of money. an almost in
credible sum of money to perfect il
If one could falsify It successfully
one could make fortune at tn
venture. Dernburg knew this. II
had thought about it for lonl
time. He had conducted a grea
number Of experiments. Finally n
was satisfied that the thing coul,
be successfully done. and he cam'
here from Stamboui. took thi
abandoned house in the Faubourl
ST. German, brought with him hi.
devices, and prepared to undertak,
the great thing which he had II
mind. Then, monsieur, before the
thing could be accomplished, th<
mysterious visitor appeared and
this morning Dernburg is dead"
1t was evident that the Oriental
wes profoundly puzzled.
Il do not understand you, mon
sieur," he said. You say that Dern-
burg Pasha had perfected a method
by which he intended ITO falsify a
work of art?"
Yes. monsieur"
Then he was called upon by one
gho knew Of this method and wish
ed to rob him of II ?"
mo, monsieur"
Then by those to whom the
original Of the art belonged. and
wished 10 prevent this falslhcation p"
mo, monsieur" replied the Pre-
feet Of Police. 'Dernburg Pasha's
death resulted from a sense OF des-
pair
Jonquelle took his hand from his
pocket, revealed the thing upon
which his fingers had closed when
he sat down to this conference. He
opened his hand so that the thing
was visible. II looked like a little
square box of some white substance
as Of marble or chalk or alabaster
1t was not larger than two inches
square. It was, perhaps, an inch
thick, made in two pieces. There
was tiny hole, like a keyhole with
beveled edge, on the line where
these pieces Joined. The box had n
heavy rubber band about Il. II Law
for a moment exposed In the palm
OF Monsieur Jonquelle's hand.
Il have here" he said. the
thing that was the cause OF this
mans death. II was also the cause
Of his mfsfortunes leading up TO this
fatal morning. II has been an obses-
sion with him. In the German EN-
ptre he undertook this thing. His
design was discovered and he fled
to Turkey. But he took his obses-
sion with him and when the war
was ended, he saw a method OF
getting an indemnity out OF France
with it-a method by which he
could enrich himself at the cost of
France. He worked out his plan
carefully; he came to Paris: he got
this house. He was ready to nut his
plan into effect when. unfortunate
ly for him. the mysterious visitor of
last night appeared.
.Dernburg was shrewd unscrupu-
lous and farsighted. But he was not
shrewd enough, and he was not far
sighted enough. The stranger. who
came TO see him last night. knew all
about him, knew every detail OF his
activities, knew the big plan that he
had in mind. He had watched him.
had followed his career. He knew
the very day that he came to Paris.
He knew his object in taking this
empty house in the Faubourg St.
German. He knew every step OF
the secret arrangements which
Dernburg had perfected for the
carrying out of his scheme: and az
the opportune hour he entered this
house. These are the facts, m onsleurs |
which have accurately ascertained, [
which are true beyond doubt"
And So" said the Oriental, "this /
mysterious stranger finally ran
Dernburg Pasha to earth here and
killed him"
The Prefect Of Police arrested the
man's discourse with gesture.
You travel, monsieur" he said, |
"a point beyond my conclusions. DO
we know that this midnight visitor |
is the assassin? We must consider
the evidences as they are presented |
to us
THE evidences are conclusive or
this fact" replied the Envoy, "if cir
cumstantial evidences can ever be
conclusive of a murder. Here IS the
opportunity, the quarrel. the dead I
man remaining in the library blood
drops falling from the weapon on
this drawing-room floor as he hastily
crossed IT, and the escape over the
wall OF the garden"
but. monsieur" said the Prefect
OF Police. where IS the motive? The
writer's on the value of indicatory
evidences. in the investigation OF a
criminal case. tell US that there
should be time, opportunity and mo-
tive. The time, monsieur. and the
are here. plainly indi-
Gated; but the motive? Where shall
re look for that?"
The Oriental turned, as with an
inspiration. in his chair.
why, monsieur" he said, you
spoke at considerable length upon
he motive. You seemed to know 1t
quite well. You conceal as you
have indicated, the somewhat mystic
rious evidence Of it in your hand"
"Quite true. monsieur" replied the
orefect OF Pollcel but you will OBJ