e *
s
C H A P T E R V I I I . — (C o n tin u e d .)
" I ’m a fra id , d o ctor, you would not
m ak e a very good detective.
R ecollect
th a t In n in e cases o u t of ten , the obvious
re a so u is alw a y s th e w rong one. A sm a rt
v illa in , w ho know s enough to carry glass
• tile tto s , a n d how to use them skillfully,
w o u ld n o t have u n n ecessarily alarm ed
th e household by firing a pistol in the
d ead of n ig h t. Oh. n o ! he would sim ply
h av e sm o th ered the w om an, alread y in se n
sib le an d u n resistin g , w ith a pillow , or
choked h er to d e a th ."
" I see, I see," acquiesced th e p h y si
cian . ‘‘Go o n ."
‘‘L et us assum e, now , th a t th is u n
know n perso n en tered th e house th ro u g h
th e w indow in M o n sieur V an L ith 's ch am
ber.
W h ile creep in g th ro u g h th e room
h e espies a case of p isto ls. H e h as com e
u n arm ed , save w ith th e V en etian stile tto .
B u t once in th e house, h is courage fail*
him . H e picks u p a p istol from the case,
sav in g , 'T h is w ill p ro te c t tne if I have
to proceed to e x tre m itie s.’ l i e p asses on
to M ad am e Ito u p e ll's cham ber, an d falls
to se arc h in g am o n g h e r p ap ers. She is
a w om an o f larg e p ro p e rty , a u d m u st
h av e v alu ab les. H e is not a f te r m oney,
fo r th e d iam o n d s w hich she w ore to th e
o p e ra h av e n o t been ta k e n . W h ile th u s
engaged, he is in te r ru p te d by M adam e
K oupell, who ru sh e d fo rw a rd to save her
p ap ers. H e ju m p s from h is ch air, o v er
tu rn in g it, a n d ra ise s th e s tile tto ; she
tu r n s a n d fle e s; h e p u rsu ed a n d sta b s her.
D o you u n d e rsta n d m o n sie u r? ”
“ Yes. 1 u n d e rsta n d ev ery th in g , except
his firing th e p istol in to th e head of a
w o m an whom he h a d a p p a re n tly alread y
p u t o u t o f th e w ay of h arm in g him . I
am assu m in g , o f course, th a t his object
t i i n o t m u rd e r.
O f course, M adam e
R o u p ell m ay h av e recognized him , a u d he
m ay h av e w a n te d to be su re she w as
d ead .”
“ E v en th a t w ould not h ave w a rra n te d
h is ris k in g firing the p isto l. R ecollect,
a s I h av e a lre a d y said, he could easily
h av e sm o th ered h er w ith o u t m aking an y
n o ise,” rep lied C assagne.
“ T r u e ! T h e n why did h e fire th e p is
to l? "
“ I t is easy to c o n je c tu re ,” re tu rn e d the
F re n c h m a n . " H e did it to d ire c t su s p i
cio n fro m h im self to th e ow ner of the
w ea p o n .”
“ T h e d iab o lical v illa in 1” exclaim ed the
d o cto r, a n d a p p a r e n tly so im pressed w as
he w ith M. C a ssa g n e’a th eo ry t h a t he k ep t
re p e a tin g th e p h ra se over a n d over again,
" T h e d iab o lical v illa in ! ”
B u t M . C a ssa g n e p a id no heed to the
e ja c u la tio n s of th e p h y sician .
H e w as
dow n upon h is knees, ru n n in g a b o u t on
a ll f o u ri on th e c a rp e t, to ta lly regardless
o f th e in ju ry to h is p a n tslo o n s. H is nose
w a s w ith in a n inch of th e floor. A t last
he sto p p ed in th e m iddle of th e a p a r t
m en t, a n d exclaim ed :
“ G ive m e th e k n ife.”
T h e d o cto r h an ded It to him . H e a t
once proceeded to c u t aw ay th e c a rp e t,
a n d th e n to dig fu rio u sly in to th e wooden
flooring.
“ W h a t on e a rth a r e you looking fo r? ”
In q u ired M ason.
“ N ev er m in d .” rep lied C assagne. “ W a it
a m o m en t, an d y o u ’ll see.”
H e k e p t on digging aw ay w ith th e
k n ife a s fu rio u sly as ever. A t last he
stopped, an d , still on h is knees, held
triu m p h a n tly a lo ft a sm all, oblong, black
o b ject. T h en he exclaim ed b reath lessly :
“ All r i g h t ; I have got th e bu llet.”
“ I f we only h ad V an L ith 's pistol
h e re ,” sa id M ason, “ th e evidence would
b e com plete, b u t it is in P a ris.
T h e d etectiv e aro se an d sm oothed o ut
th e ko ees of h is p an talo o n s, which be had
aad iy crum pled.
“ W e have got w hat is q u ite as good,”
he sa id . "G o in to th e next room an d
b rin g me th e o th e r pisto l. T en to one
th ey w ere m ates."
T a k in g th e p istol from th e d o cto r’s
h an d s, he pushed the b u llet in to the muz-
ile . I t fitted to a nicety.
" W e have th u s fa r," said M. C assagne.
"e stab lish ed o u r th eo ry successfully in
reg ard to one very im p o rta n t
point.
N e ith e r y o u r frien d V an L ith no r M on
sie u r C h ab o t had a h an d in th is m urder.
