Perrysburg journal., October 05, 1916, Image 2

About Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965

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Ay Detective Stories
.
Theao stories aro nlonjr typical
French lines, which portray tho "crook"
as ho actually Is, and not as a hero In
any sensu of tho word.
EPISODE 1
"THE PHANTOM CROOK"
THE CHARACTERS
Fantomas The Gentleman Thief
Gum
Inspector Juvo
Fandor
Actor Vnlgrand
Guard Nlbet
Lady Beltham
Princess Dnnidoff
SYNOPSIS
First and Second Parts To Date.
All Paris was uneasy. l'olice were
on tho alert. Humors Hew thick mid
faat, a daring band of criminals was
terrorizing the city. Suddenly there
enmo as from a clear sky a new ter
ror, tho menace of the name FAN
TOMAB. A phantom, with deadly
power, felt In all branches of society.
A Kiuricr was first laid at the door
of FANTOMAS. Then other terrible
crimes followed In succession, all
traced to FANTOMAS the human enig
ma. Tho polico believed In a well or
cnnlm.l li.iml under the nliantom
crook's leadership. Then came a lull of
six weeks, no card of the crook came
to tho hands of tho police. Then tho
Princess Sonia Danldoof came to spend
six months In I'arls. She resided at a
magnificent apartment, and was rerclv
ed royally by the best society. FAN
TOMAS chose tho night after her llrst
ball, to carry out his next astounding
adventure. He secured S5,U0U cash
from her rooms, after a terrifying con
flict with a masked stranger tho prin
cess spread tho alarm. A card left
with her bore the dreaded natno FAN
TOMAS. Detective Juve. a noted crim
inal investigator, was given charge of
the case. After Juvo look charge of
tho case attention was called to tho
strange disappearance of Lord Holthum.
FANTOMAS was considered as Impli
cated in tills disappearance. Juve fol
lowed up this case with every possible
care. Ho learned that Lady lieltham
had an intrigue with a stranger named
Gurn. Investigation convinced Juve
that Gurn and FANTOMAS were one
and the same. Following this line,
Juvo with two polico oillcers arrested
the so-called Gurn just after he was
leaving Lady Holtham. Tho prisoner
surrendered sullenly and was led away
to prison.
PART III.
AT THE GUILLOTINE.
Three Months Later.
At last Gum's trial was ended, nnd
he .was coudemued to death. The
proceedings had caused a great sensa
tion, but the disappointment of the
scandalmongers was bitter when it
developed that Lady Beltham was not
drawn into the affair in nn unsavory
manner. It was brought out In court
that Lord Beltham was not killed
because of an affair in which a woman
figured, but because of a violent dis
cussion regarding money matters
which had resulted in a fight between
him and Gurn.
As the day for Gum's execution
drew ear, It was plain to see that his
chance for life grew more and more
hopeless, for it was appreciated that
the president of the republic would not
extend executive clemency to him.
S prominent had Gurn become In
the public eye, that managers of the
more sensational theatres based plays
upon his life and crime, and filled their
houses with the morbidly curious.
While Paris was enjoying the
thrills of the Gurn theatrical produc
tions, an observer might have given
nore than passing thought to n woman
Inian automobile who came day after
day t sit in her automobile close to
the prison In which the condemned
man was incarcerated. Day after
day she watched the prison keepers
as! they Came and went. At last ono
daV, she called to one. The man
walked to the nrtomobllo,- his hat In
hlsrhanil.
"You called, Madame?"
i"Ye.s. I have something to say to
your advantage."
j"But "
j"Get into the auto. I do not wlsii
to' talk to you on the .sidewalk."
Thinking that there wasn't much
for him to risk, and lurd by both
curiosity and cupidity, the guard
umped Into the automobile, after look
ing about to make sure that he was
not being watched. The car did not
leave the spot, for Its occupant was
quite willing to sit in the shadow of
the prison and mnke known her mis
sion. Little did tho guard know that
he was talking to Lady Beltham,
widow of the man for whose murder
Gurn was about to go to tho guillotine.
"Do you wish to make a lot of
money?" she began.
"Doing what?"
"A good deed."
