The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-05-17

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AYE! AYE! Mr.. PAIRFAx..
beauty, she has chosen to conceal her
identity under the nom de plume Of Miss
Rochefort''
A random arrow often hits where we'll
directed shot fails. "A certain man drew q
bow at q venture and smotc the King be-
tween the joints OF his harness. And this
bow, drawn at venture. sped its arrow
straight to the mark. which was Louvait
and Leroi.
Those two worthless, in their cagerness to
get information relative to the mysterious
case, were in the habit of perusing all the
prominent dailies. They both read the fore
going item, and Immediately arrived at the
conclusion that it furnished the long
genuine clue.
keen and untiring researches. and each
separately arrived at the second conclusion
| that no theory was SO reasonable as the one
that Louvait. about month previously, had
written out and sent in to the head Of the
police department Of the government a
theory that Lcroi by dint of patient toll had
evolved some time later. To Louvait it had
come as an inspiration. But whatever the
manner In which it arrived, conviction re-
manned with both. Each knew that he pos
sessed the right clue, and an angel from
Heaven could not have persuaded him to the
contrary.
A steamer was to sail from Havre the
very next day. Louvait resolved to risk all
and to take passage upon her. His assistant
was given sole charge of affairs during his
masters absence.
Louvait went to the steamship agent, and
was about to enter fictitious name upon
the passenger list, when his attention was
| attracted by the previous name-.Jacques
Larue.' He instantly recognized the hand
| writing, disguised as it was It was the
alias Of his rival, Jean Leroi, who, in thus
getting ahead Of him, had .bitten of his
| own nose"
Louvait looked up reiectively, apparently
debating the pros and cons Of some question
in his mind. but in reality carefully scanning
| all the passengers.
| Not twenty feet from him stood . tall,
muscular individual observing him in an
| apparently nonchalant manner. He was
| smoking cigarette and carclessly leaning
against pile Of baggage. Louvait instant
" recognized Leroi in an exceedingly clever
disguise. He saw, too, that the latter had
penetrated his own disguise. Glancing back
at the sheet of paper before him, he reflect
cd, but only for moment.
A steamer Of the White Star line was ad-
vertised to leave Liverpool late the follow
ing afternoon. She was known as one Of
the neetest of Atlantic boats, and, even If q
day later in her start, would undoubtedly
overtake and pass the French vessel.
~ s,, -
lowered apparently that none should hear
him, yet SO distinct that the keen ear Of Lee
roi could not fail to catch it:
when does your next steamer got"
''Next Saturday.
II will 60 then, instead Of to-day. Here is
the money for my passage"
Forthwith he proceeded TO register his
name in the list Of Saturdays passen-
gers.
With an absolutely expressionless face,
and softly whistling to himself, he went out,
casting . seemingly careless glance at Le-
roi. That individual was deceived and could
scarcely restrain . look Of triumph.
An hour later tho steamer sailed, and the
deceived Leroi had the satisfaction Of see
ing his great rival, Jean Louyait, left be
hind upon the docks-just as that guileless
creature took good care that he should.
Now for Liverpool! just twenty six
hours behind the Vile de Brest, the Ger
manic steamed out Of Liverpool harbor with
Monsieur Jean Louvait among her passen.
gers.
While these events had been going on
Mr. Ncbbitt was on the alert. Contrary to
his expectations, Fairfax had actually alb.
Quoted the Princess. Now that his young
friend had been SO successful in the be-
ginning Of his hair-brained scheme, he was
anxious that the denonement should be fully
as successful. Furthermore, his own un-
furnished reputation was at stake.
He knew well that both Louvait and Lcroi
suspected him OF completely in the affair.
Both men had been imprudent enough TO
visit him in their Official capacity with re-
gard to the matter. And he knew them to be
men Of immense resources, energy and dis
elimination, and, accordingly, he took care
to post himself as much as possible upon
their doings.
Lattcrly they had both been unusually
quiet. Nebbitt suspected mischief.
One morning he came across a paragraph
in o London paper nearly eight days old. 1t
was the item from the pen Of the American
correspondent. He read it. and knew i'm
mediately what 1t meant. 1t meant that Lee
roi and Louvait were already on their way
to America.
with the police authorities at st. Malo and at
ST. Brieux, he learned from the former that
Louvait was ''absent, and might not be back
for weeks" From st. Brieux came SINH
lar response as regards Leroi
This, then, cxplains the fact Of Leroi and
Louvait being on their way to New York,
and also Of Mr.. Nebbitt's sudden and impcr-
alive telegram to his captain.
Let US hear the adventures of these two
cnterprisin, Frcnchmen.
The Germanic arrived in New York har-
Dor early one afternoon As she was steam
ing up the bay another vessel, flying the
French flag, followed short distance be-
hind her. Louyait scanned the vessel
carefully through 0 pair Of powerful field
glasses. 1t was the Vile de Brest, and
among her passengers he distinguished the
form Of his rival, Leroi.
All! said he grimly to himself, ''you are
clever, my friend, but have beaten you this
time"
Nevertheless. he was too cautious to pre-
sumo upon Lerois ignorance Of his presence
in America. Jean Leroi invariably took
every conceivable precaution TO ensure sue
cess, and none better than Jean Louvait
knew this.
He studied the Railway Guide Book This
told him that the only proper route to Bar
Harbor was ria the Fall River line from
New York to Boston; thence by way Of
either the Eastern or Western Division of
the Boston g. Maine railroad to Portland,
Me-, where he would be transferred to the
Maine Central railroad, which route would
lead him directly to Bar Harbor.
One Of the Fall River steamers left New
York at $50 p. m, another at 6: 10 p. m
Lerois extreme caution he knew would
lead that man to sail by the former. Could
he himself only take the latter, there would
be just time to run down to the dock where
the 'Namovna" was moorod, and there
make few investigations.
Again he inspected the Railway Guide.
Passengers by the first boat were due in
Boston at $50 the next morning; those by
the second at 900 O. Must fifteen min
utes before the famous "Vestibule" train
left for Bar Harbor.
swell, let Leroi take the first boat, II he
wants to. I'll risk myself by the next, and
got there In plenty Of time"
Win that he hastened 70 view tho yacht