I t w as co m m itted by a th ird p a r ty —
som eone who en tered th e house unknow n
to anyone, an d who left it in a n equally
se cre t m an n er. L e t us see, now, how he
got aw ay , a n d w h a t m eans of escape p re
sented them selves.
H e could not h ave
m ade his ex it by an y of th e doors, be
cau se one of them led to th e room In
w hich V an L lth w as hiding, and a n o th e r
opened d irectly in to th e cham ber occupied
by M o n sieu r C h abot. T h e re is still, of
course, a h are ch ance th a t he re tire d by
th e do o r lead in g in to th e c o r r id o r ; b u t It
s a lto g e th e r im p robable th a t he would
ta k e such a risk , a s th a t c o rrid o r w as
th ro n g e d w ith people h u rry in g to M ad
am e R o u p e ll's ch am b er a t th e sound of
th e s h o t.”
“T h a t is so,” acquiesced M ason. “ H ad
h e a tte m p te d to escape in to the c o rrid o r
h e w ould u n d o u b ted ly h ave been eeen
a n d c a p tu re d .”
" H e m u st, th e re fo re ,” co n tin u ed C as-
eagne, “ have g o tten o u t of th e w indow s.
T h e m an I h av e In m y m in d 's eye a t th e
p re se n t M om ent would have been s m a rt
enough to ra ise th e w indow before he
fired th e sh o t. H e w ould be p a rtic u la rly
c a re fu l n o t to leave an y clew th a t he
h a d been in th e cham ber, for th a t w ould
e x o n e ra te th e o w n er of the pietol. H e
w o u ld c e rta in ly not h ave leaped from th e
w in d o w , because t h a t w ould have left
f o o tp rin ts on th e g r o u n d ; you will look
In vain for su ch . Yet he did get o u t of
th is very w in d o w .”
“ H ow can you tell th a t? " asked M sson.
la am azem en t. " I t h as been a lre a d y in
sp ected by th e p refe ct of police.
He
h a s also search ed c a re fu lly under th e
w indow , for I saw him doing it. I f a n y
one had passed th ro u g h th a t opening be
w o u ld eurely h av e discovered It.”
" T h e p re fe c t ie donbtleas a good offi
cer.",.-rsp lied Caeeagr.e. " b a t if he had
looked closer, h e w ould h ave seen th a t In
clim b in g th ro u g h th e w indow tbo m an
tn n e b e d th e d u st off th is g eran iu m leaf
w ith hie c o a t."
T h e d o cto r b en t down an d placed th e
leaf Indicated alo ngside one th a t had not
been tou ch ed . T h e t r u th o f th e detec-
tlv a ’a discovery becam e th en convincing.
U n a w as covered w ith d u st, th e o th e r had
been sw ep t p a rtly clean.
M. C assagne
sm iled w ith p ard o n ab le pride, an d . saying
th a t he had for th e p re se n t u o th in g f u r
th e r to ex am in e in th e bed cham bers, led
th e w ay dow n sta irs , first of a ll. however,
replacing, c a re fu lly , the se als w hich he
had rem oved.
T a k in g his h a t from th e rack in the
hall, an d In v itin g D r. M ason to accom
pany him . lie passed quickly a ro u n d to
the re a r of th e c h a te a u . A m an se rv a n t
w as sh a k in g som e c a rp e ts on th e back
law n. H e ordered him to b rin g a ladder,
and, p lacin g it a g a iu s t th e w all of the
c h a te a u , ascended it nim bly.
“ I th o u g h t so,” he called dow n to the
doctor. " T h e la d d e r will b e a r tw o of us.
Com e up. p lease.”
“ W h a t is it th is tim e ? " in q u ire d M a
son, c ra n in g bis neck so as to be on a
level w ith the w indow sill.
C a ssa g n e d irected th e p h y sic ia n 's a t
te n tio n to a slig h t ab rasio n of th e stone.
" T h a t w as caused by th e m a n 's shoe
when be leaped from th e sill,” he e x p la in
ed.
“ B u t w here did he leap to ? ” inquired
th e doctor. " T h is window is tw en ty feet
from th e gro u n d , a t least.
E ven if he
h ad been in his stocking feet he m ust
have left som e im pression, a n d you say
he h ad shoes o n.”
" H e reach ed th e gro u n d a n o th e r w ay,
th a t is a ll,” replied C assag u e.
"M o st
likely he ju m p ed in to th a t tree. L e t's
see if it is possible.’’
W ith th e ag ility of a sa ilo r ascen d in g
th e rig g in g o f a vessel, lie clim bed up
th e rest o f th e ladder, an d ste p p ed on to
th e w indow sill.
A fte r m e a su rin g the
d istan c e w ith h is eye for a few m om ents
he said :
“ I t w as a d e sp e ra te leap for a m an
to ta k e in th e n ig h t tim e : b u t recollect,
he w as a d esp e ra te fellow .”
T h e n g a th e rin g h im self to g eth er, an d
ex ertin g his enorm ous m u sc u la r stre u g th ,
he sp ra n g from th e w indow . A p ro je c t
ing bough nearly a dozen feet aw ay w as
hia o bjective point. H e c a u g h t it, an d
w ith th e ag ility of a tra p e z ist passed
h an d over h an d dow n to th e tru n k . As
he sw ung h im self a ro u n d th e b ran ch , his
eye fell upon a sm all, g litte rin g object
stu c k fa st in th e fork of th e tree. H e
picked it up, an d slid rap id ly down to
the ground, w h ere the d octor w as a w a it
ing him . P la c in g in th e p h y sic ia n 's hand
a sm all gold locket, th e detective ex
claim ed in a delig h ted voice:
" I ’ll h av e him — 1 11 find him now , if I
have to h u n t fo r him all over F ra n c e .”
