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About Lincoln County leader. (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987 | View Entire Issue (March 27, 1908)
The Roupell Mystery By Austyn Granville CHAPTER XXII. (Continued.) She set herself more firmly yet. The delicate fingers clinched convulsively upon the arm of the chair. "Do not ask me, monsieur. My duty Is plain. If you will not spare ua, I will be with him to the bitter end." "You cannot mend matters,' persisted the detective, "by staying here. My men surround the house. The cordon Is com plete. For the last time I ask you, will you leave this place?" "And I answer you for the last time, I will not go." "Nevertheless, I will do what I can for you," said M. Lazare. "It would be something to you to save your own name, would it not?" She glanced through the portiere giv ing ingress to the salon beyond, where Jules Chabot was just visible as he aat at the end of the long card table. ' Ills face waa deadly pale. He whispered from time to time with Goldstein, the broker. Her face flushed for an Instant. "What do you mean?" she ejaculated. "I am armed, madame. Take this pis tol.. He shall at least have a chance to save your honor." "My honor," exclaimed the unhappy lady, recoiling in horror from the prof fered weapon. "Put up your pistol. If I used it at all it would be to avenge myself on his "captors. Oh I my son, my son !" They li&U usvinnl UULUUm.IoU'y to tufi door of the conservatory. The detective turned and took her hand. His expres sive face was aglow with some profound emotion. "You have proved yourself worthy," he said. "The courage and devotion you have displayed in your hour of trial have given you a right to your reward." "What do you mean, monsieur?" "Come here," he said, suddenly, "come with me. I will tell yon something you never knew. Something that has come to me aa from the dead, to tell you that your Instincts have erred, and you have been made the play of cruel, designing people." He drew her hand within his arm and led her to the conservatory. They sat down upon the same seat where he had conversed with the Vlcomtesse de Valiar. "We shall not be Interrupted here. I will tell you a story If you care to listen to It." "Go on, monsieur," she murmured. CHAPTER XXIII. "The story," began the detective, "is of a young lady, countrywoman of yours. It waa years ago that this thing happened. She was quite handsome, very young, very romantic. and foolish. When she was eighteen years of age she met an American. He also was young, band some, but dissolute and entirely unwor thy of her love." Mme. Colbert-Remplin Inclined her bead almost imperceptibly. She was list' ening to the history of her own life. How . had this man brought to light the secrets of the paat which had, years ago, as she believed, been hidden by the lapse of time." "Yielding to the American's Importu nities, this young lady contracted with him a secret marriage. The result of their union was a child a boy. The marriage was .concealed successfully from the young woman's parents. By toe connivance of a Irlend and a pre tended visit to the country, Its conse quences were also kept secret. Shortly after the birth of her child the young woman returned to Paris, where she at tracted the attention of a very rich bank r, who, ignorant of ber past history, ought to make her his wife. It was more than probable that the lady would not have yielded to the temptation which was thrust before her but for two things, first, the discovery that her hasoand was worthless, faithless fellow, second, the importunities of her parents, who at that time sustained some financial reverses. It appears that the banker held her fath r's obligations for an enormous amount. A condition of the marriage was that her parent should be released. A divorce was secretly secured from the first husband." ."Yes, It was to save my father," mur mured Mme. Colbert-Remplin. He went on : "There was a little boy,, as I have said, the fruit of this unhappy young woman's union with the American. This child was given out to a nurse to take care of. "She was the wife of a loutish, Industrious peasant, and of a peasant family herself, but. she was beautiful for all that, as tome of those women are. The American fell In love with her. He was called way to the United States and was absent three years. In his absence something Toad happened." . "What had happened?" murmured the woman beside him. "The child entrusted to the woman's are had died. . On the American's re turn to France, she presented her own ihlld In Its place. Her husband was dead. There waa no one to contradict her." A great sigh went up from the heart of Mme. Colbert-Remplin. "Oh I" she cried, "can this be true? - My son la dead. How have you learned this?" " "Madame La Seur, who has blackmail ed you systematically, two days ago met with a fatal accident. Unable to see you he sent you In her last momenta a full -confession of tha Imposition she had so long . practiced upon you and Implored your forgiveness. This was taken by ber mesotnger to the gate where you usually received her, and was promptly seized by . one of my men. Here is the confession, from which you will learn that Philip Graham, whom you firmly believed to be jour own son, is in reality the son of b. peasant woman, who was the nurse your own child, and whom nn. .... ham married." .