Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-05

him that she was stabbed last night in the
Place SeraucOurt. He only StareS"
Il wonder Reggie murmured Have you
seen him yourself?"
"Oh, yes. 1t is a small man with a yellow
beard and hair. He has fair skin under the
dirt. He is Of fragiity. face not bad
but he has not lived well, the wretch"
HAS he had a doctor?"
Certainly. The doctor says an alcoholic a
neurotic-but mad? He is not sure, he does
not think So"
Eyes. 1t could be- And how far Is it from
where he found to Artus' house?'
"Aha!" The big face twisted HE does not
seem to you the simple bandit? Nor to me-
But we do not say that yet to our colleagues in
Bourges. 1t Is three miles. Monsieur Artus has
a car. The bandit could have been taken there
ready drunk in a few minutes It Is easily
possible. But also one cannot tell that the
wretch was ever in Artus house. These Bougres
people know only of two old servants"
Nobody knows anything about Artus"
Reggie was plaintive. THAT makes all the
trouble. Your fellows in Paris who are turn
ing up Artus' paSt-you might tell them to
look for a yellow-hai little man in it,"
Poor old Duboisl You do not trust him
any more. But have told them my friend
Come, the examining magistrate Is to question
our bandit. have obtained q permit for the
eminent Monsieur Reginald Fortune to be pres
ent because he desires to study our methods"
Dubois made a grimace.
Monsieur Clement the magistrate welcomed
Reggie to the bare Office as one potentate an
other. Then he made a quick change from the
majestic to the ferocious. He snapped at Du-
Dols, he barked at his clerk, he roared at a po-
hceman. The prisoner was brought in and he
sat back grinning and glaring so This is the
animal 1 understand. You have no name
you come from nowhere, you work at nothing"
Clement reared Good YoC will be no
loss when you go to the guillotine You hear
Nnk &c NxrkNn
now. You were in the Place Seraucourt last
night" He started up. 1T is dusk. You see
there lady. You follow her." Clement
acted it. sinking round the room You
spring upon her from behind. you strike her
SO. Assassin! She falls to de- He stoned
suddenly, for a silence to be felt. then cried
out See, her blood is on you!" He pointed
to the mans blouse
BUT the little man did not look down. He
gave no sign or movement. he stood gazing
straight before him at nothing
why do you kill her, wretch?" Clement
cried. She has done you no wrong What
Is she to you-this Englishwoman, Miss
EVerard, Miss Alice Everard?" He STONED
again. III you have reason to kill her,
speak,! he roared. Still the man was silent.
but he shook and beads Of sweat came upon his
brow. You have no reason but to rob her
beast. You snatch her bag and run away to
get drunk A life is gone that you may be
drunk for night" He waited a moment
The little man kept silence a while longer
Then, family. us it fnished?" he said
"Oh, no." Clement laughed. This is only
the beginning, animal You shall paw Sneak
now. You suffer less.
And then the little man shook his head
"That-that is not true" he said
wait. then" Clement laughed savapelv
wait and endure I am content Take him
away"
"A moment" Reggie said. you permit?"
He bowed to Clement. He went to the mans
side, ran hand down his right arm, bent
10 the dirty blouse and smelt it. Go then"
ne said gently. He came back to Clement.
"A thousand pardons. You made the affair SO
Interesting. Let me thank you for a most
valuable demonstration"
Clement had become again the sublime Of
ncial. He took these compliments as his due
and condescended To ask for more ..Sir