THE TEETH OF THE TIGER Cj BT V J MAURICE LEBLANC TRANSLATED BT ALEXANDER TEIXEIRA DE MATTOS .. ■■■■ - .. ..'-"X" -■■■ * SSSSSggBBBBgggBg——.. • V CHAPTER SIX. (Continued.) Perenna took the card from the tray afid read M. Desmalions’ name. He went to the window', opened it and, with the aid of the overhead mirror, looked into the Place du Palais-Bourbon. Half a dozen men were walking about. He recognized them. They were his usual watchers, those whom he had got rid of on the evening before and who had come to re sume their observation. “No others?” he said to him self. “Come, we have nothing to fear, and the prefect of police has none but the best intentions to ward me. It was what 1 expected; and 1 think that I was wrell ad vised to save his life.” M. Desmalions entered without a word. All that he did was to bend his head slightly, with a movement that might be taken for a howr. As for Weber, who was with him, he did not even give himself the trouble to disguise his feelings toward such a man as Per enna. Don Luis took no direct notice of this attitude, but, in revenge, ostentatiously omitted to push for ward more than one chair. M. Desmalions. however, preferred to walk about the room, with his hands behind his back, as if to con tinue his reflections before speak ing. The silence was prolonged. Don Luis waited patiently. Then, sud denly, the prefect stopped and said: “When you left the Boulevard Richard-Wallace, monsieur, did you go straight home?” Don Luis did not demur to this cross examining manner and an swered : “Yes, Monsieur le Profet.” “Here, to your study?” “Here, to my study.” M. Desmalions paused and then went oil; "I left 30 or 40 minutes after yon and drove to the police office in my ear. There ! received this express letter. Read it. You will ■ee that it was handed in at the Bourse at 9:30. ’ ’ Don Luis took the letter and read the following words, written in capital letters: This is to info*™ you that Gaston Kauvcrand. after making Ills escape, rejoined his accomplice Perenna, who, as you know, is none other than Arsene Lupin. Arsene Lupin gave you Sauver and’s address in order to get rid of him and to receive the Mornington inherit ance. They were reconciled this morn ing, and Arsene Lupin suggested u sufe hiding place to Sauverand. It is easy to provo their meeting and their complic ity. Sauverand handed Lupin the half of the walking stick which he had carried away unawares. You will find It under the cushions of a sofa standing between the two windows of Perenna’s atudy. Don Luis shrugged his shoul ders. The letter was absurd; for he had not once left his study. He folded it tip quietly and handed it to the prefect of police without comment. He was resolved to let M. Desmalions lake the initiative in the conversation. The prefect asked: “What is your reply to the ac cusation?” “None, Monsieur le Prefet.” "Still, it is quite plain and easy to prove or disprove.” "Very easy, indede, Monsieur le Prefet; the sofa is there, between the windows.” M. Desmalions waited two or three seconds and then walked to the sofa and moved the cushions, Under one of them lay the lmndU end of the walking stick. Don Luis could not repress- u gesture of amazement and auger He had not for a second contem plated the possibility of such i miracle; and it took^him un awares. However, he mastem himself. After all. there was noth ing to prove that this half of i walking stick was really tha which had been seen in Oastoi Sanverand's hands and whiel Sauverand had carried away bj mistake. "I have the other half on me,’ naid the prefect of police, replyin) to the unspoken objection. “Dep uty Chief Weber himself picked i up on the Boulevard Rieliard-Wal lace. Here it is.” He produced it from the insidi pocket of his overcoat and tried it The ends of the two pieces fitte* -I*T 16 exactly. There was a fresh pause, Per enna was confused, as were those, invariably, upon whom he himself used to inflict this kind of defeat and humiliation, lie could not get over it. By what prodigy had Gas ton Sauverand managed, in that short space of 20 minutes, to enter the house and make his way into this room? Even the theory of an accomplice living in the house did not do much to make the phenome non easier to understand. “it upsets all my calculations,” lie thought, “and I shall have to go through the mill this time. I was able to baffle Mine. Fauville’s accusation and to foil the trick of the turquoise. But M. Desmalions will never admit that this is a simi lar attempt and that Gaston Hau verand has tried, as Marie Fauvillc did, to get me out of the way by compromising me and procuring my arrest.” “Well,” exclaimed M. Desma lions impatiently, “answer! De fend yourself!” “No, Monsieur le Prefet, it is not for me to defend myself.” M. Desmalions