Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1886-05-13
4 PARIS MYSTERY
By the Author Of "lfy Ducats and Ny
Daughter"
CONTINUED.
CHAPTER X.

The preliminary inquiry hau enued' I'aon
cas- in the house of detention, waiting his
rial before the court of assizes; and, 50 far as
could learn, there were only two persons in
ii Paris who did not believe him guilty
gabrielle Dumaine and myself.
/ cannot tell you how grateful | felt to
dademoisele Dumaine for having restored
ny confidence in Raoul before my evidence
vas given at the inquiry. But for that l
hould have been forced by the judge OF in
truction to become the accuser of my friend.
10 sooner had / seen in the journals the ac-
ount given by Raoul himself of his connec-
ion with the affair than recognized its per-
ect truthfulness. l congratulated myself
hat had not waited for this explanation
,efore declaring my belief in his innocence.
Had done so felt that could never have
ooked him in the face again.
After giving my evidence at the inquiry
IN experience / should not like again to pass
hrough-I went back to our old attic room
n the Rue Dauphine wanted TO be where
Vervthing would remind me of Raoul l
ancied that there, better than elsewhere, I
would be able to do the thing that had set
ny whole heart on doing. | avoided the
afes of the Latin Quarter in those days; they
we're full of talk about the crime Of Christmas
Law. such talk as no friend of RaourS would
Ike to hear. Neither did L read the journals;
hey all of them assumed Raours guilt as a
hing of course But before long the excite
nent caused by the murder of Meissner died
lway; a new ministry, new drama and a
lew domestic crime occurring one after the
yther. threw the affair of the Passage de
hazarin into the shade. Popular in
crest in the case was, however, revived
or time by an announcement made
n The Theatre. This journal stated that the
administration of the Odeon had decided on
bringing out at an early date Girard's
comedy, called ''Gold of Toulouse The adj
nnistration, it was said, saw no reason for
nppressing play of unusual merit because
he writer of it CHANGED to be lying in prison
IN a charge of murder. Indeed, this latter
act, as one of the theatrical journals pointed
nut, would be certain TO make the piece at
east a pecuniary success.
Some DAYS after the close of the inquiry I
obtained permission to visit Raoul at the
house of detention. The interview was much
ess painful TO either of us than had feared.
aaoul would not let me speak of the wrong I
lad done him-would not let me beg his for
yiveness.
"What you thought" be said, "who could
nave helped thinking it9 1t was | who was
20 blame; should have told you the truth at
,nce; that l did not is the best proof to me
hat must have been half-crazed at the time.
No, mol 1t is not you who should speak of
forgiveness; it is /. And you did not wait till
Tou had heard my story-it needed only q
word from Gabrielle to make you believe in
ne againm
"Ah, if you had but heard her speak,"
81 seem to hear her. You viii 90 to her,
Paul. You will tell her that you have seen
ne, that L am well and brave-no longer the
miserable coward that terrible sight made Of
nes You will tell her that!'
OF course promised. Raoul had said no
more than the truth. He was himself again !;
,alm, courageous, looking his danger in the
face with firnness that inspired me.
1T is a dreadful fatality" he said. 'If
you had seen how the judge wove his net of
evidence about me, you might almost despair
of ever unweaving it. Yet l believe it will
be DONE
at shall be done," answered; ''you used
to say / never thought, Raoul; but, believe
me, of late l have been thinking for you"
''My friendl" he said, and pressed my
hand.
''You will allow me to retain our friend
Sapinaud for your defensel know no bet
ter man"
'By all means"
"And you will put your name to this docu-
ment, which have brought ready for sign
ingf'
Raoul read the document: 81, Raoul Girard.
hereby authorize Paul Marsal TO offer a re-
ward of twenty thousand francs to such per-
son as may discover the real murderer of
Joseph Meissner."
my dear Paull' he said; ''twenty thousand
francsi You lest y