J u s t th e n one of th e se rv a n ts a p p ro a c h
ed. “ I t w as tw elve o'clock. W ould th e
gentlem en like b r e a k f a s t? ”
" T h e g entlem en will h ave some b re a k
f a s t by a ll m ean s.” replied M. C assagne.
“ O u r labor h as been im m ense, o u r rew ard
o ught to be p ro p o rtio n a te ," an d th e ph y
sic ia n led th e w ay, an d to g eth er they
passed in to th e ch ateau .
e je a upon th a w ails an d ceiling. H u t n s
looked th e d octor s tr a ig h t in th e face.
"O n w h a t w as th a t will w r itte n ? T ry
your utm ost now to recollect t h a t ; a
g reat deal depends on it.”
"T h e first will w as not w r itte n upon
paper. T h e second c o n ta in e d som e slig h t
bequests to frien d s a u d to fa v o rite se r
v an ts.
I believe I w as m en tio n ed m y
self for some trifliu g a m o u n t.
In o th e r
resp ec ts th e tw o w ills w ere id en tical. T he
first one w as d ra w n u p by M adam e R o u
pell's law yers. S h e k ep t th e second will
a t her b an k er's. T h e first one rem ain ed
in th e house. I t w as engrossed on p a rc h
m ent.”
"O n p a rc h m e n t,” re p e a te d M. C assagne.
" W a s it a n y th in g like th is ? " an d he
handed a sc ra p of th e a r tic le in q u estio n
over to th e doctor.
“ W h ere did you fiud th is ? " in q u ire d
the doctor w hen he could sufficiently re
cover from h is a sto n ish m e n t to speak.
" I found it u p s ta ir s ,” replied M. Caa-
sague. " I p u t it in my pocket, because
it w as in a q u e e r place for a sc ra p of
parch m en t.
I found it w ith fo u r o th e r
pieces, in the fireplace of M adam e R o u
p ell's bedroom . O f course, 1 have a th e
ory. now, how they cam e there. I irat of
a ll, how ever, befo re 1 come to th a t, tell
me if you a re c e rta in th a t th e sc ra p s
w ere to rn from M adam e R oupell'» w ill—
th e first w ill, 1 m ean —-the p a rch m en t
o ne?”
T h e physician did n ot Im m ediately r e
ply. H e fu lly realized th e im p o rtan c e of
h is an sw er, an d how m uch hung on it.
"G iv e m e th e sc ra p s ," he said.
"If
th ere is any w ritin g on them I should
be able to tell by th a t. I t w as a very
p e c u lia r h and. I t looked as if it h ad been
engrossed by a n E n g lish sc riv en er. Yes,
th e h a n d w ritin g s a r e Id en tical.”
" I t is enough,” m u tte re d C assagne,
sw eeping the pieces of p arch m en t up
from th e tab le an d p u ttin g them c a re fu lly
a w a y in h is pocketbook. “ N ow fo r my
th eo ry . H e n ry G ra h a m is th e m an we
w a n t to find. M ind you, I d ° n *
co m m itted th e m u rd e r, b u t you 11 see he
is im plicated in it in som e w ay o r o th e r.
H o had e v e ry th in g to gain by M adam e
R o u p e ll’s d eath , provided she died in te s
ta te . H e m u st h av e learn ed in som e w ay
th a t h is s is te r h ad m ade a will d is in h e rit
ing him . T o g ain possession o f w h at he
th o u g h t w as th e only will w us h is o b ject.
If he could do t h a t , his sis te r, being ig
n o ra n t of the fact th a t th e will w as de
stro y ed . w ould go to her grave believ
ing herself te s ta te .
O n her d e a th her
b ro th e r could h av e com e fo rw a rd an d
claim ed th e p ro p e rty .“
I t w as clever reasoning. T h e d octo r
listen ed w ith b re a th le ss in te re st a s th e
d etectiv e co n tin u ed :
• A ssum ing th a t it is th is H e n ry G ra-
ham . let us see w h at he knew a n d w h a t
he did. H e m u st have heard of th e m ak-
ing of th is first w ill, an d som ehow o r
o th e r he m ust have learn ed of ita con-
ten ta. H e w as ig n o ra n t of th e m ak in g
tb e second in stru m e n t. Now le
t ue see
of th
—-----------
how he acted.
H e gained an e n tra n c e
to th e ch a te a u . H ow he did th is it ia im-
possible to S tate a t present.
I’robably
he m ay have been in collusion w ith some-
body in th e h o u se ; b u t 1 d o n 't know yet.
H e w as evid en tly well posted a s to t h .
m ovem ents of th e fam ily, fo r ha chose a
tim e w hen, a s he th o u g h t, they h ad g o n .
to th e op era. I t w as a m ere acc id e n t—
we d o n 't know w h eth er it w as o r not, b u t
WP will assu m e so— th a t M iss H a r r ie t
W eldon did n ot accom pany th e p a rty . I
am m yself in clin ed to th in k th e re w as
som e love a ffa ir betw een h e r a n d t a n
L ith , w hich a c c o u n ts for h is presence in
tile house th a t n ig h t, an d w hich also
aeco iin ts for his silence. You u n d e rsta n d
w h a t I m ean. H e w o n 't speak ^for fe a r
of com prom ising th e yo u "* Indy.
