Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-02-08

Forneys stories about his fabulous wealth,
yet he thought:
"This man is rich and an imbecile. He
knows nothing Of Paris He is like all the
great savants and inventors, no more than
big baby. He may be of great use to me if
manage him right"
Roger read his thought and ray of glad:
ness penetrated his heart.
"At last" said he, "at last!"
Laroque and Luversan met every day after
this at the exchange. At the end of q fort
night they were on friendly terms, and that
which Roger had foreseen took place. Lu-
versan proposed to Roger h plan of specula-
tion which required a considerable sum Of
money. Roger, for forms sake affected to
examine into it, and pretended to hesitate,
but finally consented.
Luversan launched the speculation, which
consisted in the discovery and working Of q
petroleum mine in Guatemala. Placed on
the market in the grandest style, it was
not long before the shares were nll bought
up. The affair he'd succeeded SO well in its
beginning that Luversan, now having the
means and q certain new consideration in
: the exchange, speculated wildly until, In
The very height Of its success. this -Guate-
mala petroleum mine was threatened with
disaster so great that it would swallow
up all he had in the world and leave him
after so many years a bankrupt man. And
this is how it happened. Roger had been
to the banker and said:
'Sir, on the recommendation Of Tristot you
placed yourself at my disposal. Ihave to ask
you to render me service. Will you do it
without question:
After hearing the service desired, the
banker hesitated. Laroque continued:
"You shall know all later have nothing
trate mystery of the gravest Importance, in
which my honor is at stake and will conse
crate my whole fortune to it if necessary"
''But if you are mistaken?"
II will then, if have injured him, repair
his credit Now, then, can you ruin Luversan
fnancialy2 Here are funds to use to buy all
you can get Of the Guatemala petroleum
stock Buy it and throw it into the market
suddenly, SO as to create panic in that stock,
and sustain it until Luversan is in the most
critical position. In addition to this sum is
as much more as you may desire. Use the
money without counting"
The banker then said:
"You wish Luversan to apply to you for
aida"
''That is it, precisely" answered Roger.
In the meantime, though he SOW no more Of
the banker for two weeks, he watched Luver-
san closely. He grew restless and nervous
and pale, and at last came to Roger one day,
saying desperately, ave are ruined, or least
am, for you are rich, and this petroleum
affair will not cause you great trouble But
the whole exchange seems to be set against
me. I hide nothing from you, for you are
also interested in this. 1t was my duty to
tell you"
"WhatT said Roger, as though astonshed
"Such fine prospect Of dividends SO snon to
have failed now I don't see through it.
Explain"
Luversan told him OF what we already
know, and then he stopped suddenly in his
walk and said:
"You hear, it is my ruin, if you do not help
me. must have money"
"Naturally," said Roger coolly.
"Can count upon you or notl"
"Well," said Roger, "a burnt cat breads
the fire. am the burnt cat"
Luversan bit his lips till they bled.
"But, I tell you, I am lost if you do not
help me-"
Roger did not refuse absolutely, but replied:
~ must reflect. This is a serious matter
and requires large sum, according to what
YOU say. No matter how rich I might he
I don't like to lose money I had confidence
in you and know little of those matters, and
I must reflect before I decide to put more
money into what seems to me q bottomless
hole"
"But there is no time for reflection. You
must decide quickly"
"Even if l do decide to let you have this
money, it would take me three or four days.
How much do you wantl"
"Nearly million"
"That is a good DEAL How soon do you
need it,"
ain four days at the latest"
"You can come to my country place, Vile
d'Avray, where have rented a little house.
/ shall make that my home hereafter, and
then we shall see."
"What is the number or name Of your
cottage?'
"The first one you meet will tell you. 1t is
in the Rue dc Paris, the last house on the
right hand side. live all alone. l believe
the last owner was killed there ten or dozen,
maybe twenty years ago, and SO the name OF
the victim was by common consent given to
the house. They call it the Maison Larouette" +"
Luversan sat down suddenly and his face
showed that the shot told.
$50, then, Saturday, at what hour2
"Wh:.tever hour suits you after in the
evening, as shall be busy during the day"
Luversan took his departure, restless and
uneasy, but this he attributed to the anxiety
about the money.
About this time the excellent old farmer
Dubois and his wife, who had taken Henriette
into their hearts and home, as if she had been
precious gift from heaven, received letter
from lawyer in Paris which informed them
that they had fallen heir to some property near
Vile d'Avray and requested their presence.
After much consultation with the cure, who
read their letter to them and explained the
nature OF it and advised them generally, they
made their preparations for departure, and
rs they did not know how long it might take
them to receive their Inheritance, they made
their rarrangementSto take Henriette, or Marie,
with them. Their trip took but few hours
OH the train, and before dark on the day of
their departure they reached Vile d'Avray
and engaged carriage at the station to take
them to the farmhouse, where their presence
was expected by the servants in charge, and
they went on through the quaint, quiet
streets till they passed through Rue de Paris,
and on out into the country. AS they drove
along Henriette seemed to grow uneasy, and
to look about her as children do sometimes
when aroused from Sleep and her little hands
clasped and unclasped nervously, and her
breath came quickly, and her color changed
every moment. She appeared so uneasy that
the old lady took her hand and said:
Don't be frightened. We will soon be
there, and when we have finished this misera-
bic business, we will 60 back as quick as we
can to our own valley. won't let anything
hurt you. Don't fret, dear little Marie"
II havo seen nothing; know nothing
nothing at nll," said Henriette, in her low
voice.
The three descended at the pretty farm
house and took up their abode there; but
Henriette could not be kept indoors, and the
good old lady put herself out Of breath sew
eral times running after her, as she seemed
by a subtle instinct to DO drawn toward the
town, and her inquiet mood was ve:y re-
markable in one who for so many years had
been so mild and tractable.
Eight days after tho discovery Of tho letter
in his fathers pocket Raymond went back to
Meridon farm. Ho wanted to SEQ his mother
to question her and render moro evident the
very truth itself. And Suzanne, it was over
q month since he had seen her. And he
thought Of her night and dav until thought