Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-02-23

"AYEl AYEl MIR. FAIRFAX"
brought, with the addition Of Lady Lydia
Broadacres, her aunt and their servants,
will return in the 'Namovna.' 1t is now two
o'clock By five o'clock precisely they must
be ready to start"
cave, ave, Mr.. Fairfax. That's bust
ness,'' SAID the worthy officer, his head
nodding approvingly.
But how was it that Louvait and Leroi
had discovered the whereabouts of Natalie!
Simply because the gentleman who had
seen her at the village church the first Sun
day after her arrival, and had spent the
rest of the day pulling out her identity,
soon afterwards returned to his city home,
and, being a man of prominence, had been
interviewed by journalistic friend. In
talking about his summer at Mount Desert
he had inadvertently mentioned the fact OF
seeing some strange woman there who
strongly resembled the Princess Natalie
Radziwill
'+Of course" he added, laughingly, sit was
only resemblance
Nevertheless, a journalist Is often at his
wits end for news, especially when 1t must
be furnished at regular periods; and this
especial journalist at that particular time,
CHANGED to be in that predicament. Thus
it happened that his weekly letter to a Lon
don society paper contained, among others,
this little item:
ga woman bearing a strong resemblance
to the Princess Natalie Radziwill IS at Bar
Harbor, one of our fashionable Atlantic
watering places. If she be the renowned
beauty, she has chosen to conceal her
identity under the nom de plume Of Miss
Rochefort.''
A random arrow often hits where a we'll
directed shot fails. ga certain man drew a
bow at a venture and smote the King be-
tween the Joints of his harness." And this
bow, drawn at a venture, sped its arrow
straight to the mark, which was Louvait
and Leroi.
Those two worthless, in their eagerness 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-desired,
genuine clue.
Putting this and that together, they made
keen and untiring researches, and each
separately arrived at the second conclusion
that no theory was so reasonable as theone
that Louvait, about month previously, had
written out and sent in to the head of the
police department of the governmental
theory that Leroi 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 name2"Jacques
Larue." He instantly recognized the hand
writing, disguised as it was. 1t was the
alias of his rival, Jean Leroi, who, in thus
getting ahead of him, had 'sbitten OF his
own nose"
Louvait looked up reflectively, 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 a tall,
muscular individual observing him in an
apparently nonchalant manner. He was
smoking a cigarette and carelessly leaning
against pile of baggage. Louvait instant
ly recognized Leroi in exceedingly clever
disguise. He saw, too, that the latter had
penetrated his own disguise. CHANGING back
at the sheet of paper before him, he reflect
ed, but only for a moment.
A steamer of the White Star line was adj
vertised to leave Liverpool late the follow
ing afternoon She was known as one of
the fleetest of Atlantic boats, and, even if a
day later in her start, would undoubtedly
overtake and pass the French vessel.
Laying the pen down, he asked, in voice
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 go.'
''Next Saturday.
~ will go then, instead Of to-day. Here Is
the money for my passage"
Forthwith he proceeded to register his
namo 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 q look of triumph
An hour later the steamer sailed, and the
deceived Leroi had the satisfaction of see
ing his great rival, Jean Louvait, 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.. Nebbitt 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 denoWement should be fully
as successful Furthermore, his own un-
furnished ram, fati xx>as or