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TRUTH ABOUT THE CASE
The Experiences of M. F. Goron, Ex-Chief
of the Paris Detective Police
Edited by Albert Keyzer
A HOTEL MYSTERY
tCupyrlght ly J.
HURRIED meals, taken nt Im
possible hours, are apt to
cause dyspepsia. This I
found out; nnd Dr. Tlilbaut,
my medical advisor and
friend, fearing I might not
obey Inn injunctions, took
the trouble to escort mo to
a Binall watering-plnco in
the Dauphlnc, whence, he
assured me, I should
emerge perfectly cured,
I did not at all relish tho idea of be
coming oven for a short time a
fashionablo idler. Hut afterward I
had reason to bo -thankful, for tho
adventuro I met with added a curious
chapter to my experiences.
I went to that little place a fow
weeks after the execution of Eyraud,
Iho murderer of tho luckless Gouffc,
(a most scnsationnl crime, which for
several montliB kept tho wholo Euro
pean pi ess at fever heat. And, In or
der to escapo interviewers and ko
dak fiends, I decided to travel incog
nito, cn$ring myself In tho hotel
books as M, Gullbert; a wiso precau
tion, as I soon discovered,
i The most important guests in our
hotel where Count M , a Russian, a
fine-looking man of about sixty-five,
and his wife, a pretty woman quito
forty years his Junior. Tho countess,
a restless young creature, waa con
stantly organizing excursions in tho
mountains, leaving her husband at
borne to amuso himself,
i Two days after my arrival I noticed
a newcomer at our table d'hote, Mile.
'Eugenie Arco, an attractive young
woman with dark eyes and jet-black
'hair. Her hands wero small and aris
tocratic, and her appearance would
have been In every way refined but
for her ears. These were too largo
and stood rather far from her head.
The girl fascinated, yet at the same
time repelled, mo.
It had beon raining all tho morn
ing, and I was In the reading-room
glancing at an Illustrated paper, when
a voice near Bald,
"Pardon mo, monsieur, I see you are
a Russian."
It was Mile. Arco. "No," I replied,
"I am not."
"I thought you were," she contin
ued, "because- I saw you reading a
Russian periodical."
i "I was not reading It," I retorted,
,"I was only looking at the pictures."
i "Oh, I see!" she explaimed. Dut the
look she gave me said she did not be
lieve me.
' I did not care to continue the con
versation, and she soon left the room.
From that moment, however, I no
ticed she never ceased to observe me,
and many a tlmo when I pretended to
bo asleep In one of tho armchairs In
the hall her large black eyes wero
fastened on mo as if they wero trying
to pierce my thoughts.
, WJth tho officials In tho hotel Mllo.
Arco was a persona grata, for, unllko
most women, who In money matters
are inclined to bo niggardly, she
tipped tho waiters and chambermaids
inoBt liberally. The manager of tho
hotel and his wlfo had also taken a
great fancy to her, and she was al
ways warmly welcomed by them In
their sanctum, where she would sit
and emoko cigarette after cigarette.
I Feeling myself closely watched by
her, I returned the compliment, and
noticed that she would repair to the
onlco at thoBo hours when the post
came in, and look over the clerk's
shoulder at the letters ho sorted. And
then it struck mo that no missive ever
came addressed to her, nlthough one
afternoon, happening to pass her room
at tho moment tho maid opened hor
doort I saw her deeply engaged In cor
respondence, with several letters in
front of hoi. .
' The next morning, when Mile. Arco
left the hotel I went out nt tho back,
made quickly for the post office by an
other road, and hid myself behind the
hedgo of an empty cottago opposite.
I saw her enter tho post ofneo and
leavo it a fow minutes later. Sho
looked up and down tho road, and,
nobody being In sight, sho took a let
tor out of her pocket, opened it, and
rend It eagerly.
"Ban," I said to myself, "you aro
not clover, my girl, A child could
have seen through your game Now
we Bhall havo somo fun."
That same evening after dinner rain
fell In torrents, and most of tho guests
were In tho drawing-room. A fow wero
Indulging in n hnrmless gumo of
cards; two girls were at the piano
singing sentimental songs, and Mile.
