Evening star., 1923-02-11

dinner. either. Nor afterwards !
sit up all night, worryin' about him
Then all day look for him, but its
no good. And now he's been gone
two nighta i don't know what
should do, Miss Dodge"
Are you sure he hasn't gone
somewhere to visit friends?" asked
He amt got friends, him." says
she. Always he stay by himself
Do you know what, Miss Dodge? ]
Il bet hes gone and done it."
Done what?" demanded.
Like he said he would" says she.
Got himself in the papers"
But how could he" j protested
Besides I've seen the newspapers
right along and there hasn't been a
word about any one Of that name
having been arrested OF course, I
wasn't looking particularly for a
Latouff mystery. Wait. though I'll
go over the morning edition again."
And while she sat there dumbly,
her great shoulders heaving from
suppressed sobs. / went carefully
through the columns OF crime. No
i<Coh i<dlouu III lHGIl, now -
ever. l had given up the search
and was about to toss the news
paper on the table. when a front
page picture caught my eye. 1t had
a familiar look. And then I remem-
bered. DIR. Bazan, Next, under the
big headlines. / read that the notori-
GUS French wife slayer had been
arrested as he was trying to slip
ashore from a French line pier.
recalled that he had made a sensa-
tional escape from the Paris police
just as he was about to go on trial,
and that he was being hunted for
in every city OF Europe.
why, this is odd" says L.
"You-you find something" she
asks.
Not exactly" says J. But you
know that DIR. Bazan. the one who
looks like Latoun: Well, he's been
found, here in New York. And your
husband is missing"
"But-but Mr. Latoun, he ain't no
murderer" she protests
"Of course not" says |. And vet.
in some way he must have-rve
got it,
"You-you can find him. eh?" she
asks
I'm not sure" says l. but I'm
going Ia have try. Here, Go
down and hail a taxi for me. I'll be
there in moment"
As USUAL. | was following a
n hunch.. So. half an hour later.
| was down at the Tombs try
ing TO persuade q surly turnkey to
take me into the cell where this
mysterious DR. Bazan was locked UP.
Nothin' doing. sister, says he.
No more lady reporters. There
been dozen here already and they
all got the gate Thems the ward
ems orders
But I'm not a lady reporter" /
insisted. II know the man. He
he's friend Of mine"
Yes. that's the tale most OF 'em
springs" says he. Some Is his
cousins. some bring him bouquets
But it don't get by with me- So you
might as well run along, sister"
| was still putting up an argu-
ment when A black hiskered. frock-
coated person arrived and announced
that he was from the Office Of the
French consul general and must see
the prisoner.
Il wish to know if he is the true
DR.. Bazan," says he. that l may
cable the government"
I'll see what tn warden SAYS"
grunts the turnkey
IF you get in you'll need me-" /
suggests to the French official. I'm
sure l know who this man is. His
name is Latouff. and he's a janitor
on East 2lst street. who has never
been nearer Paris than he is now
'Ah. m'selle" says Frenchy. Then
ii must be arrange for you to come
also. I shall demand"
He did, too. And great little
demander he was. He told the
warden in two languages that we
must go in at once, or the French
government would be much annoyed
"Oh. all right" says the warden.
Ten minutes, then. Take 'em In
jim"
And when We had been towed
through a maze Of winding corri-
dors and up several flights of iron
stairs. we found a thin-faced little
man blinking at US through steel
trimmed amber glasses He seemed
to have been waiting expectantly be-
hind the barred cell door, and almos,
beamed as the French official came
up to him. photograph in hand
Yes. yes" says Frenchy. TT i.
Bazan"
''Bazan nothing" says I. pushing
in. Its only Leon Latour. Isn't
that true. Leon?"
He drew back startled at SIGHT of
me. and scowled. Then he muttered
"Je ne comprend." and turned away.
"Oh. you don't, chr says I. We'll
know better. You comprend. all
right. So do I. L know that fade
away chin of yours too we'll to be
mistaken. And I'm wise to just how
you've worked this bluff. Got your
self pair Of smoked glasses and
then sneaked down to the steamer
pier SO you'd be mistaken for DR..
Bazan. Eth? oh, I've looked over
your rogue's gallery newspaper clip
pings, and I've heard about your am
bition to get yourself in print. Well,
you've done it. But now you ought
to be satisfied. Your poor wife is
about crazy from worry. you know
All the reply I could get from him
was another "Je ne comprend."
Very we'll" says /. Then we'll
just have to bring Rosa down here.
She'll identify you quick enough"
That seemed to be the convincing z
word. Suddenly he turned, Rosa
says he. She knows. eh? She will
see am Of some account. Oh, well!
Maybe the police have made one big
mistake. 1t was not for me to say.