Evening star., 1925-07-26


with his mother, in an apartment
in the Rue de Courcelles."
| "Boni Let us visit NJ. Monnier."
Ten o'clock was striking when we
climbed to NJ. Monnier's fiat. The
door was opened by a bonne. NJ.
Dieulafoy introduced himself. NJ.
Monnier was out, the maid informed
| We would.
A little old lady-gray- haired, black
| gowned, came toward us.
NJ. Dieulafoy bowed perfunctorily.
M Monnier is not at home?"
| mo, NJ. Dieulafoy- Jules went out
after dinner. You will find him at
the Cercle, I expect. He is a maniac
for chess-often it is past midnight
before he returns. l hope nothing
that you want him at this hour?"
"Serious?" The little jeweler
echoed the word in astonishment. ''I
have been the victim of a robbery!
Did not NJ. Monnier tell you?"
A startled look came into the old
| lady's eyes.
THAT explains why he was looking
so haggard at dinner" said the old
lady. "Of course. he would not tell
me, lest I should be worried. But
how dreadful, NJ. Dieulafoy-a rob
! berry! 1t is serious, you say?" Again
! the look of maternal apprehension.
IT trust no carelessness of my son is
responsible for it? But no." she
smiled, "I am sure that could not be.
Jules is never careless-he is the most
precise, the most conscientious of
men!'
Madame" said NJ. Dieulafoy, you
will excuse US. We must find your
son at once. He is at the Cercle, you
say? Which club is that?"
"At the Cercle des Procopiens-Rue
Royale." she replied.
NJ. Dieulafoy had picked up his hat.
His movement Of farewell toward the
old lady was cut short by the ringing
of the bell.
We paused to hear the maid going
to the door, and then we heard the
Iouick run of her feet toward us. She
| burst into the room.
Madame! Madame" she cried.
1.-TWO sergents-de-ville! They want NJ.
Monnierr'
But the two policemen had not
waited for an answer from the maid.
They appeared in the room, two stolld
figures, twin-like in their uniforms
and the voluminous capes about their
shoulders.
Madame Monnier?" queried one Of
them, addressing himself to the old
lady.
Yes, monsieur"
I'VE hold a warrant for the arrest
of NJ. Jules Monnier, madame"
The old lady's eyes vent wide in
astonishment.
For the murder of Mile. Angelo
Levasseur of the F'olies Parisiennes
at her fiat this evening"
The little old lady gasped and then
laughed Historically.
"But-but this is fantastic" she
cried. 1T cannot be my son you seek.
My son does not know this-this Mile.
Angelo He has never spoken to an
actress in his life. 1 appeal to you, NJ.
Dieulafoy." She turned to him. Have
you ever known my son consort with
actresses? All, non"' she burst out,
genuine in her indignant reputation.
1T is not my son you seek. You nave
made some absurd mistaken'
The policeman held out handker-
chief to her, the initials ~. NJ en-
broidered on it.
DO you recognize this, madame?" p
YES" she stammered; "yes-lt is
my son s."
ut was found by the dead body of
Mile Levasseur," said the policeman.
For the rest there is no doubt.
Though you may be ignorant of 1t, for
the past wear NJ Monnier has been in
he shot her and dashed away before
any one could stop him"
The poor old lady collapsed at this
thunderbolt. Mr.. Quayne assisted her
to a chair. But her martyrdom was
not yet completed.
** x
THE telephone bell rang. One of the
policemen picked up the receiver.
Halo! Yes? What? The Hopital
Beaujon? Yes?" He listened. Mon
Dieur He turned around to the
stricken Nine. Monnier.
Madame" he said, "I regret to tell
you that NJ. Monnier shot himself in
the Champs Elysees at 10 o'clock this
evening. He is now in the Hopital
Beaujon. If you wish to see him alive
you have not a moment to lose"
In a few minutes we were racing to
the Hospital Beaujon. a nurse led US
to the ward where NJ. Jules Monnier,
thin-faced and now preternaturally
haggard, his eyes fixed in a CLASSY
stare, his face greenish- gray with the
approach of death, lay in a narrow
| bed A flicker of recognition came
into his eyes. They fixed themselves
on Nine. Monnier, who was sob
frame the word "Mamanw Then he
perceived NJ Dieulafoy. He made
| just the feeblest gesture for his en-
ployer to approach. The jeweler bent
over the bed.
"Je Iai-donne-" whispered the
diving man, ID" He shuddered,
and his eyes closed.
Yes. Given it-given ito
whom?" demanded NJ. Dieulafoy.
But the unfortunate Jules Monnier
was dead. His mother collapsed
with one last wild cry-across his
! body.
Before we left we had a few words
with the doctor who had received Jules
Monnier.
"Suicide?" he echoed our query, and
shrugged. Apparently. He was
shot through the chest. 1t was in a
shrubbery of the Champs Elysees. A
garden heard the report, ran toward
! the spot and found NJ. Monnier on
| the ground, a revolver at his side.
! He was speechless when brought in
| here"
'H'mw said the chief. II presume
his pockets have been emptied. May
we see the contents?"
The hospital authorities showed us
| the articles-a card case, bunch of
! keys, a few loose francs, a wallet con-
tanning couple of hundred francs
| in notes, and the revolver of which
one chamber had been fired. Q. @.
examined them.
And this?" he asked, holding up a
scrap of paper.
THAT was found in his vest pocket, "
! was the answer.
! &C. f. TO-" was all that was written
upon it.
II would suggest to you," said Mr.
| Quayne, turning to the policemen,
that you make sure that this is sui
| eide and not murder, mon ami" he
said. "It occurs to me that &C. Z.
! 1O' makes an appointment for NJ. Mon.