Arco reclined in a rocking-chair, a
book in her lap. Tho count, a very re
served man, with whom I had thus
far exchnnged only a few words, was
talking to a retired naval offtior who
had spent some years In Russia,
"Yes," I heard tho count Bay, "wo
want a thorough change. It la a dis
graceful stato of things. These grand
dukes "
"Talking of Russia," I cut In, "al
low mo to road to you something
that Just happened In Paris."
I took a paper from my pocket, nnd
as I unfolded It I noticed tho count,
whom I had interrupted In the middle
of his speech, gazo at mo with any
thing hut pleasure.
"list night." I read, "tho police
wero called to a house In tho Hue
H. IJpplncott Co.)
Dclnmbre, In the Montpnrnnsso quar
ter, where, In a bed room on the fifth
llcor, they found the hotly of a young
woman stabbed to tho henrt. On a
plcco of paper pinned to her dress the
following lines wero scribbled In pen
cil: "Tills woman, a wretched jipy tn the em
ploy of tho Russian police, lmn for n loin:
tlmo past wntched omik men nml KlrH
RturtyliiK nt tho PnrlN unl entitles. Two
Klrls who recently tctiirncd to Russia
wore, onthat woman's Information, ar
rested nt the frontier, and Imvn not hi en
heard of nlnce. There nre, we know, oth
er female kpIch now cutrylrig nn their no-
furious work In Homo of the French wa
tering pluces, and their turn will Boon
come.
"Tho police nro Investigating tho affair,
which haw created n tremendous Herniation
among tho KukhIiui students here."
Thero wns a moment's silence when
I had finished, nnd then two or three
of tho guests remnrked thnt It was a
terrible business. Tho count remained
silent. Ho soon after wont to bed,
nnd I followed his example.
Tho next morning nfter brenkfast I
sat outside tho hotel smoking my
cigarette. Tho guests wero at tho
springs or strolling about, whllo tho
countess had gono on ono of her usual
peregrinations. Townrd two tho count
appeared, and, passing me, gave mo
ono of his formal nods. I wont up to
him.
"Pardon me," I said; "I owe you an
apology for Interrupting you some
what rudely last night; but 1 took the
liberty of stopping you from launching
Into what looked very much like ft
diatribe against the Russian authori
ties. You were apparently not aware
that a political spy was Bitting within
a yard of you."
"A spy!" he gasped.
"YeB, a spy, in the person of that
good-looking girl, Mile. Eugenie Arco.
So, now, you will perhaps accept my
apology."
"M. Ouibert," he laughed. "I don't
know whether to challenge you to
fight or to nBk you to do rao tho
honor to lunch with mo today."
"Thero is no necessity for cither,"
I replied. "I am only too happy to
have rendered you a slight service."
"How did you know bug was a spy?"
he asked. "Have you any proof?"
"No, only strong suspicion. But we
shall now have proofs."
The hoad waiter wbb standing at
the door.
"I have not seen Mllo. Arco this
morning," I called out to him. "I hope
she Is not 111."
"She has gono away," the man re
plied. "She left early this morning."
The count looked puzzled. We
walked aHttlo way down tho road,
and then I said:
"I had my doubts about that girl
from tho start; sho Is a bungler, a
novice in tho business. Fancy her
suspecting me, a natlvo of Brittany, of
being a Russian Nihilist! Political
spying is dirty work; but if you do it
you must do it well or it becomes dan
gerous, especially to the spy. And
that is why I tried to knock the fear
into that young creature by reading
out that paragraph last night."
"Yes, about thoso unfortunate girls.
Pqor things!"
"Reserve your pity for another oc
casion, count. I invented thnt story."
"M. Gulbert!" he cried, "I compll
ment yo'i on your perspicacity. May
I ask what your profession Is?"
"I am a commission agent"
"Well," he laughed, "you would have
made a fine detective"
"You are. very kind. Dut for every
body's sake it will bo well not o men
tion this affair."
The count noJcTed aBBont.
After the, spy Incident tho count be
came Yrfy friendly and talked freely
to. .mo on many subjects.
Tho countess undoubtedly neglected
her husband.
Visitors kept pouring In, many of
them members of the so-called "smart
set" I did not like the nppearanco of
sovernl of tho newcomers, and I was
glad my euro was drawing to an end.
Then a remarkablo incident occurred.
