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

handed to Lucien, who had at first appeared
much affected by its contents, but he after
ward had rallied and continued his plea
until death overlook him there. Perhaps
this letter was the key to the whole mystery.
AS Raymond sat thinking on this subject a
thought flashed into his mind.
"He wore his gown. have it here. Who
knows but that letter is in the pocketa"
That black silk gown had been laid away
among the legal papers, and Raymond had
taken it and folded it tenderly and brought
it with him to his little apartment in Paris
He now unfolded it and felt in the pocket,
which was made deep and wide to hold pa
pers of moment. There in the bottom,
crushed as that dead hand had crushed it in
shame and dishonor, was the note which had
killed Lucien as surely as if it had been real
poison, instead of the treachery of those he
best loved.
Long hours this poor boy sat with this aw-
full proof before his aching eyes.
"Mother, oh, my mother!" he groaned.
He had loved his mother SO. Now he found
that she had been criminal. She was THE
womanl
It was all clear now. Had she loved Roger
at the date of the trial she would have come
forward and proved him innocent; but she
did not, and that proved that this was ven
geance. And the dates Of the events in that
vengeance had been written on his mutilated
photograph by the hand that prepared this
vengeance. Laroque had told the truth.
Julia was the guilty one, and he saw all that
life held that was precious to him slipping
away, and Suzanne was lost to him forever!
It was not alone because he loved his native
country that Laroque had returned to France.
He wished to clear his name from the false
charge of murder. He was now in Paris
searching, searching everywhere, everything
and every place which could give him the
least idea of what could be the solution Of this
mystery. He haunted the club where he won
the so, 900 francs, but all to no purpose, and at
last he saw that he should need the services OF
two expert detectives. He remembered the
names and regulations of Tristot and Pivolot,
and he decided upon employing them. Hav-
ing now as starting point the explanation
that Suzanne had given him, he wanted to
find the man who had so resembled him as to
deceive his own wife and child.
So he presented himself at the pretty and
tasteful abode Of these two famous detectives,
and told them that he wished to engage their
services in difficult and delicate matter,
which should be largely paid for.
"You already know something of this mat
ter" said Roger, 4and you will remember it
well when tell you that it relates to the
murder Of Larouette, and the condemnation
of Roger Laroque for the crime he did not
commit"
"But he confessed himself guilty"
because the shadow of the crime he did
commit lay heavier on him than the one he
did not. Listen now until you hear the truth
of this affair from beginning to end, and then
would like your opinion"
Roger then began at the beginning and told
all we know, even giving the name of Julia
De Noirville, and when he had finished his
auditors, accustomed as they were to strange
tales, looked completely dumfounded.
"But how do you know all of this"
because am Roger Laroque, and have
come to vindicate my name at the risk of my
life. trust in your honor, and place my life
and that Of my child in your hands,"
The two detectives looked at each other in
silence, and then as by one common accord
they rose and offered Roger their hands,
which he took with a grateful heart, He
knew be had found friends. Tristot spoke:
ave must put aside as impossible the actual
guilt of Nine. De Noirville, though she may
have inspired it or have been an accomplice
in some way, but if we find any Indication of
her guilt we shall follow her up in private
until you give us other orders. Now remains
the club. Did you know all the players there
that night? It may be that there was present
an ancient or new lover Of Nine. De Nor-
vile. Think we'll"
II cannot imagine of any person who could
have held such position. The only peculiar
incident was that my friend the Baron De
Cey spoke to some one, thinking it ME, calling
him by my name and touching his shoulder.
noticed the man, as De Cey told me laugh
ingly of the rencontre. He was large, tall,
dark and wore his hair and beard as ! did.
His eyes, however, were different and the
eyebrows bushy. In the evening or in the
day one could easily mistake this man fol
me at the first glance. He had recently been
received into the club, and do not remem.
ber to have seen him there before, and as you
can imagine never went there after. His
name is Luversan."
"He is banker or broker or something OF
that sort, is he not, Tristots" said Pivolot.
"Had this man any good reason to hate
you9" {;
"None that know of"
"That we must find out. We will look up
this Luversan, as well as begin again from
the beginning, this time with a view to lind
the real man, not to search proofs against OH
innocent one."
II thank you with all my heart" said
Roger, ''more for my daughters sake than
my own. I wish her to be able to bear her
own name until the day she takes that OF an
honorable and noble man who loves her and
whom she loves. AS to myself, I should not
care so much, but would accept my fate as
my expiation for the wrong did"
sYou would be wrong, sir, for while you
were away, even now, do you know what
your workmen call you? Roger the Shame
full"
"Alas!" said Roger, with sob which he
vainly tried to repress.
Roger went home to await the result of the
search Tristot and Pivolot were to make.
Several days passed without sign or word,
when one morning telegram caused him to
present himself at their home
1--WE have not altogether lost our time" !"
said they, "and we have not accomplished
much either. Still here is what we have dis
covered. We find that Luversan is not the
real name of him who bears it, but Matthias
Zuber is"
At this name Roger started and his heart
beat quicker than usual. He remembered
we'll that name and the man.
Did he not fight around Orleanss Had he
not caught him in the very act OF treasonl
Roger remembered distinctly the letter VOW
ing vengeance that had been left for him after
this mans escape. If that was the same man
he knew now the motive, but how had Julia
known him?
Roger reflected moment. "Do nothing
more until you see me again, except to find
out all you can about Luversan's financial
position"
"What do you think of doingN asked
Tristot
II hardly know yet myself, but will Keep
you informed. must think this matter over
alone day or So"
In two days Roger returned to them and
said:
u have plan; it is so wild nd strange
that do not want to say anythi about it.,
even to you, until I see whether or no can
carry it out. beg of you to give me letter
cf the most earnest kind to one Of your
;,, l,o aynbopoa who knows InVorSoli