T h e doctor nw lded.
iat * *
said "v ery good, in d eed ; go ahead.
"T h e assa ssin w as a little disco n certed
a t finding M iss W eldon a n d y o d r frie n d
in th e ch a te a u . In ste a d of e n te rin g th e
house from th e fro n t, w hich w ould be
co in p arativ ely easy, he w as com pelled to
do eo by the re a r, ru n n in g th e risk o
being seen by th e se rv a n ts. H e g ain ed
M adam e R o u p e ll's cham ber an d proceed
ed to search fo r th e docum ent. H e r a n
sacked th e desk a n d th e n th re w the p a
p ers ab o u t.
I'n c o n sc lo u sly he sta y ed
longer th a n he in tended.
So abaorbed
wax he in h is se a rc h th a t he w as su rp ris-
ed by his victim . H e drew th e stile tto .
stab b ed her. a n d q u ietly
resum ed
his
se arc h for th e p ap er. A fte r a tim e, ha
found it.
H e w a s a b o u t to d e stro y it
by fire, w hen it o ccu rred to him th a t a
parch m en t w ould b u rn b e tte r if it w as
in sm all pieces.
H e s ta rte d to t e a r it
up. when he a lte re d his m ind, a n d in ste a d
of b u rn in g it th e n a n d th e re , p u t it In h is
pocket to be d estro y ed a t som e m ore fay-
o rab le o p p o rtu n ity . U n lu ck ily for him ,
in his h u rry he did not pick up th e sc rap s
he to re off.”
(T o be c o n tin u ed .)
- I t Is n o t t r u e , it is n o t t r u e ! "
B u t » till t h e c r y o f d i s a s t e r ,
n ot#
g ro w in g f a i n t e r a u d f a i n t e r , w a s h e a r d
a lo n g th e fro z e n s tr e e ts , a u d e v e n th #
la te r e v e lle rs fro m t h e c lo s e d sa lo o n #
h u sh e d t h e l - n o isy r ib a ld r y a s th e m e s
s a g e o f d e a t h w a s b o rn e u p o n t h e a i r
to th e ir d u lle d a n d b e w ild e r e d seu m * .
au d one c r ie d :
“ S h u t up, fe llo w s!
I t m ay be o u r
t u r u u e x t. so le t u s r e s p e c t t h e p o o r
c h a p s t h a t a r e gone. T h e y m a y h a v #
b een b e tte r m en th n u w e w ith p e o p le
to lo v e a n d c a r e fo r."
T h e n w ith u n c e r ta in s te p s th e y w e u t
o n s ile n t a» th e to m b to t h e p o o r d e n In
so m e c h e a p lo d g in g h o u ae t h a t th e y
l a i r th e lig h t in B ethlcui land.
c a lle d ho m e.
S w eet the songs of angel b a n d ;
W ith in t h e h o u s e t h e r e w e re te a r*
F a ll snow so lightly !
w h e r e t h e r e s h o u ld h a v e b een la u g h te r ,
Je su , born of M ary m aid.
a n d t h e p o o r w o rd » o f c o m f o rt a u d » T a-
In a n oxeu-stall w as laid.
p a th y , t h o u g h w e ll m e a n t, se e m e d com
O sta r, sh in e b rig h tly !
m o n p la c e In t h e fa c e o f a g re -.t so rro w .
T h re e m en rode from o u t th e wild,
T w e lv e s h o c k s o f so u n d c a m e d is m a l
C<une to g reet th e C h ristin a s Child,
ly a c r o s s t h e s q u a r e , y e t n o o n e In t h a t
F a ll anow so lightly !
l i t t l e g r o u p w is h e d a n o t h e r a “ M e rry
G a s p a r, M elchior, R a lta s a r,
C h r is tm a s .”
M agian p ilg rim s from a fa r.
U p th e p la n k - w a lk o f t h e y a r d a t th e
O s ta r, sh in e b rig h tly I
la s t s tr o k e th e r e w a s n s o u n d o f h e a v y
R u s tic sh ep h erd s in a row,
fo o ts te p s c r u n c h in g th e sn o w , a n d th e n
K n e lt beside th e crad le low ;
a p u ll a t th e bell. A ll t h i s w a s o m i
F a ll snow so lig h tly !
n o u s In t h e s tilln e s s o f t h i s e a r ly m o rn
T o ld of all th e angel song
ing, n n d e a c h o n e h e s i ta te d to a n s w e r
T h ey had h eard tlielr sheep am ong.
th e s u m m o n s , u n til, a t la s t, tb e g irl
O sta r, shine b rig h tly !
w h o w a s n e a r e s t to th e w e e p in g m o th e r
S p ice an d m y rrh an d gold of kings.
a r o s e to m e e t w h a te v e r e v il w aa to
O fferings ra re of far-b ro u g h t th in g s ;
couie.
F a ll snow so lightly 1
G old fo r joy and m y rrh
T h e d o o r s w u n g h a c k a n d th e n a Joy
F ra n k in c e n se for a lta r.
o u s v o ice c r i e d :
O sta r, shine b rig h tly !
“ W hy, F a ith , a r e you h ere?"