Tho countess had gone on one of
her excursions with her male and fe
male followers, the organizer of tho
party, as usual, being Reno Soudler,
Bright, witty, excelling In all sports,
Soud'T was adored by the women and
popular with tho men, except with tho
count. The latter .disliked him cor
dinlly, and rniely or novor spoke o
him.
Tho pnrty had left after luncheon,
nnd was not expected backfboforo 7
o'clock. At threo In tho afternoon, as
I returned from a walk, I saw tho
count walking up nnd down In front
of tho hotel. Something evidently had
gono wrong. The moment ho saw mo
ho gripped my arm and led mo to a
secluded spot In tho garden.
"M. Gulbert," ho began in an ex
cited tone which ho tried hnrd to con
trol; "M. Gulbert, you proved yourself
very shrewd when you dealt with that
Russian girl, Allow mo to apply to
you for advice. My wlfo's pearl neck
liico has been stolen. Do you mind
accompanying mo tip-stnlrs?"
Tho aphrtiuentB tho count occupied
in tho hotel consisted of a drawing
room, his and his wife's bedroom, nnd
their two dressing-rooms. Marfn, tho
countess' mnid, slept nt the end of the
passage on tho same floor. The count
went straight to his wlfo's dressing
room. "Look nt that!" ho exclaimed, point
ing to a dressing-bag on tho floor, its
lock forced open, and many of tho
things it had contained scattered
around.
"Tho countess," ho contlnuoud,
"kept her Jewelry locked In that. Tho
thief or thieves must have sneaked In
after sho left. What do you tidvlso
mo to do?"
"I think you hnd better wait for
tho countess' return b'eforo taking any
stops; hho will not bo long. In tho
meant Itno you might question tho
maid."
Hut Marfa had obtained her mis
tress' permission to go for a donkey
rldo to the monastery a fow miles dis
tant. Ho wo waited till she c.imo in.
When the count told her of tho rob
bery she looked thunderstruck.
"I Bwcnr," sho cried, "that when
mndamo went out tho bag wns safely
locked. I did not go into hor room
nfter sho left."
A loud nolso downstairs announced
tho cavaleado had returned from their
excursion. Tho countess entered tho
hotel nnd her husband went quickly
tip to her. I strolled down tho road
leading to tho Btatlon, when a car
riago drove up and a man Jumped out,
shouting:
"Goron, Goron! How aro you, old
chap?"
It was Dr. Tlilbaut.
"Hold our tongue, you stupid!" I
said. "What do you mean by bawling
out my namo? Havo you forgotten
thnt I am M. Gulbert? 1 hope tho
driver has not heard you."
"That's nil right," ho rejoined; "ho's
as deaf as a post. I havo taken n
week's holiday. I want to spend it
with you here, after which wo will re
turn to ParlB togethor. What do you
say to this arrangement?"
"You havo como nt a good moment,"
I remarked; "there Is plenty of excite
ment nt tho hotel;" nnd I related to
him tho story of the robbery.
His eyes sparkled with delight.
"That will be glorious sport to wit
ness," he laughed.
"For you, perhaps, you heartless
The poor lady sat
man, but not for the count and
countess."
Having dressed for dinner, wo found
tho guests in the hall eagerly discus
sing tho affair, trying to extract par
ticulars from tho waiters and cham
bermaids. All at once thero was a
hush, for tho door of the manager'n
room opened, and out carao tho count
and his wlfo followed by a stout, rod
faced, short man with gray whiskers.
"That's M. Jullon, tjio police com
missary," somo ono said behind mo.
"I wondor," whispered Tlilbaut,
"how thnt M. Jullen will set to work?"
"So do I. With your permission,
however, I shnll remain in tho back
ground. ' M. Jullcn, fortunately, docs
not know me, but ono of his subordi
nates might; and I do not want to do
part from my position of spectator.
This Is M. Jullcn's domain. I also see
new faces. I-ook at that close-shaven
youth with the flower In his button
holo. Do you notlco anything particu
lar about him?"
"No, I don't."
"Look again."
"I seo nothing except that he gives
me tho Impression of being a cad."
"Watch his mouth."
"Well, ho seems to want with hia
teeth to catch something on his upper
Up."
"Yes, his moustache. It must havo
been thero quito recently, and ho 1b
not yet accustomed to Us absonce."
