The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-18
ROGER LAR0QUE.
Adapted and Translated rom the French
of Jules Mary.
BY OLIVE HARPER.

;
shall send me shall repose unlimited confidence
in me"
Tristot gave him letter to banker, NJ.
Andrimaud, saying:
"Whatevcr you ask of him he will do.m
When lie presented himself at the bankers
house the latter received Roger with extreme
consideration, and asked in what manner he
could serve him.
"What ask is very simple affair, as far
as it appears Oh the surface. You know
broker by the name of LuversanP
eyes"
Enough to bring me into contact with him
socially"
yes; l will give bachelors dinner and
invite Linn here, If that will suit you, next
Monday ct T."
The dinner was given. Luversan was there
as also was Roger, and the acquaintance was
made. The two men were polite to each
other, but there was nothing more than the
ordinary exchange of courtesies. Roger
watched Luversan attentively. SIS he the
assassin!" he thought.
After dinner the guests began general con-
versation, and Iaroque talked freely of his
enormous fortune, which he had made by his
inventions. The banker, instructed by Roger
what part to take, had introduced him as the
millionaire partner of an extremely large
house in America
Luversan was far from suspectinp that
this man could be Larooue. Indeed, he had
almost forgotten his very existence, after he
had heard Of Rogers supposed tragic DEATH
lie did not appear to take much interest in
Forney'S stories about his fabulous wealth
yet lie 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 a
big baby. He may be of great use to me if l
manage him right"
Roger read his thought and a ray of glad
ness penetrated his heart.
"At last" said he, "at lastl"
LarOQue and Luversan met every day after
this at the exchange. At the end of a fort
night they were on friendly terms, and that
which Roger had fn"oSocn took place Lu-
versan proposed t. n plan Of -, ala
ton which reqs crable
money. Roger, eff, =
examine into it. to Il. Il
but finally consela
Luvcrsan launch, ntion, i,.b
consisted i'll the disco Jerking
petroleum mine in Gu, Place,
the market in the graz vi
not long before the shares were -,
up. The affair he'd succeeded 20 wei n II
beginning that Luversan, now having the
means and certain new consideration in
tie exchange, speculated wildly until, in
the very height Of its success, this Guate-
mala petroleum mine was threatened with
q disaster SO great that it would swallow
up all he had in the world and leave him
after so many years bankrupt man. And
this is how it happened. Roger had been
to the banker and said:
''s5lr, on the recommendation of Tristot you
placed yourself at my disposal. have to ask
you TO render me a service. Will you do it
without question:
After hearing the service desired the
banker hesitated. Laroque continued:
You shall know all later. have nothing
hidden from Tristot. l am trying to pene-
trate mystery of the gravest Importance, in
which my honor is at stake, and l will conse-
crate my whole fortune to it if necessary"
''But if you are mistakens"
IL will then, if I have injured him, repair
his credit. Now, then, can you ruin Luversan
financially! 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 i:
as much more as you may desire. Use the
money without counting"
The banker then said:
You wish Luversan to apply to you fol
aid!'
THAT is it, precisely" answered Roger
In the meantime. though he saw no more Of
the banker for two weeks, he watched Luver
sail closely. He grew restless and nervou.
and pale. and at last came to Roger one day
saying desperately, "We 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. l hide nothing from you, for you ars
also interested in this. It was my duty to
tell YOU"
"Whatv' said Roger, as though astonished.
"Such fine prospect of dividends SO soon to
have failed nowl 1 don't see through it
Explain"
Luversan told him Of what we already
know, and then he stopped suddenly in hi,
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 not?"
"Well," said Roger, "a burnt cat breads
the fire. am the burnt cat"
Luversan bit his lips till they bled.
But, l tell you, l am lost if you do not
help me-"
Roger did not refuse absolutely, but replied:
Il must reflect. This is q serious matter
and requires large SUN, according to what
you say. No matter how rich l might be
/ don't like to lose money. l had confidence
il You and know little of those matters, and
l must reflect before 1 decide to put more
money into what seems to me a bottomleSs
hole"
But there is no time for reflection. You
must decide quickly"
Even if do decide to let you have this
money, it would take me three or four days
low much do you want|
Nearly million"
THAT is a good DEAL How soon do you
need iJ9"
iii four days at the latest"
You can come to my country place, Vile
dAvray, where have rented little house.
l shall make that my home hereafter, and
then We shall see"
What is the number or name of your
eottage?'
The first one you meet will tell you. It Is
IN the Rue de Paris, the last house on the
right hand side. live all alone. believe
the last owner was killed there ten or a dozen,
maybe twenty years ago, and So the name of
be victim was by common consent given to
~he house. They cali it the Maison Larouette.
Luversan sat down suddenly and his face
showed that the shot told
so, then, Saturday, at what houri
wv hatever hour suits you after in the
evening, as l shall be busy during the day."
Luversan took his departure, restless and
uneasy, but this he attributed to the anxiety
about the money