The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-09-21
Robert Macaire.
CONTINUED
CHAPTER XVI.
A TERRIBLE DfsOOyrRy

TERRIBLE DISCOVERY.
Pierre was about to enlarge still fur
ther on the agreeable qualities Of his new
acquaintance when the door of tho sale
opened, and NJ. Dumont came In, accom-.
panied by Clementine.
"Ah, good morning, brigadier!" he
said, shaking hands with Roger, who was
an old acquaintance. "You are early on
the road today. Is there anything stir
ring or specialY'
Nothing much, NJ. Dumont," replied
the gendarme. "a couple of escaped
prisoners from Lyons, whom we are on
the lookout for, and here they are some.
where in or about the forest Of La
Marche, and we are on our way there
now"
"Hushv' said NJ. Dumont, with q sig
nificant glance toward Clementine, who
had gone over to the window, which
commanded view Of the road. and was
eagerly watching for any sign of Charles.
But you rather alarm me, for my son
had to pass through the forest on his
way to and from st. Maurice last night,
and we are now wondering a little at
the delay in his return, as we expected
him earlier"
But what was NJ. Charles doing at
st. Mauriceg'
''He went to fetch paper which had
been forgotten by the notary"
'Notaryr said the other, surprised.
"Oh. yes" said NJ. Dumont, smiling.
II forgot that of course you don't know
hok 10 20 "a Al a..
the young lady whom you see at the
window"
"A fortunate man is NJ. Charles"
said the gallant brigadier.
But" said Dumont anxiously, what
you tell me-
Here he was interrupted by Pierre,
who had left the room and now ran In
crying out that NJ. Charles was coming;
that he had seen the carriole from the
top window
As he spoke the sound of rapid wheels
was heard outside, and NJ. Dumont and
Clementine FASTENED out to the door to
meet him. He was out of the carriole
and across the courtyard in two strides,
and joyful indeed was the meeting be-
tween the lovers, while NJ. Dumont, re-
heved from the momentary fear which
The gendarme's words had aroused in
him, clasped his sons hand and welcomed
him with full heart. Before the greet
ings were finished the notary and the
cure, arm in arm, turned in at the gate,
and the whole party went into the salon
together. where Picard awaited them
with the papers all in order, and moth
ing missing this time. The brigadier
Joined them there ON the invitation OF
NJ. Dumont.
well" he said laughingly, clapping
Charles on the shoulder, "you are a
pretty bridegroom to keep lady wait
ing"
Clementino shot rather an indignant
glance at him-as much as to say how
dared he ins;nuate that Charles could do
anything that wasn't quite perfect,
while Charles himself pleaded the bad
state Of the roads for his being a little
late, adding, as he looked round, that
there was no time lost by that. since M.
Germenil had not yet come down stairs.
my friend Germenil is not as young
as he was, any more than myself" said
NJ. Dumont. "And yesterday was q
fatiguing day for him. He had long
drive to begin with"
After a few minutes moro converse
ton Charles went up stairs to see what
was OBTAINING M. Germenil, and pres
emily his voice was heard calling Pierre
to bring the bunch Of duplicate keys. as
he had knocked and got no answer, and
he feared M. Germenil must be i'll.
Pierre ran up stairs with the keys. fol-
lowed by Clementine.
Quick, Pierre, quick, give me the
keyl" cried Charles.
But the key was not there. What was
to be doneY
"Wemust break the door, said Charles.
And accordingly he and Pierre threw
themselves against it with all their force.
1t creaked, gave way, and the three
rushed into the room. Then dreadful
shrek ran through the house as Clemen-
tine fell senseless beside the bed where
lay the body Of her murdered father.
NJ. Dumont, followed by the rest Of
the party, rushed up stairs to see what
was the matter and stood speeches.
with horror at the terrible spectacle.
Roger the moment he saw what had
happened gave the order to his men,
"See that no one leaves the house." Then
he returned to the room to examine fur
Their. Charles had in the meantime car
ried Clementine to her own room, where
he left her in charge of Margot, who did
all she could for her with many COM
passionate ordinations of "Pauvre
mam'selle! pauvre ptitei'
N. Dumont assured the brigadier that
the murdered man had not single en-
envy in the world.
Had he any money in his possession"
asked the officer.
He had $4,000 francs, Clementine's
dot, which was to have been handed over
to my son today as soon as the contrat
was signed"
Here" said Charles, ''here Is his pock-
etbook," catching sight of the edge of 1t
under the pillow and pulling it out.
But it is empty" he cried. There
has been robbery as well as murderp
Have You any suspicious" asked the
brigadier.
Both Charles and M. Dumont declared
they had not.
But have" said Pierre.
Your they all exclaimed. WHO,
then, do you suspect"
THE woman who slept here last
night"
"If you mean poor looking woman
who was in the sale, she left the house
a short time ago. / saw her pass out of
4 Il