"It scorns strange."
"This may not bo or any Import
ance, but if I wero M. Jullen I should
take noto of it."
For two days I heard no nows about
tho robbery, and wns wondorlng how
things wero progressing, when 1 wbb
aroused in tho morning by a loud
knock nt my door. To my surprlso
tho count cntored.
"Pardon my Intruding upon you," ho
sighed. "I ntn very much nnnoyed.
This pollco commissary Is not mak
ing any headway. Ho clings to tho
Iden that tho maid committed tho
deed, or that she Is nn nccompllco;
and ho thinks he is on tho right trail.
M. Gulbert, I must discover tho cul
prit, and am willing to offer a reward
I mat. may tempt any ono to help mo in
my search. The hotel proprietor sug
gested mo writing to M. Goron, asking
, him to como to our nsBlstanco, iib
I thoso local dotectlveH seem unablo to
clear up tho mystery."
"It Is useless to wilto to M. Goron."
I replied. "Iteineinber that this Is be
yond his sphere of action; and that
with tho work on his hands lit Paris
you cannot expect him to nttotul to
crimes committed In tho provinces."
"I dare say you aro right," groaned
tho old gentleman, "besides "
He stopped, and moved uneasily in
his chair.
"M. Gulbert," ho burst out rather
suddenly, "1 repeat, I tun particularly
anxious to lay my hands on tho iob
her. Yet, nt tho same time, I dread
disclosures that might that might
possibly causo nnnoynnco to tho
countess, .My wlfo Is young, very
young, and Inexperienced; and only
too Inclined to give her friendship to
peoplo of whom she knows very lit
tle. Ionk nt that noisy crowd who fol
low her on her long rides or drives.
Who aro they? Hho matin their ac
quaintance only since wo anno horo.
Homo of tho women or that set nro as
bad as tho men. Thero is that Hon
dior alwajB dangling nfter her. What
Is ho? Who Is ho? Can ono find
that out? I havo my reasons for ask
ing you this."
"I do not know tho mnn any moro
than you do, but It will bo easy to
find out all about him through my
Paris friends."
"Plenso, M. Gulbert, do this for mo.
I fhall bo deeply gratoful."
"Frankly, do you think of him In
connection with tho robbery?"
"I suspect that whole fast gnng, and
feel certain one of them la the thief
motionless Her very
I hinted at this to M. Jullcn, but bo
apparently thinks that well-dressed
ladies and gentlomen cannot commit
crimes."
Tho next morning wo hoard that M.
Jullen was looking for a man, a wait
er, discharged from tho hotol for dis
honesty, who, on tho afternoon of tho
robbery, had been seen loitering near
tho house. Ho had slnco disappeared;
and, as ho had been on friendly terms
with Mar fa, M. Jullcn would certainly
havo arrested tho girl If tho countess
had not Interposed and vouched for
hor innocence.
In accordance with my promise to
tho count I had written to Paris, and
the reply I received concerning Sou
dler was:
"Heavily In debt. Looso morals.
Raises money whorever ho can."
When I communicated this to the
count his eyes lit up with a cruel flro.
"This confirms my suspicions, M.
Gulbert. Remember my words Sou
dler is the thief."
Tlilbaut was waiting for mo down
stairs. "Affairs scorn at a standstill," ho
remarked to me.
"Very much so. M. Jullon Is ob
stinato. Ho keeps a closo watch on
Marfa, and In tho meantime ho Is
searching for a poor dovll of a waiter.
Tho count is Jealous, nnd would, If ho
could, at onco clap tho handcuffs on
tho fascinating Soudler. Tho guests
oyo ono another suspiciously, and bo
do tho hotel olllclals. What n ghastly
mess thoy aro making of this busi
ness!" "And tho countess? You don't
mention hor. What does sho say?"
"I have not exchanged a word with
her on the matter. Out from what
her husband says, I gather sho is con-1
vinccu Hint a stranger to tno pinco
committed tho deed."
"I havo a theory," Bald Tlilbaut,
"that tho countess known tho thief,
whom sho docs not want to compro
mise because "
"Hecauso sho Iovcb him?"
"Yes.'
"Those thlngt do occur."