“ A n d la It r e a lly yo u , S a m ? ” ca m e In
N ow ell, N ow ell, sing we all,
Je s u , save o u r souls from th ra ll j
a n s w e r, a s tw o y o u n g
fig u re s w e re
F a ll snow so lig h tly !
lo ck ed In a lo n g e m b ra c e .
G oodw ill com es from God above
“O h, s to p t h a t n o n s e n s e ,”
B houted
T o all those who C h ristm as love
T o m , g le e fu lly , w h o w a s Iteh ln d w ith
O s ta r, sh in e b rig h tly !
h is f a th e r . “ I,et so m e b o d y e ls e h a v e a
c h a n c e to w elco m e th e r e tu r n lu g h ero .
" I n e v e r sa w su c h a h u n g ry hoy In H e r e 's m o th e r .”
m y lif e ,” s a id A u n t P r is c illa fro m th e
A nd th e n S am h ail h is a r m s a r o u n d
c o u n tr y .
“ W h e n h e co m es u p to th e th e l i t t l e w o m a n w h o h a d g iv en h im
f a rm h e k ee p s m e b a k in g a ll th e tim e. b ir th , n n d M r. T h u r s to n e x c la im e d :
I cu ll h im th e g r e a t A m e ric a n p ie
" T h a t 's r ig h t, m y Is'y . Y ou ca n h a v #
ce te r ."
lo ts o f g irls , b u t o n ly o n e m o th e r .”
BV JOHN W. RYAN
“ Y es. h e 's o n e o f t h e k in d
y o u 'd
T h e n so m e o n e s a id " M e rry C h r i s t
r a t h e r b o a r d f o r a w eek t h a n a f o r t m a s ," n n d th e sh o u t w e n t fro m o n e to
n ig h t,” a a ld M r. T h u r s to n .
a n o t h e r n s th e y th o u g h t o f th e G o d -m an
"O h , I d o n 't b e g ru d g e h im w h a t h e w h o h n d r a is e d th e w id o w 's so n fro m
I t w a s t h e n ig h t b e fo re C h r is tm a s , p u ts In to h is sto m a c h , b u t If h e d o e s n 't th e d e a d .
a n d h e w a s c o in in g h o m e. F r o m th a en d u p by b eco m in g a c o n firm e d d y s
" I t se e m s lik e n m ir a c le ," s a id th e
f a r W e s t h e te le g r a p h e d t h a t h e w o u ld p e p tic , m y n a m e Is n o t P r i s c i l l a .”
g r a n d m o th e r , w h e n s h e c a m e In f o r h e r
"A ll r ig h t, A u n ty ,” a n s w e r e d T o m . s h a r e o f t h e u n e x p e c te d g re e tin g .
c o m e E a s t to se e t h e Y u le log b la z e
“ ‘S u fficien t u n to th e d a y Is t h e e v il
a n d t h e f e s tiv a l c a n d le b u rn ,
“ O h, t h e r e Is n o th in g m ira c u lo u s
“ L e t m e h a v e so m e o f t h a t p o ta to - th e r e o f .’ J u s t ta k e m y a r m a n d I ’ll a b o u t m y b e in g h e r e n o w ,” s a id S am .
C8ke th ;lt B r id g e t u se d to m a k e ,” h e p u t sh o w y o u how a f a s h io n a b le c a t e r e r " I m is s e d t h e t r a i n o n t h e ’T . a n d W.,*
e n d o f h is d is p a tc h , a n d th e s p r e a d s a f e a s t a t so m u c h a p la te . a n d h a d to ta k e o n e tw o h o u r s l a t e r o n
o](j fa m jl M,r v a u t w tie n th i s w a s r e a d I ’m n o t a llo w e d to g iv e t h e p ric e , b u t t h e ‘X. a n d V.’ ”
. ,
.,
It's e n o rm o u s, lik e m y a p p e tite .”
“ W ell, P ro v id e n c e w n s w n te h lu g o v e r
T h e r e w a s a g e n e ra l m o v e m e n t to my bo y , a n y w a y ," s a i d t h e m o th e r, a s
" F a i t h , a n d h e o u g h t to h a v e sorne-
body b e tte r
n o r t h a t , th e c r a e b t u r e w a r d th e d in in g -ro o m a t th la , a s th e F a i t h s a t d o w n a t th e p ia n o a n d b e g a n
a f t e r b e in g o u t f o r a y e a r a m o n g th o s e h o s te s s a n d U n c le A r th u r le d th e w h j , a C h r i s t m a s c a ro l w ith t h e w o r d s : " U n
P h ilip p in e s , w h o liv e In t h e s w a m p s a u d so o n th e e d ib le s b e g a n to d is a p p e a r to th e e a c h ild is b o ru ."
a n (j a lt ric e s ix d a y s in t h e w e e k , b e fo re th e a t t a c k s o f th e g u e s ts w h o s e
h u n g e r h a d b een s h a rp e n e d by d e la y .
b e s i j , , , S u n d a y .”
N e w Y e a r ' s E v e , l l t S f t P,
„ S o fae g h a ll| B (.|d g e t,’ r e p lie d th e
E le v e n o ’clo ck r a n g o u t f ro m a n e ig h
h o m e m o th e r, M rs. T h u r s to n .
" W e 'll b o rin g s te e p le a n d s till n o S am .
