River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-05-19

tient TO PARISH"
Talking in this way they reached the
gates of the city. Before separating
the doctor gave his card to Mr.. Lam.
bert.
eau revoir," said he; "and perhaps
adieu, my dear sir. Let me hear from
you from time to time; and I hope il
we ever meet again, that you will re.
tain, as | shall do, an agreeable recol-
lection of our acquaintance. I may not
see you again, as my friend may not
be willing to go with you-adieu p'
Mr.. Lambert glanced at the doctors
card, feeling anew the embarrassment
of the possible night journey with an
insane woman, and regretting his prom
Use, in spite of his gratitude.
He read on the card:
CDR. de La Belle, rue Antoine; No.
H."
Mr. Lambert walked through the rue
Antoine and stopped at No. IL. 1t was
large, handsome house, with the an
nounceme nt in black letters on a brass
plate, CDR. de La Belle"
On arriving at the hotel he asked the
landlord if he knew of DR.. de La
Belle.
81 believe, sir" said the man civilly,
"that he is the best physician in
Rouen."
At one o'clock in the morning Mr..
Lambert waited with some anxiety in
the depot the arrival of the train. DR..
de La Belle had not arrived. The Eng
lish clergyman rubbed his hands with
great satisfaction-for he did not care
for this particular responsibility-whe
some one touched him lightly on the
shoulder.
1t was the doctor.
Seated on a bench was lady in
black, with her veil tightly drawn over
her face.
II have taken a COUPE" said the
doctor, $50 you will not be incommod-
ed by other travellers. Here is Mad
emoiselle's purse, ticket and little trav
cling sachel perhaps she will need
something. Have the kindness to show
her ticket to the conductor I have
telegraphed to Paris to her friends who
will meet her at the station. She is as
quiet as dove Should you find her
agitated give her a few drops of this
essence on sugar, here is the bottle.
Monsieur Lambert, Mademoiselle !"
He then helped along the invalid
lady, and put her in the corner of the
coupe. He then, after arranginging
her with great kindness, stepped out,
held Mr.. Lambert by the hands and
talked with French effusion, as the Of
tieials hurried passengers out and in.
II trust you will have no trouble,
adieu," said he, giving final word of
kindness to his fair patient. and ar
ranging her footstool.
''Oh, no! dare say not" said Mr..
Lambert, bowling to the lady, and tax
ing his seat by her side. "But what a
powerful odor there is in the coupe
will it not disturb the lady?'
''Oh, no 1 think not" said DR.. de
La Ba Belle; ~ broke bottle of CO.
logne as was helping her in. 1t will
all disappear in few moments"
The train departed; and Mr.. Lam
bert, who felt exceedingly wide awake,
and who found DIR. de La Bellies
cologne very strong, tried to draw his
fair friend into conversation. She
was separated from him by high
basket of flowers, the doctors last at
| tention.
The poor insane woman would not
answer word, and from her immova-
BILE calm the doctor concluded that she
was asleep.
When they arrived at Paris he sought
a long time, but could not find anybody
who wanted lady from Rouen.
| He came back to the carriage very
discontentedly, when, to his intense as
| constituent, he found crowd around
| IL. 1oIx cd.
sat. He went forward to see what was
the cause of the excitement.
Are you the man who travelled
from Rouen in this coupe?" said a po-
liceman.
"Yes."
"Do you know that this lady is dead?
You have poisoned her with prussic
acid! She has been dead for hours"
And the populace groaned.
The clergyman was speeches. with
horror He tried to clear himself with
all the earnestness of an innocent man,
but his story was most improbable
one. The police found ON him the
purse of the poor woman and bottle
containing prussic acid!
It was the little bottle which DR.. de
La Belle had forced upon him in the
train.
Mr.. Lambert, stunned, half dead, al
lowed himself to be carried to prison
without resistance-he was past that.
A day later he said:
"Take me to Rouen; l will unmask
the villain, he can never face mel"
Two sergeant de vile, with other
employees of the police, in plain clothes,
attended this dangerous criminal to
Rouen in the railway, and drove to the
house of DIR. de La Belle. Mr.. Lam
bert was sure that at the sight of his
face the assassin doctor would confess
all.
DR.. De La Belle was engaged at the
moment, and kept them some time
waiting. When at last the police be-
gan to be troubled, the head sergeant
babe them be calm. "The house is
guarded" said he, "he cannot escape
Presently there entered calm, elder
ly gentleman, with spectacles, which he
removed as he looked at them.
81 beg pardon for keeping you wait
ing" said he, but did you want me? l
am DIR. De La Belle"
Mr.. Lambert trembled from head to
foot, An abyss opened before him, OF
which he could not see the bottom.
This was not at all the man he had met
on Mount ST. Catherine.
"You are not DR.. De La Belle at all!''
said the unhappy man.
II think that can prove that am"
said the suave old doctor. smiling.
Alas everything was against him.
The English clergyman had fallen into
the most terrible snare laid by a most
accomplished villain.
They returned to Paris.
II wish 7 could meet him again with
his white dog" said Mr.. Lambert,
throwing his hands in the air.
"White dog, did you say?' asked the
sergeant de vile.
Some weeks passed, and the police
became convinced that Mr.. Lambert
was innocent, but they were yet waiting
for the real william.
Mr.. Lambert was taken blindfolded,
and in the night, to a house, he knew
not in what street, where he, however.
was well lodged, and where he was al
lowed to read and to write, but was
strictly watched