The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-03-07
ROGER LAROQUH.
Adapted and Translated from tho French
Of Jules Mary.
BY OLIVE HARFEl
CHAP ER VI.


it happened that julia and IIenrette, his
wife, met frequently, at one house or the
other. Lucien was as far as ever from re-
alizing the truth. and II ,tiie.te never sus-
pected it. Every time Jniia and Roger met,
when they could not speak, her eyes suppl
Gated him, but he remained inlexible.
Lucien's health IL manned very delicate, and
had it not been for Il few fortunate specula-
tions he male under tho direction OF broker
named Luveisan he mi ssht have been in real
need.
The war had been well niga fatal also to
Rogers business, and it was with great dill
Guilty that he could meet his Obligations and
keep his business going until the summer of
1872, when our story opens.
1t was just at this juncture and under these
circumstances that La.ouette claimed the
payment of the money which SO distressed
Roger to pay.
Wher Larouette had come into possession
of his uncle's fortune, one afternoon a young
man of 25 years or Observation-Disclosures, dark
complexioned, with wide shoulders-presented
himself at tho lawyers house and asked to
see Mime De Noirvillc. lie was the broker
with whom Lucien had Lad relations in his
recent speculations. Julia knew him by sight,
having met him before in her husbands room.
And one day, while he was waiting to be re-
ceived by M. De Noirville, he stood with his
back turned as she entered the room. She
thought it was Roger Laroquo who was
standing there, and sprang forward, saying:
"Roger, one word"
He turned, and she gave cry OF surprise
It was Luversan. The same carriage OF the
head, tho same height and build, same beard
and hair, but there ended the resemblance
The eyes were hard, the noso larger, with
narrow nostiils, tho forehead lower anu the
eyebrows bushier.
Who was this man? Clever, sharp, with
out scruples, he began his career as employe
in commercial house. They saw him about
the Louvre year. Then came the war and
lie had disappeared He had drifted from
one army to the other, spying for French
and Germans alike, for whoever paid him
best, having one object in view-to get rich
and to launch himself into grand business
as soon as peace was declared.
During the days preceding the baltic Of
Culmiers, Rogers, then officer of the commits
sary, was following road near the forest Of
Marchenoir, having been sent out with small
accommodating party, numbering about thirty
men, commanded by lieutenant. peasant
ran toward them and told them that guard
of Prussian infantry, composed of some
twenty men, hal just installed themselves at
a farm about two miles further on, and were
annoying the people. The lieutenant placed
full confidence in this man, but Roger felt
that he was not sincere, and watching his
chance managed to get beside him, and hold
ing cooked revolver in his hand, said:
"If find you have deceived me will blow
your brains out"
The peasant, a great broad shculdered,
dark complexioned nan, said nothing, but
looked at Roger as if he knew him. They
reached the farm and surrounded it. After
making slight show of resistance the Prus-
slams laid down their arms, and the French
were so sure of their victory that they were
thrown Off their guard, when, like sudden
burst of fame the cellars, the stables and
barns poured forth 200 men, who surrounded
the French in an instant. Roger, furious,
looked for the peasant who had led them into
this trap. In the confusion he had escaped,
but Rogers keen eyes found him out and he
sent a pistol ball into the traitors left
shoulder, which, however, did no serious in
jury. Still it served to arouse feeling of
revengeful rage, but Roger, after firing that
shot, managed to escape into the dense forest
Of Marchenoir. and lie at last reached his
command.
Three days later the German army, beaten,
had abandoned Orleans, and among the
stragglers who gathered around the French
army Roger saw the very man who had be-
trayed his comrades. He was dressed diff
ferently, had shaved off his mustache and
imperial, but all to no purpose, and Roger at
once seized upon him, and, in spite of every
effort to escape, captured him and handed
him over to the authorities. He was searched,
aud large sum OF German and French
money was found concealed upon him, and
though he made the most strenuous efforts to
prove his innocence he was tried and con-
demned to be shot Mt daybreak
His money was confiscated and he placed
under guard, but when morning came he
was gone. He had somehow surprised the
guard and 'strangled him, and, dressed in the
dead mans hat and coat, made his escape,
leaving these words on scrap of paper
pinned to tho wall:
ITO the sub-officer who caused my arrest
and used his utmost efforts to have me
executed: My turn comes next Remember
Matthias Zuber."
From this time OH Matthias Zuber, or
Luversan--no one knows which name really
belonged to him-fostered bitter hatred for
Roger. he only had pierced his treacherous
falsity, and through him the money for
which he had sold his soul was taken from
him, and no left destitute when he had
dreamed such golden, ambitious possibilities,
and, after the war was over, he had con-
stantly watched Roger in the hope of some
day getting his revenge; and now he was
seeking OH interview with Julia De Noirville
to that very end.
"You wished to speak with met"
eyes, madame"
IL am listening" said she uneasily, as some
how the man terrified her.
In few words, couched, however, in the
most tremendously polite phraseology. he
gave her to understand that he knew her
secret regarding Roger, knew Of the loan he
had made her, and how Roger had broken off
all his old. relations with her. He made no
secret that he hated Roger and wanted ven
geance, and he knew that Julia was only too
anxious herself to be revcnged In vain she
tried to deny She was obliged to bow her
head
@well,, said she, 1but wait two or three
days. will make one last effort, and IL that
does not succeed will join with you"
Julia saw Roger and said:
"Roger, are you determined to break my
bearts love you so much, Roger. No ono