- But the extraordinary resemblance t ! I see it all nntv ITonr. ('..lian. was his father ! It was eany to deceive both him and me." 'Exactly, and othara k .n. deceived. Though Mudame La 8eur, and uui yourseii, was the mother of the boy, yet Henry Graham was his father. His facial characteristics and peculiarities are wonderfully reproduced in the person uis son. mere is but little remaining be told. For VOIirtwlf. run ti tint!.. ing to fear. This secret is known to me aione. I promise vou it shall ha inviolate. . But in CABA tha Hoa rtf ifins- habit or old association of ideas should soften you toward this man, whom, up to a few minutes ao. vou believed tn he your own son, let me tell you one thing. r.ven you will then admit that the course of justice should be no longer stayed." "What do you mean? I am aware that recaptured he Is liable to be returned prison. Is there aught else?" The detective leaned forward and laid his finger on her arm. Did you ever hear of the Rniinell mur der at the Chateau Villeneuve?" To be sure I did: all Paris was ring ing with it." A uuieuaeietM wuiuhil houorfd ranei't- ed, beloved, was ruthlessly murdered In v,- 1 . -- "Yes." The murderer of Mndama Ron nail waa Philip La Seur, alias Philip Graham." lie left her and went hurriedly to the door of the conservatory and namied thence into the outer salon. Jules Cha bot came toward him smiling. i We have been looking for you. Mon sieur Lazare. - De Valiar is playing in great luck to-night. You're not going to keep out of the way. He is anxious for his revenge." ' lie shall have 1L" resnnnded M La tere, quickly, "but I wish you would find Monsieur Colbert-Remplin and send him to look after his wife. She has fainted n the conservatory." And then he passed on into the Inner salon. Ah. here you are!" cried the Vicomte de Valiar. "You have come to give me my revenge, I hope." . "To any amount," replied the Swiss, and passing through the fashionable throng which surrounded the players, be seated nimsell at the card table. CHAPTER XXIV. It was past three o'clock. The cordon of men in plain clothes which completely surrounded the house of the Vicomte de Valiar began to grow Impatient. The first streaks of dawn were already risible in the east. A few of the guests, among them the Colbert-Remplins, had left some time be fore. But the majority lingered in the inner salon watching with breathless in terest the progress of a game the like of which none of them had ever before wit nessed. But four men remained at the table, for the stakes had been increased enor mously. Those four were Herr Goldstein, Jules Chabot, the Vicomte de Valiar and the Swiss millionaire. The faces of the combatants, for they were nothing else, afforded an interesting study. The coun tenance of each painfully reflected the intense anxiety of that moment. Two hundred and twenty-five thousand francs lay on the table. No one would yield and there was a call for yet an other increase. Herr Goldstein, with I sigh, folded his cards before him with his enormous, trembling hands. "I avail myself of the privilege," he said, "and withdraw." Jules Chabot, who acted as banker, than handed the broker thirty-thousand francs. - It was half of his original stake; the other half of which lay on the table "Tills bring our pool down pretty low," said the vicomte. "I raise it another twenty-five thousand francs." The other two players then each placed twenty-five thousand francs In the pool. The spectators could not but notice the excessive excitement of Jules Chabot. His hands also trembled nervously. He held good cards, but if the betting continued he must inevitably drop out. "I think It is my turn to call," he said at last. "I have my choice; I challenge you. Monsieur Lazare." He put down his cards and spread them out before him, the vicomte, according to the rules of the game, turning his head so that he could not see what cards either of his adversaries hpld. . When he again turned to the table Jules Chabot had left It and M. Lazare was sitting calmly awaiting him, with a huire heap of notes and gold at his side It was Jules Chabot's share of the pool, which by right of his superior hand had passed Into M. Lazare's possession. The vicomte was at loss just exactly wnat to do at that moment. He knew the kind of a hand he held was so good there were but two other combinations which could beat it. Was it possible that the man opposite him held such a combination? Or was he simply trying to trignten mm Into sharing the heavy stakes T A moment's reflection decided him on his course. He had left nearly one hun dred and fifty thousand francs aa yet nv staked. He would bet every sou of this ; perhaps M. Lazare would be unable to cover his beta, and according to the rules of the game he was compelled to do to or cease playing, for the game was what waa known as an unlimited one. tie look' ed his opponent sternly In the eye. He thought he discerned signs of weakening. "Do you wish to divide, monsieur?" "Certainly not!" came the quiet an swer. "I am prepared to back my hand. It's your bet." "I bet fifty thousand francs." 