“T o o b a d , to o b a d ,"
m u rm u red
h a v e a l i t t le s u r p r i s e p a r t y f o r h im ,
a n d h a v e all h is r e l a t i o n s a n d I n tim a te G r a n d m o th e r W h ite, w h o h a d s a t u p
lo n g p a s t h e r u s u a l h o u r f o r r e tir in g .
f r i e n d s w ith in c a ll to w e lc o m e h im .”
“ T h a t 'l l h e fo ln e l n tlr e ly , m a 'a m , a n d “ I k n e w s o m e th in g d is a g re e a b le w a s
iq ] h a v e to b eg in m e c o o k in g r ig h t off, g o in g to h ap p e n . I d re a m e d t h a t I lo st
BO t h a t t h e r e 'll he l a s h in s ’ o f e v e ry - a to o th l a s t n ig h t, a n d t h a t a lw a y s
m e a n s m is f o r tu n e .”
th i n g to a lt a n d d r i n k .”
«.yo u c a n s a v e y o u r s t r e n g t h f o r th e
“ I d i d n ’t k n o w ah e h n d o n e to lo se ,”
C h r i s t m a s d in n e r . B r id g e t, b u t f o r th e r e m a r k e d T o m b e h in d h is n a p k in . "I
C h r ls tn ia s -e v e g a t h e r i n g w e 'll h a v e a t h o u g h t
a ll
h e r m a s ti c a to r s
w e re
,
.
__ .
c a t e r e r , a n d t h a t w ill siiv c y o u a g r e a t lio u g h te n o n n p la te .”
A n d th e o ld la d y , o b liv io u s o f th e f a c t
d e a l o f tr o u b le .”
" I t w o u ld n 't he t h e ln ls t tr o u b le In t h a t h e r p e r s o n a l b e lo n g in g s w e r e b e
{be w o rld a n y t h i n g 1 c o u ld d o f o r M as- i n g c r itic iz e d , w e n t o n to r e l a t e h o w a
(e r s a n ,u e l. h u t ¡e t t h e c a t e r e r b r in g h is d r e a m o f h e r s h a d o n c e co m e tr u e , a n d
j ce c ra n ip g an (j |,l s s tie r b lts , a n d h is g o t h e r h e a r e r s In to su c h a m e la n c h o ly
BwaI<M>akps nrl(1 n i g | ve
th e
boy < -ondltlon t h a t th e y n e g le c te d t h e g o o d
s o m e th in g fit to a l t th e n e x t d a y , so m e t h in g s s p r e a d b e fo re th e m , w h e n s u d
th i n g s u b s t a n t i a l t h a t 'l l m a k e h im f o r d e n ly to c o u n te r a c t t h e p r e v a ilin g
g e t h e w a s e v e r h u n g r y a m o n g th lm gloom , I>lck C h e a te r e x c la im e d : “ H e r e 's
to to th e h e a lth o f m y o ld s c h o o lm a te ,
j a i l e r d w a r f s t h a t h e w ln t o u t
Knm T h u r s t o n ,” n n d fo llo w ed u p th e
ta o h e .”
A n d n o w th e n ig h t h n d co m e v rh e n to a s t b y s t a r t i n g th e c h o ru s , “ F o r h e 's
h ia a r r i v a l w a s a n x io u s ly
e x p e c te d . a Jo lly g o o d fe llo w ." T h is w n s In fu ll
T h e g u e s ts h a d n il a s s e m b le d , a n d u t b la s t w h e n a c ry o u ts id e h u s h e d t h e
H e rose to go. 'T w a s N ew Y e a r's e re,
• v e r y p a s s in g f o o ts te p t h e r e w n s
a so n g In to silen c e. I t w a s p ie rc in g . In
"O n e k iss ,” he begged, "m y d e a r.”
• b o o t, “T h e r e h e Is." b u t n s t h e so u n d s is te n t, o f te n re p e a te d , a n d b o re t h i s
S he coyly sa id , “ You c a n n o t h a r e
A n o th e r k iss T H I S y e a r.”
p a s s e d a n d d ie d n w a y in t h e d is ta n c e , m e s s a g e :
" E x tra
E v e n in g
M e rc u ry ,
tra in
t h e r e w e re l i t t l e s ig h s o f d la n p |« iln t-
Tre e s on the Ta b le s .
m erit fro m b ro th e r» , s i s t e r s n n d c o u s in s, w re c k e d o n t h e T . a n d W. r o n d ; a ll th e
F o r th e ro.vnl fa m ily In
G e r m in y
b eliev ed
to
have
b een
a n ij (b e c o m isin y
r e t u r n e d to t h e i r p a s s e n g e r s
C h r is tm a s tre e s » re p laced u p o n tab le»
k
ille
d
.”
T
h
e
|>eople
a
r
o
u
n
d
th
e
h
o
a
r
d
a n m e w h a t fo rc e d
m e r r im e n t,
h o p in g
of d iffe re n t h e ig h ts . T h a t f o r th e E m
t h a t t h e n e x t te n o r fifte e n m in u te * s a t w ith b la n c h e d faces. N o o n e d a r e d p e ro r is th e h ig h e s t, th e E m p r e s s ’ ta b le
M rs. T h u r s t o n
s o b b e d : is n e x t in size, n nd th e s m a lle s t la fo r
w o u ld b r in g a w e lc o m e r in g o f th e d o o r s p e a k u n til
b ell.