"What About the man with tho
shaven upper lip? 1 havo not rcoii
him within tho last fow days."
"No; but 1 have."
Tlilbaut gazed al mo Intently for a
fo'v moments.
"Got on," ho cried eagerly, "you've
discovered something, You havo a
title. Whnt Is It?"
"My dear .Tlilbaut, ou havo hair
guetsed tho truth. YeB, I scent n
mystery, nnd 1 wish to clear It up;
hut not from professional prldo. It Is
from si sense of duty, for, unless 1 stop
In, I forcsoo a disaster."
"Is It an serious ait that?"
"It may become so. That Is what
1 wiitit to avoid."
"fan I help you?"
"Yes, by not asking mo any ques
tions, oven when 1 nlisent myself. Un
derstand tno well, Tlilbaut. 1 must
remain M. Gulbert to tho end. No
lu.ily, Including M. Jullcn, must know
I am Goron. An Indiscreet word from
ou would defeat all my plans."
"You can rely on mo."
"I know I can. When, as I hope, I
shall hao brought my task to a satis
factory ending you shall know all tho
details of tho casu. Thin much 1 will
tell you. Tho necklace has mysteri
ously disappeared; I shall try to havo
It spirited back tn tho sauio mysteri
ous way."
A week after tho foregoing conver
sation n cab drove up at tho door of
tho hotel. Thlbaut's nnd my luggago
waa hoisted on tho top; and wo shook
hands with somo of tho guests, Includ
ing tho count, who witnessed our de
parture for Paris,
Half-way to the station we met tho
rountess on her bicycle, somo 50 yards
ahead of her pnrty.
"Bon voyage, M. Gulbert!" she
shouted, her face beaming with Joy,
lips turned w
nnd throw a roso Into our carriage I
placed It In my buttonhole and gave
a sigh of relief.
"I suppose that sigh has something
to do with tho case," Bald my ob
servant friend.
Wo had tho compartment to our
selves, and tho, train was scarcely out
of tho station when Tlilbaut called
out:
"And now pleaso toll mo all that oc
curred. You, too, must bo anxious to
unboBom yourself," ho added with a
mischievous smile.
"Oh, I shall conceal nothing, nut,
although I did not act In an official
capacity, tho story la of a delicate na
ture and I must request you not to dl
vulgo It"
"I glvo you my word."
"It la a strango business, and wns
oven deeper than I conjectured. The
first Uilng that struck mo as odd,
when tho count took mo to IiIb wlfo's
dressing-room, was that forced lock of
tho dressing-bag; I wondered who the
lunatic thief could bo who lost pro
clous tlmo over that lock, when, with
an ordinary penknife, ho could havo
cut the leather in less than a minute.
"You will, howovor, understand my
dldculty, not having had charge of
tho caso, and not having beon llko
tho pollco commissary ablo to Inves
tigate cloHoly nnd question thoso like
ly to throw light upon tho matter. I
had to bo guided partly by reasoning,
partly by Intuition; and the Inferences
I drow wero that tho nccklaco had not
been stolen, and thnt either tho count
or tho countess posBlbly both hnd
reasons for spreading that story of tho
robbery.
"I assure you I novor for an Instant
suspected Soudler; nnd tho count's
fiite.
hatred of hltn nnd hla desire to sad
dle hi in with tho robbery rather told
against tho former, and gavo rise to
ugly presumptions. I iim, however, as
you know, a protty good ronder of
character, and I dl not bcllevo the
count capablo of a vtilany. Thero re
mained tho countess, with whom dur
ing my stay at tho hotel I hud not ex
changed half a dozen words. Do you
remember my threo days' absenco?"
"Yen; I guessed you had gono to
Paris."
"You guessed right. I arrived there
In tho early morning, and two hours
later I knew that tho countess' father,
a broken-down nhslntho-drlnkcr, wns
clerk to a money-changer and money
lender In tho Boulevard HI. Martin,
who was once Rcrlously compromised
In a casu of stolen bonds. I look a
cab, and slowly drove past tho placo,
when I saw our friend with the shav
en upper lip emerge from tho olllco, a
small traveling-bug In his hand, and
jump on a 'bus. His name, I wns told
nt tho hotel, la Bnllti. I did not hesi
tate a second. I hud seen through the
window that tho principal's private
room nt tho back was empty, and that
In tho olllco wero only u young man
huhlud a desk and a girl nt n type
writer. I went In nnd n sited for M.