"That depends, I risked a whole
lot,' getting Into this auto, If the
warden should see-me, or even ono
of the keepers, I 'would bo lost.'"
ir
These storica giro tho exploits of one of
criminals of French Action. Tho stories arc
picture screen and havo Just been released.
"No, you would bo saved," she In
sisted. "Whatever may happen to
you, I'll not abandon you. What is
your Job worth, compnrcd to what you
can got from mo? If you refuse, you
miss n fortune." To emphasize lier
wards, Lady Beltham took from her
bag n bundle of bankbllls.
"What do you want?" The guard
could not withstand the sight of the
money.
Lady Beltham did not scruple to
conceal her desire any longer, since
she saw by the ninn's attitude that
he had been won over.
"1 have just two words to send to
Grun."
"It's impossible, nindme. I'm sel
dom alone with him, nnd the other
guard watches me."
"Act alone this time. Later on,
If I need the nid of the other keeper,
I am rich enough to reward him also
for his services."
Although the guard feebly pro
tested, Lady Beltham had little diffi
culty in forcing the bundle of bank
bllls upon him. When he got out of
the machine he carried with him a slip
of paper. On It were only these two
words, "Be courageous."
When the message was brought to
Gurn, It told him more than Its admo
nition not to lose courage. It told
him that Keeper Nlbet, tho guard who
brought It, could be bought. In Nl
bet's notebook the condemned man
found opportunity to inscribe the ad
dress of Lady Beltham at Noullly,
teltng the man to go to see her.
By means of Nlbet, Lady Beltham
was able to keep In constant touch
with Gurn. One day when the guard
was at her home Lady Beltham did
ot hesitate to make him a proposition.
Taking a large bundle of banknotes
from a drawer of her desk, she placed
them before him.
"Here are $20,000 In bills. They're
yours If you're able to arrange for
me to have a llften minute Interview
with the prisoner."
"In the prison 1 It Is impossible."
'I understand that. I'm not asking
anything Impossible. I've no inten
sion of visiting the prison. You know,
there's a likelihood that some one
might be able to get out, and "
"I doa't understand."
"Upon the night I tell you, bring
the prisoner to a house on Messier
street, Just a few steps away. It Is
possible, even easy, for you to do
what I have asked. If you carry out
tho plan, all this money $20,000 Is
ours. If you refuse to try, then some
one else gets It."
While Nlbet hesitated, Lady Bel
tham put the bundle of money Into Ms
hands, let the very weight of them tell
him what they could purchase, then
took the money back again. Nlbet
pondered. The money meant his
chance to enjoy life to escape from
the tiresome work that fell to him day
after day. The money seemed to
hypnotize him. He stretched out his
hand, but Lady Beltham was too
quick for him. No sooner did she un
derstand his gesture than she threw
the bundle of banknotes back Into the
desk.
"The money Is yours when you
give me a receipt."
"Oh, no. I won't do that."
"You certainly will. Once you get
your hands on the money, how do I
know you will do as you have prom
ised?" It took a great deal of argument
for Lady Beltham to get the man to
write tile receipt. Finally, he wrote
and signed his name to the following:
"I acknowledge having received the
sum of $20,000 ns payment for ar
ranging nn interview between Lady
Beltham and Guru, the condemned
prisoner, in a house near the Smite
prison."
"NIBI3T."
Public Interest in Guru's fate did
not sag at any time, It was main-1
tnlned at Its original pitch by the.
iMuuiin.ni ii-iuuftuuiuiuiiiK or. me mur
derer which at the moment held the
board at several theatres. For the
evening before the execution a new
play was announced at tho Grand
Tietenu theatre. It was a gloomy
dramu, but one well calculated to at
tract the rich and the curious. The
concluding scene showed a condemned
man as he left on the morning of the
execution.
On the morning of the play's pro
duction the press agent fired his big
gest publicity gun with these words:
"Vnlgrnnd, who bus tho leading role
in "The Bloody 'Stain,' attended the
tho craftiest and most daring
now appearing on the moving
1 trial of Gurn, the murderer of Lord
Belthnm, nnd will appear In the piny
as an exact counterpart of tho crim
inal. As Gurn will be executed a few
hours after the fall of the curtain on
the opening night, Vnlgrnnd might be
pardoned for nny superstitious feeling
he might have. However, the actor Is
not at all disturbed."
