The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-02-26
u TWo PARTs-PART ONE

AKING things full and by, it
seemed to me that Jacques vas
right in deciding to retire from
a field Of criminal detection. Whether
based on actual psychic power or
close deduction, or both, his findings
in the ROux case had put him under
the necessity of playing unlawful ar
bitter of human destinies.
Whether in a war Of nations or
that careless one against the enemies
Of society, the position Of the franc
tireur is not only inadmissable, but
dangerous. He is an unaccredited,
self appointed vigilante, who is apt
at any moment to catch it from eth
er side.
In the BogorOff case Jacques, if
he had been less alert, might have
got his Quietus from the criminal
faction, and now in the ROux one, if
it yer discovered that he had held
back his knowledge of the actual
slayer and taken steps successfully to
conceal the technical guilt not only
from the police but the guilty party
herself, then the police would be an
der the necessity of proceeding
against jacques to his very serious
cost, naming him accessory after the
fact.
After all, he was a successful portrait
painter, not officially on the police roster,
and / agreed with him that he had beTter
retire in the zenith Of his fam and plead
the loss Of his chairvOyant power, or
nervous collapse, or any other Of the many
excuses a subtle brain might easily de-
wise, ! doubted that the police would raise
any serious objections. For while resOrting
UmOf1CfaIW when hatfield fO his HfnQuInr
powers, they did so with reluctance.
Jacquebs infringed upon the orthodox pro-
cedures, and I had a pretty good idea that
they were no more sure about his actual
method than / was myself.
Jacques frankly agreed with me. "Ycu're
right, Johnny. When it comes to the point
where I see fet to stack the cards and deal
out sO-called Justice according to my own
idea Of the ethics Of the case I'd better
quit the game"
Sc it seemed to be where I quit also,
with the actual object Of my errand to
France unfulfilled. This had been not to
chronicle Jacques exploits, but to show
him up as a fake. I had not managed It.
though several times I had thought to
have him dead to rights. And, what was
more. / did not seem to be any nearer to
achieving this than on the day Of my
arriving.
Then one day when we were lunching
together he said abruptly, Back in the
ring, Johnny"
Back in what ring?" I asked.
Criminal stuff. That is, as soon as
But / thought you'd made up your
mind to quit"
80 I had. I'm too kind hearted to be s
complete crime doctor, a mental Javert
But / never was faint hearted, even il
some of you thought me so back there il
that Maine district school. It's all righi
to make up your mind to quit provided i
doesn't make you a gutter, and that's
what would happen now. Read this"
He handed me a piece Of paper, Ordinar!
cheap writing PAPER, on which was printed
Ilegibly the following warming:
Monsieur Hughes: Our circle has de
cided that you are a menace to its safety
I'VE admit your ability and warn yOl
that your services to our enemies, tn
police, must be discontinued. We cOnSide
them to be unfair.
80 long as you continue to iii you
n own business you are free to pursue II
+ safety your Coreer as a portrait painter
But-the next case that you undertak
to examine for the police will be your last
Respectfully,
THE OUTER CIRCLE"
l. I anded back the police communicating
: "The same message was sent to tn
- Surete to warn them that If they re
J. questioned me again and I complied ]
would result in my speedy removal,
Jacques said. "Pervier brought it around
: He said that he thought it only fair t
I me-"
D "Do they take it seriously"
"Well-yes, even while admitting tina
it may just be somebody trying to get m
goat. I told Pervier that under the circum
stances / had the honor to request tina
n they call me for the very next Grimm;
case that offers itself"
Had you already told them Of you
decision to quit?"