H. , tho countess' father.
"'Ho has left us,' said tho clerk.
"Returning to tho station, 1 saw
Ballu on tho platfoim, nnd, unseen by
him, wo both arrived nt tho hotel at
tho saino tlmo.
"I had already noticed that although
Ballu and tho countess never ex
changed a word when others were
present, their eyes often met, nnd
when on tho night of mj return we
sat down at tho tnhlo d'hote a hardly
perceptible sign passed between them.
Keeping them both woll In Bight, I
saw Ballu at 0 o'clock stroll townrd
tho end of tho garden. Ho disappeared
in tho darkness, but I felt sure he
hnd gono to tho little summer-house
facing the tennis-lawn,
"1 soon arrived at the back of the
llttlo wooden structure, and felt re
lieved when I heard some ono move
Inside. Half an hour later there came
a light Btep. It waa the countess.
Their conversation, carried on is
whispers, did not last many minutes.
Ballu's voice sounded hard, almost
threatening, whllo thnt of tho countess
was Imploring. Although I could not
catch every word they said, I heard
quito enough to bo nblo to reconstruct
tho wholo case. Tho moment to net
had arrived.
"Tho following morning as the
countoss crossed tho hall I walked up
to her and Bald:
" 'Pleaso go to tho library. I wont
to speak to you at once.'
"She gavo mo a look of surprlso and
fear, and entered tho room.
"'Mndnme, I said, 'to you and you
alono I will divulge who I um. I am
M. Goron, chief of tho Paris detective
force. My object is to help you. I
know your father hnB appropriated
or Is accused of having dono bo--money
belonging to his employer, M.
H . I know you wanted to save
him, and, not having the ready cash,
you handed to M. II , through his
understudy, M. Ballu, your pearl neck
laco as security. In order to do this
you havo probably at this man's sug
gestion made it appear you had beon
robbed. M. H , being nfrald to dls-
poso of tho pearls, Is now pressing you
to redeem them, and for a larger sum
than your father owes him. Am I
right?"
"Tho poor lady sat motionless. Her
vory lips had turned white.
"'Fear nothing,' I continued; 'I am
hero to savo you. But you must prom
ise to follow my Instructions Implicit
ly. Will you?'
"'Yes,' sho whispered.
" 'Very well. Cnn you Invent a rea
son that will satisfy your husband
why you should go to Paris, return
Ing the following day?'
"Sho nodded.
" 'Then leavo tomorrow early by the
express, having flrBt wired to ML.
H to make nn appointment at his
office. Go thero straight. Tell him
you havo seen roe letting him, of
courso, think I am In Paris and that
you havo como to mo for advice. Ex
plain that you know from mo that his
attltudo toward you places him in a
serious position, from which ho can
extrlcnto himself In one way only.
Having ngreod to let you rotund him
tho money duo to him by your father
alwnys supposing that story to be
true ho must at once return you the
noeklaco, on your promise to pay him
a fixed sum on account every month.
You can manage that, can you not?'
"'Yes, M. Goron,' sho said, putting
hor hand on mine, 'I will.'
'"Hush! Don't pronounce my name.
Should that fellow H mako any
fuss, you can tell him ho will soon
hear from mo."
"Sho went, and returned the follow
ing evening. I purposely stood at the
door as sho passed out of the dining
room, when she slipped a noto Into
my hand. Here It is:
" 'II arccpts. Promised to return
thing tomorrow by B . Clod bless you.'
"Before vo loft I hail tho satisfac
tion of knowing that Ballu bad re
turned tho necklace, aud that it was
onco mora in hor possession."
"When sho throw that roso?"
"Yes."
"And tho count? How will his wife
explain tho reappearance of tho ncck
laco?" "Sho will manage that. Women have
Inventive brains."
"And tho great Jullon?"
"Ah! Tho groat Jullen will, Ull the
end of his days, bollevo It was Marfa
who stole and returned tho pearls;
whllo tho count will think tho some
thing of Soudler. But Jullen cannot
now arrest Innocent people In connec
tion with that case. And it was that,
my dear Thibaut, I wanted to avoid."
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