N in e o’clo c k c a m e , a n d t h e e x “ T h a t 's th e t r a i n u iy p o o r b oy w a s th e b n b y o f th e fn m ily . C a r p Is « erre d
fo r th e im p e ria l d in n e r, a tr a d itio n a l
p e c te d p ro d ig a l so n , n s so m e o n e so o n ."
T h e f a t h e r s a id n o th in g . H e p u t on di«h fo r th e C h r is tm a s f e a s t th ro u g h o u t
jo c o s e ly c a lle d hlrn, d id n o t a p p e a r .
“ O h , th e s e W e s te r n t r a i n s a r e al- h is h a t a n d w e n t o u t In to t h e n ig h t, h e j <’*rm a n y ;___ _
F rie n d ly A d v ic e ,
w a r s l a t e t h e n ig h t tie fo re a h o lid a y ,” k n e w n o t w h ere. H e o n ly f e lt t h a t h e
" C a n y ou su g g e s t s o m e th in g fo r m»
s a i d U n c le A r t h u r , w h o h a d b e e n a m u st d o so m e th in g , b r in g so m e lig h t o u t
to get f o r m y w ife f o r C h ria tm a a ? ” he
g r e a t t r a v e l e r a n d k n e w a ll a b o u t th e o f th e d a r k n e s s , so m e h o p e o u t o f d e
h a p s a n d m is h a p s o f r a i l r o a d m a n a g e - » l« lr . T o m fo llo w ed hlrn , f o r m e n u n ia t ask ed o f th e sh o p k e e p e r,
a c t w h ile w o m en w eep .
" Y o u ’d b e tte r g e t h e r a b o x o f cigar#,
m e n t.
, ,
,
. . .
I e x p e c t," an id th e sh o p k e e p e r.
"S he
A nd th e g ir ls g a th e r e d
a ro u n d
t h e WM ‘ n
t h l l m „ ru illg a n £ bonght .
“ No th e y a r e , so th e y a r e ,” ech o e d
P a m 's f n th e r, w h o h a d n e v e r b een a s tr ic k e n m o th e r , n n d o n e o f th e m c r e p t la c e
p a ra so l
fo r
y o u .” — B altim o re
i American.
h u n d r e d m ile s fro m h i s n a t i v e c ity , a n d c lo s e r t h a n «11 o t h e r s a n d s a i d :
C H R IS T M A S A R M Y E N R O U T E TO S T O C K IN G V I L L E .
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S c i 3* Fitch
W»i49 votes
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Sam's Christmas
C H A P T E R IX .
H a rd ly h ad M. A lfred C a ssa g n e »w al
lowed th e la s t m o u th fu l of h is b re a k fa st,
th a n h is a c tiv e m ind rev erte d ag a in to
th e m y ste ry w hich yet su rro u n d e d th e
d e a th of M in a R oupell.
W ho w as th e m an. a t p re se n t unknow n,
who had c re p t like a th ie f in th e night
in to th e c h a te a u , an d a s q u ie tly stolen
aw a y w hen h is foul w ork h ad been a c
com plished? A nd wlmt w as his m otive in
co m m ittin g the crim e? W as he in any
way connected w ith M. C h a b o t? Could
it be possible th a t th e p re fe c t of police
had stum bled on the real In stig a to r of
th e m u rd er in th e person of C habot, and
th a t th is unkn o w n person w as hia con
fe d e ra te ? M ost likely a t th a t m om ent,
som e officer from th e p re fe c tu re w as en
gaged in closely w atch in g C h a b o t's slig h t
est m ovem ents. T h e re m ight be som e
th in g in the p re fe c t's th eo ry , a f te r all.
M a tu re reflection convinced M. C assagne
th a t It w ould n ot do to d ism iss it w ith
a m ere sh ru g of th e shoulders. C h a b o t’*
accom plice m ight be th e m an th ey were
looking for. Anyhow , it w ould n ot do to
leave th e p o in t uncovered.
“ I m u st w rite a t once,” he said, p re s
en tly , “ to C liq u o t. C llq u o t Is m y a s s is t
a n t. W e m u st have him keep w atch of
th is M onsieur C h a b o t’» m ovem ents.”
M. C a ssa g n e w ro te o u t a series of in
s tru c tio n s, p a rtic u la rly c a u tio n in g his as
s is ta n t to keep tra c k of M. C habot. and
u n d er no c ircu m stan ces, if he ra n across
an y o f th e peopTe from th e p refe ctu re, to
let them re a lly know w ho he was. T h en
he a p p e a re d to be engrossed In th o u g h t.
W h y T h ey B lu b b ered .
H e rubbed his h an d s v iolently together,
a s if he would im p a rt a c tiv ity to h is
“ D id yo u n o tic e t h a t n e a r ly e v e r y o n e
b ra in by th e fric tio n . H e arose, th r u s t | In tile a u d ie n c e s h e d t e a r s d u r i n g m y
back h is c h a ir, an d began to w alk rap id ly g r e a t d e a t h s c e n e ? " q u e r ie d t h e le a d in g
u p and dow n th e room , sto p p in g occasion la d y .
a lly to ex am in e th e p ic tu re s on th e w alls,
“ Y es." a n s w e r e d th e s o u b r e tte , " a n d
w ith the eye of a critic .
" M a d a m e 's huahand le ft h e r very w ell I d o n 't b la m e th e m .”
‘■ Iton't b la m e t h e m !” ech o e d th e 1. I.
off. I should ju d g e." he rem ark e d a t last.