stamped his foot and growled : “In that ease * * * in that ease * * # since you confess * * * since-” lie put his hand on the latch of the window, ready to open it. A whistle and the detectives would i burst in and all would be over. “Shall 1 have your inspectors ■ called, Monsieur le Prefet?” asked : Don Luis. M. Desmalions did not reply, lie j let go the window latch ' and' started walking about the room again. And, suddenly, while Per enna was wondering why he still hesitated, for the second time the prefect planted himself in front of him, and said: Aim suppose l looked upon the ! incident of the walking stick ns1 not having occurred, or, rather, as an incident which, while doubtless proving the treachery of your ser-' vants, is not able to compromise! yourself? Suppose 1 look only the ! services which you have already rendered us into consideration? In | a word, suppose I left you free?”! Perenna could not help smiling.1 Notwithstanding the affair of the! walking stick and though appear-1 ances were all against him, at the moment when everything seemed to he going wrong, things were taking the course which lie had phophesied from the start, and which he had mentioned to Maze roux during the inquiry on the Boulevard Sucliet. They*wanted him. Free ? ” he asked. ‘ ‘ No more supervision ? Nobody shadowing my movements?” “Nobody.” “And what if the press cam paigu around my name continues, if the papers succeed, liy means of certain pieces of tittle tattle, of certain coincidences, in creating a public outcry, if they call for measures agaiust me?” “Those measures shall not be taken.” “Then I have nothing to fear?” “Nothing.” “Will M. Weber abandon his prejudices against me?” “At any rate, lie will act, as though he did, won't you, Weber?” The deputy chief uttered a few grunts which might be taken as , an expression of assent: and Don , Luis at once exclaimed : ■ “ lti that case, Monsieur le Pre fet, l am sure of gaining the vic i tory and of gaining it in accord . anee with the wishes and require ments of the authorities.” i And so. by a sudden change in I the situation, after a series of cx I eeptional circumstances, the po - lice themselves, bowing before i Don Luis Perenna s superior 1 qualities of mind, acknowledging i all that he bad already done and i foreseeing all that be w*uld be ! able to do, decided to back him up, begging for his assistance, and offering him. so to speak, the eom j maud of affairs. It was a flattering compliment, t Was it addressed only to Don Luis - Perenna? Aud had Lupin, the terrible, undaunted Lupin, no u right to claim bis share? W'as it . possible to believe that M. Desma 1 lions, in bis heart of hearts, did not admit the identic of 1 lie two persons ? Nothing in the prefect’s atti-1 tilde gave any clue to liis secret thoughts. He was suggesting to Don Luis Perenna one of those compacts which the police are j often obliged to conclude in order to gain their ends. The compact j was concluded, and no more was , said upon the subject. “Do you want any particulars of me?" asked the prefect of po lice. “Yes, Monsieur le Prefet. The papers spoke of a notebook found in poor Inspector Verot's pocket. Did the notebook contain a clue of any kind?” “No. Personal notes, lists of dis bursements, that’s all. Wait, I j | was forgetting, there was a photo | graph of a woman, about which ; 1 have not yet been able to obtain | the least information. Besides, I don't suppose that it bears upon the case and J have not sent it to the newspapers. Look, here it is.” Perenna took the photograph which the prefect handed him and ! gave a start that did not escape M. Desmalions’ eye. “Do you know the lady?” “No. No, Monsieur le Prefet. I thought I did; but no, there’s merely a resemblance—a family likeness, which 1 will verify if you can leave the photograph with me till this evening.” “Till this evening, yes. When j you have done with it, give it back I to Sergeant Mazeroux, whom I will order to work in concert with you in everything that relates to the Morningtou case.” The interview was now over. The prefect went away. Don Luis saw him to the door. As M. Des malions was about to go down the steps, he turned and said simply: “You saved my life this morn ing. But for you, that scoundrel Sauverand-” “Oh, Monsieur le Prefed!” said Don Luis, modestly protesting. “Yes, I know, you are in the habit of doing that sort of thing, j All the same, you must accept my thanks.” And the prefect, ol police made a bow such as he would really have made to Don Luis Perenna, the Spanish noble, the hero of the Foreign legion. As for Weber, lie put his two hands in his pockets, walked past with the look of a muzzled mastiff, and gave his ene my a glance of fierce hatred. “By Jupiter!” thought Don Luis. “There’s a fellow who