Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-07-26

profits, Ell, mon yieux? They are
more important than the glory, and
you will have your share of those
But We must not stay here. That
lady whom you have so justly term
ed vulgar may desire to see ner
jewels once again this evening. One
never knows in what direction a wo-
mans whim may lead her"
As always, my master, you are
right" said the cripple. Il will tele-
phone for taxicab; we shall disap-
pear. In a fortnight we shall lard
in la belle France"
sBut so much may happen in u
fortnight"
| flatter myself that it was a lire
worthy of the situation. Certainly
Cochet and Letter greeted it with
that stark amazement which dra
matte speech should arouse. l as
sure you that / have never enjoyed
moment as much as / have enjoy
ed this one now as, an automatic
pistol in my hand, | followed my
words into the room from behind
the couch.
Cochet recovered his eelf-posses-
sion first.
"This is an unexpected honor,
monsieur" he said.
l shrugged "The more honor, the
more surprise to a modest man." /
grinned. "Messieurs will kindly ele-
vate their hands and keep them III
the air."
The hunchback flashed a light
ming glance of question at TIE
White Eagle. But Cochet knew
that behind my leyity lurked griEl-
ness.
"Obey, Raoul," he ordered. He
looked at me. docs monsieur care
to explain?"
l doubt if I could have carried
myself any better than he, in such
situation.
"The Anderson jewel-box and its
contents, monsieur" l said. IF
monsieur will kindly give that to
me, / shall bid him bon soir and
bonnie chance" / held out my left
hand.
The White Eagle simulated
amusement. | cut short his laugh.
Il have overheard your CONVEX
sation," | reminded him.
"Monsiuer lacks a sense of hu-
NOR" he retorted blandly. HE ac-
cepts idle jests as solemn truths"
"The box, please" I insisted.
"If monsieur's sad lack of humcr
persists what can we do?" asked
Cochet.
Nothing" / snapped. "But l can
do something. can search you"
The cripple was ready to fight,
but the White Eagle was a wary
old campaigner. He believed that
/ would fire, and SO he sharply
again ordered the hunchback to
obey. At the muzzle of my pistol
Loiter bound, with the impromptu
ropes that / had manufactured from
neckties, the hands and feet of his
master. Then | made the cripple
insert his wrists through slip
moose. / drew it tight, and the rest
was easy The use of towels as
gags was unnecessary.
And a few minutes later l decld-
ed that it had not been necessary
even to bind them. In fact, my
presence here was unnecessary. For
the Anderson jewel-box could not
be found in the expansive oversoaI
pockets Of either of them. Nor had
they left it in the hall downstairs,
or in the drawing-room, or any
where else in the house.
It must have been delivered to q
confederate waiting outside the mil
lionaire's house. Yet this I did not
believe. The White Eagle was not
the sort who let's some one else take
charge of the spoils Of his warfare
against society.
Perhaps" said Cochet as I re-
turned from my fruitless search Of
the premises, monsieur is ready 10
apologize"
In truth, was. From my packet
l drew jacknife. I opened it and
placed it on the floor.
1T will take you perhaps fifteen
minutes to saw your bonds" told
Cochet. "And despite monsieur's af-
fable manner, / feel that l need a
quarter of an hour in which to dis
appear"
Cochet smiled; but behind that
smile lay deadly menace. Always,
from now on, more dangerous
enemy than the police would be at
my heels. Though he smiled, Cochet
would never forgive this lndignity.
Bon soir, messieurs," said.
had failed, but l tried to carry off
my failure with good grace. I am
not your vulgar crook who descends
TO threat or torture. My reasoning
had been sound. | did not believe