The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-01
ROGER LAR0QUE.
Adapted and Translated from the Fl ench
Of Jules Mary.
BY OLIVE HARPER.

But an bour later they heard slight noise
and saw Luversan creeping along toward the
house, always under the shadow of the trees,
from the side nearest the Villa Montalais and
saw him glide from one shadow to another,
saw him reach the grating, by which he could
climb to the window, and grasp the bars and
softly mount until he reached the sill and
then step over and into the room and creep
softly, slowly toward the secretary, where
William Forney sat with his head bowed
upon his folded arms and fast asleep. He
must have been asleep, as he did not hear, nor
lift his head, and the draft from the open
window fickered the light little and lifted
q lock Of that snow white hair.
Luversan held in his right hand a long and
sharp poignard, and as he advanced he lifted
1t high in the air and brought it down with
all his might upon the middle of the back of
the sleeping man, who moved but slightly
under the shock. Luversan drew the knife
out to strike again, and he struck ten. twenty
times III an access of fury, and when he was
tired he coolly drew the horrible knife out
again, as If to wipe off the blood His face
blanched, and his hair rose, and his eyes lit
orally started from his head-there was no
blood ON it!
At this instant he felt a heavy hand fall
upon his shoulder, and instantly he found
himself surrounded by five men, among them
the very man he had supposed dead under his
assassins knife
While they stood thus, each man silent, not
knowing just what move to make next, a cry
SO piercing, so loud and prolonged, a woman's
scream that ended in a ghostly wall rang out
through the silence of the night, and the sound
came from the balcony of the house Roger
Laroque had inhabited with his family, and
this cry was only one word:
"Rogerl"
Every one shuddered at this ghostly wall.
and Luversan said:
II am lost lost!
"Luvelsan," said Roger, "the only thing
that will save you is a confession
Contest What have I to contest You
Jaw all"
at does not relate to this crime attempted
ON me, but another one"
II do not understand you"
"YOu understand me only too we'll. This r.
not your first visit to this house, for one night
ten years ago you came here. You climbed
up, as you did tonight, in this very room.
This place has terrible recollections for you"
"Who are YOUR cried Luversan.
"You came here" continued Roger, "and
you saw man at the secretary with his back
turned. He did not hear you. Your two
fists fell upon his white head, and then
you tried to strangle him. After that, as
the poor old man struggled and you found
him stronger than you had thought, in your
fear you shot him, and then you left with
your pockets filled with his money. Larou-
cite was dead and you were his assassin"
"Who are youa What are you?" gasped
the wretch.
Confess your crime Here is NJ De Ligne-
ROLES, magistrate, and M. Lacroix, and they
both hear you. Confess, if you wish that they
have mercy for you later"
Tell me, first, who are your?
"You did not know me. It is true they
thought me dead Remember one whom you
commenced to hate during the war, when you
were courtmartialed and condemned for your
treachery, when you were Matthias Zuber.
Do you remember now?'
"Laroque! Laroque!" said he falling on his
knees, which refused longer to support him,
which movement brought him beside the
mannikin which Roger had made to receive
the murderous blows.
"Roger Laroque, after ten years."
All regarded this trembling wretch. He
was but too clearly the assassin. Pale, hag-
gard and frightened, he was an object of the
most abject terror. Yet Roger needed his
admission that he was the criminal Luver-
san saw his poignard on the floor, and in a
second he seized it and before Tristot could
prevent he had plunged it into his own breast
The blood poured out of the horrible wound
es he lay stretched upon the floor.