"W hy, w h a t d o you m ean ?”
|
“ V ery,” replied D r. M ason.
" T h e y w e re n e x t to th e p a in f u l f a c t
"H o w long ago did M onaienr R oupell
| t h a t y o u r d e m is e w a s n ’t r e a l ,” e x p lain -
die ?”
“ A bout fifteen y e a rs.”
e d tli# s o u b r e tte .
j c o u ld n o m o re d e c ip h e r a tim e - ta b le
“ And th e n she took up w ith th e
-------------------------------- —
| t h a n h e c o u ld r e a d h ie r o g ly p h ic s o n a
n ieces?"
ro m p e rls o n s .
I p y r a m id .
“ N ot im m ediately.
I t w as n ot u n til
"W h y do so m a n y o f o u r a b le s t m en I A n d "Ko th e y a r e , so th e y a r e ,” m u r-
th e d e a th of th e ir p a re n ts th a t M adam e t u m t h e i r b a c k s on th e p u b lic a n i de-
p , p rj- o n e e ls e , th o u g h t h e fee
R oupell w ent to A m erica to fetch them .” v o te t h e i r t a l e n t s to th e
s e rrli-e o f t i v l t le s In w h ic h th e y w e r e e n g a g e d
“T ell me w h a t re la tiv e s M adam e Rou-
g r e a t c o r p o r a tio n s .'
»oem ed lik e t h e p la y o f " H a m l e t ” w ith
pell had beside» these young ladiea.”
" W e ll." a n s w e r e d S e n a to r S o rg h u m , tfae
,,r | n oe | p f t o u t.
" T h e re w ere no o th e r re la tiv e s except
>j-e n o 'clo ck s t r u c k a n d s ti l l t h e a b
a b ro th e r, a d isso lu te c h a ra c te r, w ho fol " I s h o u ld n 't lie s u r p r is e d If It w aa tie-
low ed h is s is te r from A m erica to th la c a u s e a c o r p o r a tio n g e n e ra lly s ta n d s by w , o n e ha(] n o t r e tu r n e d ,
c o u n try .”
j a m a n w h o h a s w o rk e d f o r it a n d th e
“ p e r h a p s h e w o n 't co m e u n t i l m o m -
"A n d h is n a m e ? "
p u b llc g e n e r a lly d o e s n 't " — W a s h in g to n , n g ..
M ra M o u lto n .
“O f
"A s I recollect it, H e n ry G rah am , I
j S ta r.
c o u r s e h e d id n o t k n o w y o u w o u ld e ll
believe. A m an o f fifty or s ix ty .”
S t r i k e s r ,„ i d E v e r y W e e k .
| b e h e re , a n d h e m a y h a v e s ta y e d o v e r
“ W hen d id you la s t see thi* H enry
A m e ric a n t o u r is t In E n g a n d . se e in g In N ew Y o rk to see so m e o ld c o lle g e
G ra h a m ? ”
“ I n ev er saw him b u t once. H e cam e a f n rm la b o r e r d ig g in g n d e e p d r a i n : c h u rn s .”
" T h a t w o u ld n 't t>e a b it lik e K nm .”
to th e c h a te a u , on som e begging ex p ed i " W h a t a r e y o u d ig g in g h e r e f o r? " ask - j
r e t u r n e d Ills f a t h e r . " H e 's s good d e a l
tio n w hen I h ap p en ed to be here. H e e d th e to u r is t.
p re te n d e d to be very affectio n ate.
He
"G o ld , g u v n o r , ” r e p lie d t h e l a b o r e r. lik e m e. W h en h e s a y s h e 'll d o • th in g ,
w as a poor looking c re a tu re , q u ite broken
T o u ris t— W hen do you
expect
to h e d o e s It.”
dow n w hen I aaw him , a n d n ot a t all th e
“ Y es, h e 's a c h ip o f t h e o ld b lo c k ,”
s t r i k e It?
kind o f m an to com m it a d a rin g crim e.”
L a b o r e r —O n e o'clock o n S a t u r d a y .
w h is p e re d o n e o f fla m 's s is te r« , “ th o u g h
“ R ecollect th a t th e m om ent M adam e
liia ro u rx o i.
f
i.a tl • l e t t e r f o r
R oupell died he bad a n In te re st in her
L o v ely F ia n c e # - O b . G eo rg e. I som e-
la s t m o n th , a n d k e p t It In b i t p o c k e t
e s ta te . H e w as her n eareet b e ir-a t law .”
" B u t she h ad m ade h e r w ill, ahe had tim e » th in k I w o u ld r a t h e r d ie th a n b e t , , r n w eek.
disow ned him . a n d u tte rly ca st him off. I m a r r i e d !
|
“ W e ll,” a s k e d f la m 's y o u n g e r b r o t h e r
T h a t w ill b equeathed all h e r p ro p e rty to
O e o rg e — W h a t, d a r l i n g ! R a th e r d ie ? T o rn . "»’h y , a u 't « • 1*-*1n o n t h e e e t-
h e r nieces. I w itnessed it. I knew w h a t
L o v ely F ia n c e e — Yee, y o u d o n 't h a v e a b b s ? T h e i>e c r e a m h a s b een d is h e d
w u In it."
M C a ssa g n e began to g ro w more a n d to r e b e s r s e h a l f • d ozen tim e « f o r t h a t , " P th l# h a l f h o u r, a n d It w ill b e o n ly
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