1 raise you one hundred the id francs," and be placed that sum au,j on the table. This seemed to stagger the Frenchman. It was the last money the detective bad, but the other did not know it. M. D'Au- buron's friend was Indeed a millionaire. The Frenchman arose from the table. 'Monsieur will excuse me for a mo ment," be said. "I do but go to an inner room to get some more money." He shortly reappeared, making his way through the dense and excited throng around the table, with a huge bundle of note in bis hand. They were different from any which lay on the table; they were of the currency of the second em pire. The detective's eye glistened as he looked at them and hi heart beat quick ly, a drawing forth one hundred thousand franc from the bundle, the Frenchman covered his last bet. Then he added, aa if desperately : "And I raise it one hundred thousand franc more." I cannot meet' It, monsieur," confessed the Swiss, "unless you accept my I. O. U." "No, it must be cash. That is only fair. I am sorry monsieur has run be yond his bank. It Is the rule of the gameJ' The Frenchman had hi opponent fair ly outbet. But the temptation to make more was strong upon him. The Swiss had already' scribbled an I. O. U. for fifty thousand francs and pushed It to ward him. The Frenchman was about to play, and hud iuised ljla Luii J fur that purpose when his eye caught the queer three-cor nered piece of paper In front of htm. "I can't take I. O. U.'s," he said. "I must have absolute security." tTben tbey saw the Swiss take from the pocket of his vest a small locket and pass It over to the Frenchman. "Isn't that good for something, mon sieur.' With his face grown suddenly an ashen gray the vicomte leaned over the table and almost whispered, as he clutched the locket in his shaking fingers: "Where did you get this?" The detective leaned forward and pick ed up one of the notes from the vicomte' bundle. "From the place where you found this. Is it enough, or shall I show you some thing else?" "What do you mean? Don't speak out here before everybody. Come with me." The two players arose from the table and, passing out . into the conservatory, left the money lying on the table, and a group of astonished guests looking blank ly at it. "They have both been crazy to bid like this," said one ; "they have doubtless gone to make some arrangement together.' .They waited for a minute for five minutes. Still the player did not re turn. They were in the conservatory still, hidden from the eyes of the men. If the wondering group at the card table had been there, this is what they would have seen and heard : They would have heard the -vicomte imploring vainly for one chance ; have aeen him offering all he had to the Swiss if he would go back, and give him one opportunity to escape would give him a bare ten minutes start. "It is more than I can do," replied the Swiss. "My men surround this bouse, You cannot possibly get away. . Such mercy as I may, I give you. It is better than the guillotine." He handed the vicomte his pistol, and, turning, walked toward the door of the conservatory. Only once he looked back to see the vicomte standing unsteadily by the fountain, a horrible expression upon his face. He looked around at the Swiss be seechingly, but finding nothing there which might bid hiin hope, said despair ingly: "Good-by; I thank you even for this." The Swiss walked on and reached the door of the conversatory. He leaned against the lintel of the door and wait ed. People were beginning to come and look for the players. - The outer salon was already crowded,, Suddenly a pistol shot rang out and echoed through the whole lower floor of the house. The well-dressed, excited crowd rushed toward the conservatory, The Swiss gentleman met them In the doorway. There was something In hi face that stopped them irresistibly, on the very threshold. "I wouldn't come In, iM were you. The Vicomte de Valiar has shot himself. He wa the murderer of Madame Roupell, the old lady who lived at Villeneuve," be went on to explain. "Oh, MonBleur Lazaret" "I am not Monsieur Lazare; I am Al fred Cassagne, the detective." Then they looked upon him and won dered why they had not divined It from the first, for It was a face well known In the shop windows of Paris. "You had better all go home," he sug gested, and they went slowly away, all but one passing safely through the cor don of police. As Herr Goldstein came out with 'the rest D'Auburon placed hi hand upon hi shoulder. "I want you," he said. "Another detective?" "Yes, another detective." They took him away unresistingly, and Cassagne and D'Auburon went into the conservatory together. There