The newspaper stories created a
sensation, and the theatre was crowd
ed to see Vnlgrnnd, the favorite of all
Paris, made up to resemble the man
who was to die at dawn. When he
appeared upon the stage there was n
gasp of astonishment. Every one in
the theatre was acqunlntcd with the
features of the murderer through the
ninny pictures which had appeared in
the pnpers during his trial. By a
stinnge chance Vnlgrand was of the
same height and weight. So excellent
wns his make-up that he appeared the
murderer to the life.
When the curtain fell at the end of
the first act, there was a rush to Val-
grand's dressing room to congratulate
him upon his success. Society lead
ers and representatives of the news
papers vied with each other in com
plimenting the actor. As the play
progressed, enthusiasm increased.
The ending of the play was a veritable
triumph for Valgrand. Lady Belt
ham had witnessed the play from the
back of the box. Her excitement could
not be attributed altogether to the
startling likeness of the actor to the
murderer of her husband.
As soon ns the piny was over Lady
Beltham sent an usher behind the
scenes with a note for Valgrand. She
asked that word be brought her thnt
the message had been safely deliver
ed. Upon learning that her missive
hnd been put Into Valgrand's own
hands, the woman hurried to the house
on Messier street which had been ar
ranged for the purpose she had in
mind.
Valgrand was only too glad to ac
cept the invitation the note contained.
It said little, but it promised much.
The actor was flattered by the atten
tion which the great lady was paying
him.
While Valgrand rend the note from
Lady Beltham and hastened to her,
strange things were happening in the
prison where Gurn wus to pay the
penalty for his crime. The time had
come for Nlbet to earn the $20,000
for which he hnd given a receipt.'
There was no alternative. He had to
go through with the plan which hnd
been outlined, also It would mean n'
term In prison for him and the ruin'
of all his hones of preferment. ItH
had been necessary to take another
guard into the scheme, a man nlso
paid by Lady Beltham. The two men
decided to go through with the under
taking, trusting to their luck thn't nil
would turn out well.
Within the prison all went ns it
hnd been arranged. Nlbet nnd his
companion had all to themselves the
section where Gurn wns Immured,
nn nlr-hole In the wall could be reach
ed through an unoccupied cell.
Through this the guards were to con
duct their prisoner for the fifteen min
ute Interview with Lady Beltham.
Less than half an hour was required
altogether, as the house on Messier
street was only five minutes' walk
from the prison.
Since his final meeting with Lady
Beltham, Nlbet had carefully prepared
for the prisoner's trip. Cell 120, next
to that of Gurn, hnd a door commun
icating' with a second cell-like fliiacb1
which had nn nlr-hole. Once through
this opening, n mnn would be free.
Nlbet nnd his accomplice took Gurn
from his cell, handcuffed him, nnd led
him along tho route that led to the
house In Messier street.
Lady Beltham paced up and down
n room of Messier street house, a vic
tim of the great strain under which
she labored. Tho next few minutes
would show whether her diabolical
scheme would bring success or failure.
Hearing the sound of steps, she rush
ed to the door. Gurn stood on the
threshold between his two keepers.
Tho three entered the house. After
removing the handcuffs from the pris
oner nnd assuring themselves that
there was no other means of egress
from the room In which Lady Belt
ham begged to see Gurn alone, Nlbut
nnd the other guard closed the door
and left tho two together In the room.
Fantomas rushed Into the nrms of
the beautiful woman who wns doing
everything In her power to save him.
Linked together by crime, these two
creatures were also held by bonds of
love. The man was first to speak.
"Von did what I said?"
"Everything."
"He's coming."
"Yes, I hope so."
"Where's the sugar for his tea?"
Fantomas looked nt the table arrang
ed for serving tea.
"It's there nil right."
Just ut that moment there was a
knock upon a panel which wns so
skillfully concealed that Nlbet had not
been able to discover It.
"Listen, he's come."
Fantomas hid behind the curtains.
Lady Beltham slid back the panel.
Valgrand entered tho room.
