The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1894-12-05

CHAPTER XIV.
CUNNING MEETS CUNNING.
Before quitting Paris, Dick wrote perhaps
the first deliberate and cold-blooded lie OF .
his life. 1t was contained in brief note to /
Lydia that ran thus:
II am Mortified to hear from Baudray OF
the abduction of the Princess Natalie. What !
does it meant 1t is t Q most daring, and at
the same time dastardly and outrageous,
tning | have ever heard. l have written
ry friend, Mr.. Fairfax, about it, and pre-
sumo my letter will reach him soon after his
arrival in America. see, by the way, that
his name is in the list of passengers that
sailed from Havre, via the Vile dc Lyons
Oh the 29th inst-the very day tejOlr the
abduction.
''Poor Fairfax, hopo some day he may
attain his wish-to become man OF infiu-
ence. His has been peculiarly annoying
and trying career. ! shall often think OF
him far away in that quiet little village OF
Driiton, in Pennsylvania. Please God, we
shall have him here in year or two again,
although he says not
This depression in his letter upon the sub
ject Of Fairfax, the unselish Richard bad
inserted to please his own Whim the first
paragraph of the note IVES really Fairfax
own composition.
Oxford said he had observed his friends
name in the list of passengers who sailed
from Havre by the =" Vile dc Lyons " ont the
23th inst.
So, too, had Jean Louvait, the detective,
for that individual, failing 10 make any
Roadway in his efforts to convict Oxford
and the valet, had turned his attention to
Fairfax.
There it stood in clear black and white
"Arthur Fairfax, Drifton, Pennsylvania"
And, what is more, one of the wharf OIL
Gals said he himself had seen Mr.. Fairfax
90 on board at the last minute before the
steamers departure, end had observed hiIl
on the yescels deck as it moved off.
tfiere again tho tireleSs conspirators
forcthought had planned 70 his gain. TAX
inc the utmost advantage of Mr. Nebbitts
offer Of assistance, he had made arrange
meats by which one Of the officers Of the
"Namovna secured passage to New York
from Havre, and registered as Mr.. Fairfax
| at New York the officer expected to meet
! the yacht, day or two after his own ar
rival therc).
Fooled again, Louyait now turned his at
tenton to tho discovery of the vessel by
which the conspirators had evidently
escaped. After numerous mistakes andthe
pursuit Of false CLOVIS, he at last hit upon
| what he was convinced must be the right
| one
"In Mr. Nebbitt's yacht, 'Nanovna,'
have found it," quoth he to himself.
But, alas, for his pains, the Namovna
after FairfaX's conversation with Nebbtt
had been ordered TO steam direct for the
harbor of Brost on the extreme northwest
ern coast of France. Leaving that port
with the publicly announced intention OF
sailing directly westward for New York
sho once ccain, when out Of sight Of Brest
turned Numerically back upon her course
and sailed for the island of Chateau Neuf
v,hsnco-cs VIC have read-shc proceeded
to America with the abducted girl.
$50 can't prove it was the 'Namovna,'
unused Louvait, sadly, " for there stands
the opposing proof that she was FIR at sea
steaming to America, when the deed was
committed
He confessed himself defeated at al
points. His penetration and instinct hat
shown him plan by which he believed tina
tho Princess had been abducted. Yet, be
cause this theory when practically applied
failed to work, he refused to reject it. III
only confessed that Fairfax had outwitte'
HIM at every step
In a law-court it would be quite impossi
Bile to prove any thing whatever against tn
latter. To convict the abductors was wor
Of time, Louvait Gaw He must wait ant
work IN silence He declined to accept any
other theories preached with regard to the
famous case, being perfectly satisfied with
his own.
AS soon as he came to tho conclusion that
1t was useless to do any thing except watcf
and wait, fearful lest any one-Leroi, for in
stauce-might anticipate him, he wrote {
note to the Minister of Police. Upon the ex
terror was the direction:
"Not to be opened until the abductors o.
the Princess Natalie shall have been capt
ured, being the theory Of Jean Louvait as Il
the abduction and the abductOrs."
Then followed the speculation. This, II
the main, so well agreed with the reality O
the case, that it could scarcely have beer
more accurate had Louvait himself partici
pated in the affair.
The document closed with this paragraph
"This is the theory and belief of Jeal
Louvait in relation to the famous Princess
Natalie abduction case, Of which the arch
conspirator was Arthur Fairfax, who's,
cleverncss has won my unbounded adnira
ton"