across the coping of the marble fountain, prone on hi face and stone dead, with the blood oozing slowly from a small wound in hi forehead and tinging wltn red the green leave of the water lilies, lay the body of Philip Graham. Nearly a year had passed away aino the death of Phllln, rjrahum Tha nhs. I teau Villeneuve. from it. Ion. neriod of gloom and mourning, awoke one day with Dells pealing joyously from it towers, its parks and woodlands smiling beneatb the radiance of the summer sun. From an early hour old Pierre had been awake, bustling hither and thither. He expected visitors, and long before their rrival, everything waa in readiness for their reception. The train from Paris was in at last, merry group met en the platform, and its members look carriages for the cha teau. The first one waa occupied by Dr. and Mr. Paul Mason. The second by Mr. and Mrs. Van Lith. The third by the mayor of Villeneuve and M. Delorme, the justice of the peace. The fourth by M. D'Auburon and M. Victor Lablanche, for the latter waa a magnanimous gen tleman, and could forgive a victory when rival had fairly earned it. It waa noon. Breakfast wa quit ready. The finest and oldest wine In the cellar of Villeneuve bad been brought up. The cooks were growing nervous. Still they did not sit down to the table. At last from the windows of the great drawing room they aaw another carriage approaching. "You may serve breakfast," cried the doctor. "It is he." A very dapper, contented looking mor tal alighted from the carriage and' as cended the steps of the chateau, a lady on his arm, a little girl holding his other hand. He stood confused tor a moment as they all rushed forward to welcome him; but recovered Immediately, be said : "How do you do, my dear friends this I my wife, Madame Cassagne; and here Is our little daughter Celeste." And In the midst of the congratula tions old Pierre was heard to say ; "E.-c&Vfast U served." (The End.) When In Doubt, Study Stenography ' 'When In doubt, study stenography,' has been the motto of the would-be business girl for the past ten years,1 Bays Anna Steese Kicnarason in tne Woman's Home Companion, "with the result that thousands of young women, never Intended by education, training or natural ability to become stenograpn ers, have reduced office wages and over crowded business marts, while hundreds of their sisters, who would develop Into admirable office workers, have drawn back, alarmed by the ever-Increasing army of Incompetents. "There is room In the business world for the competent, earnest stenograph er, and opportunities tor advancement were never better nor more numerous than to-day. There is no reason at all for the existence of the incompetent worker. She will find thousands there before her. "Please bear tn mind that stenogra phy Is a trade, and you must work at It months, and even years, before you bo come an expert and draw the same sal ary an expert milliner or fitter does. There Is no royal road to success In stenography simply because your par ents can afford to pay for your lessons. Many of my correspondents seem to think that they can skim through a business course just as they skimmed through school, without carrying away any thoroughly grounded Information. My dear girls, some of you have fooled all your teachers all the years you went to school, but you cannot fool the man who pays your salary. The teach er was paid to do the best she could by you as a scholar, but your employer will pay you to Rive the best possible results fob!s "business, and If you do not give them, he will And some one who can." gllffhtlr Mixed. An Australian travelling In Japan fell into a mixed company In which was an English girl and an American woman. He made himself agreeable to the Amer ican at the start, she relates In ber ac count of "A Woman Alone In the Heart of Japan," by remembering that Amer icans are accustomed to ride over Ni agara Falls In tubs. Then he switched to the War of the Revolution. "The whole thing was," he snld.'that the colonies refused to send England troops to old her In a foreign war, so the motherland resolved to subdue her naughty children." "I guess you have confused it with the war In Africa," said the American. "The Boer War hns been so long-drawn-out, .you thought It was the same as the American Revolution." The little English girl saw there was a misunderstanding somewhefe. "There was something about stamps In It," she suggested, weakly, "that caused some of the trouble." "Something about stamps cause a revolution?" demanded the Australian. "Do you mean a stampede? Or mere ly Dostaaro-stamps? Did the rage for collecting exist In those days?" - But no one enlightened him on this, and he was left to assort history to suit himself. The Daughter Balked. "I thought," . said old Groucherly, "that I could save money by refusing to give my consent to my daughter's marriage with young Hugglns, but It's no go." "What's the trouble?" queried the friend of the family. "She declines to elope,"' explained the old man, with a large, open-face