The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-07-23

they were mounted on two OF the
fieetest steeds, and ten OF the most
reliable servants were mounted almost
equally we'll. The country for miles
around was secured, but without
avail. No one had seen the beautiful
Marquise Leontine during either day or
night. The dull gray of early morn
ing had settled over the landscape
when the men returned from their
search. Tagged almost to death, Gre
goire flung himself into chair in the
library and ate his heart out trying
to conceive or imagine some cause for
this disappearance. Surely he had
done nothing to make her false to him.
He had studied her every wish, graft
fied every desire. No, it could not be
that; there must be some treachery.
Suddenly he looked up at Merville,
who sat opposite to him, the picture
OF absolute despair. Risinghe walked
across the room to his companion,
and said sternly:
"Merville, you have been q guest un-
der my roof. have noticed your
close attention to my wife, but have
passed it over because believed her
too pure to do anything that would
injure my honor. Answer me, as man
| to man, can you give any reason for,
any clue to, this terrible mystery9"
For q moment Merville seemed to
cover under his fierce gaze, but then,
recovering himself, answered bravely
enough;
| Marquis Leontine, answeryou as
a man, not | confess that | loved
Heloise dearly-as cousin. We had
been together since childhood. But,
if you would insinuate that there was
anything wrong between us, l answer
you no, no, mol"
Pardon me, Merville; was mad to
think it," and with a groan the mar.
quis sank back into his chair.
AS soon as the sun had risen a rigid
search of the grounds was made. Not
a trace OF the missing Heloisecould be
found until on the shore of the little
artificial lake, at q point where the wa
ter was deepest, one of the maids found
a book-the one that Madame had
been reading that morning-a volume
OF the poems OF De Thurset. Gregoire
seized it and covered it with kisses; it
seemed to him some part OF the per-
sonality OF his beloved. But still no
trace of the missing lady. BY noon
time every inch OF ground had been
explored, but without success. At
last Melville suggested that a detec-
tive should be sent for. At first the
Marquis was loath to do this, as he
was unwilling to make public what he
feared would prove his shame. Mel
| INy,l L.
finally he consented.
A telegram was dispatched to the
Prefect OF Police at Paris, who chanc-
ed to ue friend OF the Marquis, and
at nightfall quiet, business-like look
ing man presented himself at the
chateau. He bore Il letter from the
Prefect, recommending him as one of
his shrewdest officers, worthy of all
confidence. Perhaps it would be we'll
to let the detective tell his story in the
report submitted by him week sub
sequent.
I'M LIE Perfect-In the matter of
the disappearance of Nine. Heloise,
Marquise Leontine, would report
that Immediately upon my arrival at
the chateau proceeded to question the
Marquis, who appeared to be prostra-
ted with grief. He told me that he
and Madame had lived upon the
most friendly terms, and he could as
sign no reason for her departure. He
told me that the grounds had been
searched, and the only trace was a
book which Madame was known to
have been reading the morning OF her
disappearance. This book had been
found on the shore of an artiiciallake
on the grounds of the chateau OF
course at once concluded that this
lake contained the clew to the mystery,
but kept my suspicious to myself.
By this time it had grown late into
the night, and postponed my investi-
cations until the morning. Before the
rest OF the household had arisen l
awakened the gardener and told him
to procure ne some strong tishhooks
and lines. He did SO, wonderingly,
and then l bade him lead me to the
artificial lake, to the spot where Ma
danes book had been found. Reach
ing there, | examined the ground close
ly, and noticed slight evidences OF
struggle. Aboat was moored close by,
getting into this with the gardener, we
rowed to a position opposite the spot
had examined. The water at this
point was nearly ten feet deep. To-
gether we threw over our lines and
rowed about. We had been doing
this for some fifteen minutes when |
felt myhook catch in something at the
bottom OF the lake. | instructed the
gardener to throw his line over by the
side OF mine. He obeyed. His hook
also caught. Slowly we pulled, and in
a few moments brought to the surface
the body OF a beautiful woman. The
gardener threw up his hands and cried:
"My God! it is madamep
with difficulty pulled the body
into the boat, and rowed toward the
shore. laid my burden upon the
grass, and was gtooping overit to dis
cover if there were any marks OF vio-
lence, when | heard a deep groan and
a heavy body fall at my side. 1t was
the Marquis, who had just arrived up
OH the scene. My examination re-
vealed marks OF fingers around the
dead woman's throat and lacera-
ton at the back OF theneck, as though
chain had been torn from it. Bear
Ing the body TO Gte chateau, at once
summoned commissary and stated
to him all the facts knew in the case
the evidence OF a struggle on the shore,
and the suspicious marks upon the
throat md neck. When the Marquis be-
came calmer we questioned him asto
whether his wife had been in the habit
of wearing a chain or any other neck
ornament. He started violently, and
answered that his wife had invariably
worn u valuable locket enshrined in
Jewels and containing n portrait OF
himself on one side and a lock of his
hair on the other. Search was made
throughout the house, but the locket
could nowhere be found. Again l