To comply with the wish expressed
by the young woman, the actor was
still attired In the costume he wore In
the last act of "The Bloody Stain."
While Valgrand was nearly blinded by
the beauty of the woman of title, she
in turn was disconcerted by the start
ling resemblance to Gurn his artistry
had made possible.
Intoxicated by the beauty of the
woman who had offered herself to him
In the short note he had received ut
the theatre, Valgrand sought to press
her to his heart as soon as he hail
looked about and seen that they were
alone. Yet Lady Belthnm wns not to
be won so easily. To show her hos
pitality, however, she offered tho actor
a cup of tea. So eager was he that
he drained his cup nt one draught and
turned ngaln to behold the wonderful
creature who had acknowledged that
he had won her heart.
Without warning Valgrand felt
dizzy. A moment later he had fallen
ar Lady Beltham's feet, apparently
sunk In deep slumber. The narcotic
she had mixed with the sugar that
sweetened the tea had done Its work
as swiftly ns she hnd anticipated.
From the moment he had fallen to the
lloor, all power of resistance had left
him. Attempts to rouso him from
his sleep did Indeed render him con
scious, but it was the consciousness of
nn Idiot. He had partial control over
his muscles, but wns unnble to clear
his mind of the cloud the drug had
spread over It.
When the fifteen minutes hnd ex
pired Valgrand and his comrade
tt'pped on the door. Lady Beltham
was overcome with sorrow that the
hour for the final parting had arrived.
Gurn wns absolutely incapable of say
ing nnythlng. The night was very
dark and the two keepers hnd great
dlfllculty In getting their prisoner back
to his cell. It was only by dragging
him and pushing lilm thnt the two
were able to get him back at all.
Once within tho cell, the mnn col
lupscd. He lay on his cot quite un
conscious of his surroundings.
At daybreak tho door of the cell
was opened to admit tho vurlous offi
cials charged with carrying out tho
court's sentence of death. In the pro
cession were tho warden, the chap
lain, counsel for the prisoner nnd for
the state, several keepers, and tho
sinister executioner himself. To the
last farewells of his attorney, to tho
oxorratlons of tho chaplain, nnd to
the orders of tho keepers, tho poor
mnn made no answer. His wenknpss
they took for cowardice. They had a
deep contempt for him. They hnd ex
pected greater fortitude from Gurn.
When it wns seen that It was day
light the procession started for tho
scaffold where the guillotine had been
erected. Vnlgrnnd, the nctor, was
walking to his death without being
nble to protest. He was finally 'seat
ed upon tho stool where so mnny con
demned men had rested for their laHt
minute on earth. He was nn Inert
mnss, n lump of n man. Juve, who
now saw the prisoner for the llrst
time, wns not satisfied. The attitude
of tho prisoner was disconcerting to
tho last degree.
It didn't seem possible, Juve mused,
thnt this could be the redoutnble Fan
tomns. This por, miserable creature,
could ho bo the king of criminals?
The detective would have staked his
own life that this man would have
been tho bold, daredevil to tho very
end. instead, ho was was a limp,
miserable wretch about to pnss out of
the world without the slightest dis
play of bravery. Juvo was distinctly
disappointed.
Just at the very moment when the
executioner was about to cut low the
condemned man's ,hlrt at the collar,
Juve uttered an exclamation of sur
prise and bent over the man. Then,
to the astonishment of everyone, he
tugged at the man's hair. It came
uway In his hand. Juve held aloft a
wig for all to see.
Those assembled for the execution
were petrified with astonishment.
Next Juve pulled off the mustaches
covering the upper lip of the mnn
about to meet his fate, quite certain
that he had discovered the cheat,
Juve shouted:
"He's not Fantomas! He's not
Fantomas !"
The guards, the executioner and
the others stnrted back In surprise.
"It's Vnlgrand, the actor!" was the
next startling announcement the de
tective made.
The unhappy actor who had almost
paid with his life the penalty for what
h" had deemed would be only an cs
capade was escorted back to his cell
to nwnlt the Investigation which
take place as soon as he had recovered
from the effects of the drug.
Juve turned to Fandor, nnd ex
claimed :
"I'll get him yet. Fantomas shall
not escape."
(To be continued )
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