sigh. "SPIRIT OF THE GOLDEN WEST All Oregon Represented by Floats In dicative of Its Resources. Portland's gteat annual institulon. the Rose Festival, which was inaugu rated last Jon under such auspicious oireumitraces, will, this coming Jane, be consummated on a scale so broad and grand that it will have a general appeal to the whole state of Orgeon, and aa individual appeal to every com munity in the commonwealth. The grand jubilee, whioh will be one round of pleasure for the whole week begin ning Monday, June 1, and ending in a blaze of glory the following Saturday night, is not for Portland or Portland people alone. Oo of its most spectacular and bril liant features is to be the magnificent street pageant. This is a competitive event open to all oitlea and towns of Oregon outside of the Rose City. There will be grand prises, the capital prise being a princely sum in cash with a number of oostly - souvenir cups and other trophies of great value and beauty. Up to the present time about rO eities and towns of Oregon have been heard from, each showing great inter est in the special state parade, and several of these towns, through their business organisations and "boosting" club, have sent representatives to this oity to confer with the Festival manage ment with reference to character of the floats which will make the most effect ive showing for their communities. - The Festival association has secured the services of a master float builder from the East, who is now here with a corps of assistant ready to advise with all who desire to enter the lists. The railroads of Oregon, and the whole West, in faot, are planning to give special reduced rates on all lines, good for the whole week of the Festi val. Special low rates from Portland to all polnta in Oreogn. Every town in Oregon is Invited to enter some characteristic float in the "All Oregon" parade, and the Festival association invites corespondenoe and personal conference with cities and towns, large and small, in this all im portant matter. Publications for Farmers. The following publications of interest to farmers and others have been Issued by the Agricultnral department of the federal government and will be fur nished free, so long as they are avail able, except where otherwise noted, upon application to the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C: Bulletin No. 119. Report of Irriga tion Investigations for 1901, nnder di rection of Elwood Mead, chief of irriga tion investigations. Pp. 401, pis. 64, figs. 12. Price 50 cents. This is the third of the annual reports of the irri gation investigations of this office. It deals chiefly with the duty of water, but contains also reports from (our sta tions in tne humid states, where irriga tion Is not a necessity, but a means of increasing the returns from farm lsnds; a report on the underground water sup ply of the Ban Bernardino valley Cali fornia, and the second progress report , on silt measurements. Bulletin No. 86. The Use of Water in Irrigation. Report of investigations made In 1899, nnuer the auverpision of Elwoed Mead, expert in charge, and 0. T. Johnston, aseleatnt. Pp. 263, pis. 50, figs. IB. Price 80 cents. This bul letin explains the methods in use in the arid states in the distribution and use of water in irrigation. It gives a large number of measurements made to determine the duty of water and the losses by seepage and evaporation from canals, and discusses the methods by which the water supply may be more effectively and economically utilized in the production of crops. ' Bulletin No. 104. Report of Irriga tion Investigations for 1900, nndez su pervision of Elwood Mead, expert in charge of irrigation investigations... Pp. 834, pis. 25, figs. 29. Price 60 cents. This report covers the second year of investigations relating especially to the duty of water. The report of the field agents contain also a large amount of information on laws and customs, agri cultural methods, crop returns and other subjects related to Irrigation. A progress report on the quantities of silt carried by a number of southern rivers Is also contained in this volume. Idaho Com Show. On the 2d, 3d and 4th of December, 1908, there will be held at Moscow a state corn show under the management of the Idaho Agronomy association. Not only will there be a show, but also a rousing program, which in itself wonld pay the farmer to oome to Moscow. The subject of com will be taken up and discussed from a practical and sci entific point of view; the loll will be considered in Hi different phases; irri gation and dry farming will be talked about and the various live stock, dairy and horticultural subjects will be con sidered. There will be some good premiums offered to the winners of the show. Now la the time to begin preparing by planting some good corn and getting in t line. Tell your neighbors about It. Do not forget the date. Mark thosa days on your calendar and plan to come. Tor further information address, R. K. Hyslop, Superintendent Idaho Ag , onomy Association, Mosoow, Idaho.