won’t miss me when he gets a chance to shoot!” Looking through a window, lie saw M. Desmalion’s motor car i drive off. The detectives fell in | behind the deputy chief and left i the Place du Palais-Bourbon. The | siege was raised. ; “And now to work!’’ said Don i Luis. “My hands are free, and we j shall make things hum.”" He called the butler. “ Serve lunch; and ask Mile. 1 Levasseur to come and speak to me immediately after.” Ho went to the dining room and sat down, placing on the table the photograph which M. Desmalions had left behind; and, bending over it, he examined it atentively. It was a little faded, a little worn, as photographs have a tendency to become when they lie about in pocket books or among papers; but the picture Avas quite clear. It Avas the radiant picture of a young Avoman in evening dress, with bare arms and shoulders, Avith flowers ; and leaves in her hair and a smile [ upon her face. “Mile. Levasseur, Mile. Levas Iseur,” he said. ‘‘Is it possible!” | In a corner Avas a half obliter lated and hardly visible signature, i He made out, “Florence,” thfc ! girl’s name, no doubt. And he re !peated: j “Mile. Levasseur, Florence Le j vassouv. Hoav did her photograph Iconic to be in Inspector Verot’s ; pocket book? And what is the ! connection betAveen this adven ture end the reader of the Hun garian count from whom 1 took over the house?” He remembered the incident of the iron curtain. He remembered the article in the Echo dc France, | an article aimed against him, of i which he had found the rough draft m his own courtyard. And, above all, he thought of the prob lem of that broken Avalkiug stick ! conveyed into his study, j And, while bis mind Avas striv ing to read these events clearly, j while he.tried to settle the part ■played by Mile. Levasseur, his eyes remained fixed upon the pho tograph and he gazed absent mindedly at the pretty lines of the mouth, the charming smile, the graceful curve of the neck, the |admirable SAveep of the shoulders. The door opened ^suddenly and i'Mile. Levasseur burst into the i room. Perenna, Avho had dismissed > the butler, was raising to his lips : a glass of Avater Avhieh he had just - filled for himself. She sprang for I ward, seized, bis arm, snatched the ' glass from him and'flung it on the carpet, where it smashed to pieces. | “Have you drunk any of it? Have you drunk any of it?” she gaspe I, in a choking voice, lie replied: ; “No, not yet. Why?” She stammered: “The water in that bottle * * * the water in that bottle-” “Well?” “It’s poisoned!” He leapt from his ehair, an. C., April 20.—Tlie re cently announced engagement of Miss Elsie ('alder, daughter of Senator nnd Mrs. Calder, and Eieut. Robert C. Eee, U. H. N„ is ot' particular interest to friends here, as the love affair has been regarded as a distinctly official ro mance. Roth of the young people are of the Washington official set and It was at an official reception at Washington two '•ears ago that they first met. Miss Calder hag spent but little time in Washington during the past winter, having a greater interest in the war work she has been occupied iu Brook lyn than in any social affairs Washing •cn might offer Just now. AMERICAN HOSPITAL OPENS IN LONDON fs Located in Horae of Noted Author Who Donated It For That Purpose. Liverpool.—The first hospital for Ameri can soldiers In Great Britain has been opened in Liverpool. All other hospitals thus far opened In the British Isles have i been for American officers. The Liver pool hospital is known as American Red Gross military hospital No. 4 and Is situ ated in the Mossley Iltll district, the most fashionable residential section about threa miles from the downtown business part of the city. Already many American sol diers occupy its cheerful wards and many others In the convalescent stage, clad in hospital pale blue are walking about the spacious grounds. The hospital proper occupies Mossley •House, the former home of Dr. Edmund Knowles Muspratt, a noted authority on chemistry and one of Liverpool's leading citizens, who when he heard that the Americans wanted it gladly turned it over to them. It occupies the highest eleva tion in the city. A typical old gothic style English town house, it stands in the cen ter of seven acres of beautiful grounds, the flower gardens of which are rapidly being converted Into plots for raising vegetables. An American flag, flying from the tall staff in front of the grounds can be seen a great distance, and assist* Visitors to find the place. The head of the hospital Is Major Udo J. Wile. Medical Officers Reserve Corps, United States Army, who Is a member of the faculty of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Major Wile came here ;ast November and has worked untiringly to outfit the institution. In this he