The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-02-14
ROGER LAR0QUH.
Adapted and Translated from tho French
Of Jules Mary.
CHAPTER III.


habited by Larouette. As she went about
she discovered, somewhat to her surprise,
that the windows were open, and when she
had finished busting and sweeping she went
to arrange Larouettes ROOM But she stood
petrifed upon the threshold, with her eyes
starting from her head, as she saw stretched
upon the floor in the midst of the
broken and disordered furniture, the secre-
tary open and apparently rified, her master
dead with ball in his breast. Everything
pointed to murder and not suicide.
The first emotion passed, Mother Dondaine
regained her GOODNESS. She bent over the in
animate form of Larouette and felt for signs
OF life, but saw at once that there was but
y rigid corpse before her, and she ran as fast
as her years would permit to the police sta
ton, telling every one she met OH tho way of
her terrible discovery. An hour later M.
Lacrojx, the commissary OF police at Ver-
sailles, arrived with DR.. Martnaud, of Vile
d'Avray. The two men and the woman en-
tered the house, while crowds gathered
around 1t.
NJ. Lacroix questioned Mother Dondaine,
but she could give him no information.
SDo you know" said he, whether NJ La
rouette had any important sum Of money in
bis secretary2
u do not, sir. He was not man to con-
fide his business secrets to any one."
M. Lacroix made search of the premises,
while the doctor examined the body.
"The victim defended himself" said he.
"Look, here arc traces of fiuger nails and
other marks which prove that they have
tried first to stranglc him. and because he
did not die quick enough they finished him
with pistol shot, which proves that we are
not in presence of the deed of vulgar
assassin, but man in haste to finish, and
who must have lost his head, for q detona-
ton in the middle Of the night is very i'm
prudent. The house is not isolated. The
Villa Montalais is but two steps from here.
If M. or Nine. Laroque or their servants
were not in bed they must have heard the
pistol shot"
II will question them directly. Can you
give any idea Of how long he has been deadT
1He must have been dead since between IL
and II o'clock. The murderer doubtless used
small pocket pistol. Here is the ball, which
found in the heart. Death must have been
instantaneous" And the doctor gave Lacroix
the bit of Hattened lead. Lacroix had made
package of all the papers In the desk, and
they prepared to leave "We have nothing
more to do here" he said, and they closed the
doors and went to the house of Roger
Laroque. When Victoria announced M. La
croix Henriette grew deathly pale "Great
God!" thought she, 'do they suspect already?"
At this thought she felt as il death had seized
her, and she gathered her courage and crept
into the parlor as though weighed down by
an invisible burden, yet resolved to bear it.
Excuse me, madame, for troubling you,
but last night, here at few steps from your
house, was committed dreadful crime A
Al a.
pose Of robbery, and have come to ask few
questions of you"
''Ofm me, siri What can tell your
"Last night there was pistol fired in the
house next door, which is opposite you The
windows were open. and thought possibly
that some of you might have heard some
thing, or even, perhaps, might have seen
something"
'sAt what hour was this crime committed"
"Some minutes before midnight"
"That explains why we heard nothing.
went to bed about 10 o'clock. and my husband
came home soon after. did not see him"
sis NJ. Laroque here!"
'.He took the o'clock train to Paris, but
he said nothing, which proves that he heard
nothing
'sYou have a little girl, believe, of z or 8
she havs heard the detonationg"
''She slept in my bed last night, and never
woke until morning."
She said this with a quick, harsh accent,
which surprised Lacroix. His keen eye saw
here mystery, and he looked at tho young
woman whose eyes fell before his.
"Can see the childg.. asked he.
"Certainly, if you think it necessary, but
she is not very well this morning, having had
q nervous attack, and unless it is really
necessarily"
''Ahal" thought NJ Lacroix; ashe doesn't
want mo to see the little girl. Whyr
Mr.. Lacroiz was OH the point of letting
this question pass for the time, when the child
stepped to her mothers side from the other
room.
"No, mother, !" she said, without being ques-
toned; ~ could not have heard anything;
slept all night without waking"
81 would like to question your servants"
said Lacroix, and ,Henriette rang. Victoria
entered.
@Bring the cook and coachman," said she,
Aan" return with them"
III another instant the three were there. The
coacIiman and cook had rooms opening upon
the garden. They declared th had seen
and heard nothing. They had gone TO bed at
~ anu SlepJ uiiti morning. IL was by report
that they had known of the crime. Lacroix
made sign for them to retire, which they
gladly obeyed. And az Victoria was about
to follow them he called her back.
"One moment, my girl"
She stopped, little confused. 81 am
going to ask you the same questions as those
addressed your comrades. At what hour
did you go to bedr
"Why, why" stammered she, looking to-
ward Henrietta so earnestly that it was evident
that she was waiting for sign from her mis-
Z tress. M. Lacroix placed himself between
them without seeming to do SO by design
ANSWER, my girl, and do not fear to speak
the truth"
II went to bed very late; later than usual.
Madame must have told you.''
"Why later yesterday than usualr'
I'VE were waiting for NJ Lnroque who did
not return until after midnight. Madame
and Miss Suzanne and waited for him until
nearly midnight"
"You mean 10 o'cloclr
"No, midnight AT II 80 ! was in madames
room. She had rung for me to come and UNI
dress Miss Suzanne"
sYou ara very sure Of the bourT,