has been assisted by Joseph R. Morris of Chi cago, representing the American Red dross. The major's staff consists of five officers—three captains and two lieuten ants. The personnel of the place includes 10 American Red Cross nurses, 12 ser geants and 20 privates, Miss Marlon Wel ler, a graduate of the New- York hospital. Is chief nurse. Major Wile is proud of the fact that 34 days after Mossley House was taken over It was a fully equipped American hospital ready for Its first patients. Today it has 150 beds with room for expansion to 82# beds. The institution Is equipped through out on tho American plan. This especial ly Is true of the hot water heating plant and of the plumbing and elCCtrleal in stallments, all of which work was facili tated largely through the efforts of the British Royal Engineers who helped draw up the plans and put them Into execution In these days of labor shortage. The hospital now has. 10 wards for sol diers, two email officers’ wards and in operating room, besides the administra tive offices. It boasts two ambulances of tile latest type, one given by Richard Pearce, an American resident in Liver pool and the second by an anonymous donor. About 200 yards from the hospital they are building two Isolation wards, each designed to accommodate 100 contagious disease patients. These are one story structures of brick and concrete. Each will have four 10-bed wards with two small wards in the center for officers. A feature will be discharge rooms where outgoing patients can don their new garments. PROFITEERS NUMEROUS AMONG HUNGARIANS Washington—Austria-Hungary Is afflict ed with a horde of food profiteers and hoarders, according to Hungarian news papers just received here. The govern ment, they claim, has proceeded against 194 persons In 31 cases of profiteering and hoarding. Many of the schemes for the securing of food, are original; One man, a printer of Budapest, carried on a flourishing business in food cards— which he had printed himself. He go two years. Another man, a discharged^ sol dier, took lodgings under false names and received cards for each name. When arrested he had 22 food cards and 16 false registration papers. TRANSPLANT BIG HERD OF ALASKA REINDEER Cordova, Alaska, (by mall).-‘Alaska reindeer which heretofore havo roamed only in the tundra country of tho Se ward peninsula of northwestern Alas ka, are to be planted in the Copper River valley of southwestern Alaska, north of Cordova. The reindeer orig inally were brought by the United States government front Siberia and transplanted in northwestern Alaska. The task of transplanting the ani mals lias been undertaken by the bu reau of native education. Herders will bring the deer overland this spring from Nome to Cordova, a distance of approximately 900 miles. Gorman Ways in Chile. From the I.oiKlon Times. A correspondent in Chile draws atten tion to an organization in that country called tho “German Chilean League” (Deutseh-Chlleniseher Bund). It is rich and well managed, and there is no doubt that it is an outwork of the Pan-Germans. In a recently published expensive and weil arranged almanac the objects and aspirations of the league are defined. Appended is a translation of some of the W passages of tills document: The league desires to bind and strength en the bond of Germanism in tho country. By close friendships with the better' das* Chileans of other descent, It aims at pro pagating German ways in Chile. The objects of the league are: The study of Germanism in Chile; close friendship and relationship between Germany and Chile; the maintenance, strengthening, and propagation of kultur in Chile. Our principal efforts must be devoted to the first two objects by means of the propa ganda of the schools and of the press, and to the last object by means of a thor ough administration. in these perilous times, when German ism flints itself fighting nearly file whole world, it is incumbent upon the league to devote itself to its ends, and It is during these times that tile league finds the justification of its existence and well be ing for the development of German >nter prlMt of German schools, -and education. The league regards the fight for Chilean neutrality as its duty. It regards ita work for fjermanlsni during the war as war assistance, its demand for money for the purpose as an aid to war expenses. Coeds in the Library. From the Chicago Tribune. “is this the botanical library? Well, I should like to have a copy of Ruskln's 'Sesame and Lilies.’ ” “Will you please give me a copy of Ibid’s Book 111?” "I would l.ke to have G. B. Shaw’s The Way of All Flesh “What book do you desire?” the young man at the desk asked the modest young lady. “Why, sir, where do you keep Ro mance?’ ’’ "You will find ’’Romance’ in the littl* • lark corner,