The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-20

| key. He opened the door. The hall was
| dimly lighted. A servant sat nodding In
| the hall.
Hello. Francois! What is this? Where
is maaamoY asked Vandal
Francois looked up sleepily
| II don't know, monsieur" he said. II
/ have not seen madame since she went TO
| lie down with her headache. She is out
so much know, for the cook. who was
coming from the markets. saw her leave
! the house"
And did she leave no word with any
| one?"
| Not a word, monsieur
That Is strange. Well, sit up for ma
dame. We are going up stairs. In a short
time you may hear us moving about. We
| may even bring our own wine from the
cellar. There viii be no need OF attend
/ ting US DO you anderstand?"
| "T understand monsieur"
Francois did more than understand lie
| reJoiceo Tor he was sleepy.
The four passed on up stairs. They en-
! tered the room in which they had held
! the conference overheard by Buckford.
Get light, Reber while ! unlock this
| door" said Vandal.
"Poof!f muttered Reber, moving about
| slowly TO obey "It Is time we got that
| thing out OF there. Poof! and II is not so
| very hot either
Yes, IL Is high time" said Robello.
' Reber having found lamp and lighted
| IL, Vandal took his key from his pocket
| and opened the door. lie stepped I'm with
| the lamp. The others followed him.
Nandal stood with the LAMP raised
above his head The other three stood
grouped around him gazing stupidity at
| him and at each other Casparin was
] the first to recover his speech.
There is something wrong herel" he
said. Some one has removed the body"
'Impossiblel blurted out Vandal
None but Reber and myself have the
| keys"
You are surely mistaken. The door
was locked. Look. Has 1t been tampered
| with?"
Vandal handed the lamp to Reber anc
examined the door and lock-
1T is In order" he said. II do not
understand this-I swear l do not"
Some one certainly has access TO this
ROOM" said Casparin. you told me you
| two held the keys
And so-that is the truth. / myself
had this partition placed here. I put on
that lock with my own hands. There
were two keys with the lock- and / gave
one to Reber. AS i live. these are the
| only keys that will unlock this door"
Then account for this mystery. We
left dead man locked in here. He is
gone. and yet you alone could open the
door"
And we thought he was getting
| no. the window is open!" said Reber.
| ut was not so this morning"
THAT is a still greater mystery said
! Vandal. THE window was locked on
! the inside. Some one has managed to
come up and get IL open and take out
! the American"
| Casparin laughed-a long, low Kissing
laugh of anger and derision.
II am beside myself with delight" he
| said. II came from Deneslia to find men
| who were quick and shrewd in planning.
| / thought the French could excel in that
| Why we have plowmen in Depeslia who
| are better"
What do you think. then?" asked
| vandal.
What do think? My God! Are you
| still in the dark? What do l think
know. The man you left in here was not
| dead. He recovered consciousness,
| climbed out of that window and made
| his escape. We now have him against us
| and at liberty. We might better have left
him in the Palais de Justice. There was
| no certainty he would be believed"
He must have escaped" said Vandal.
| having thought only for the disaster.
HE must have escaped. Yes, he must
| surely have gone out OF the window"
| said Reber and Robello.
"And of course since you are so wise,
you gentlemen" said Casparin, you can
| associate his escape and the disappear
| ance OF your Nine. du Barry with each
| other"
mo. no! Surely notr said vandaI
Surely yes! Was her room not under
| this?"
Her room is there"
Her room no longer, my friend.
| fear you will find the lady dead in her
room. 1t was not Nine. du Barry the
| cook saw leaving. but the American
| dressed In madame's clothes
At this a Mortified cry came from Van
| dal and he rushed for the door He led
| the way and the others followed him TO
| the floor below. The door of madames $
| room was not locked. Vandal entered,
| expecting 10 see a most CHASTITY sight.
He saw nothing but n bed, slightly
| rumpled. and articles OF female clothing
| lying about
II own my mistake" said Casparin
with laugh. THE American has not
| killed madame. He has eloped with her"
Vandal cursed roundly and we'll Reber
and Robelo shvered
Nine. du Barry knew their secrets
| Not n crime had been committed by
| either OF them In years that Nine. du
| Barry did not know. And now she had
gone with their foe-the American.
1--WE will follow them! l will kill them
| bothr cried Vandal
Take my advice and go to bed" said
| Casparin. I'VE can do nothing before
| daylight. There is nothing to fear at
| once. for the American will not give him
| self up TO the police before he ascertens
| what fate they have in store for him
! A reward OF 5000 francs is offered for his
| apprehension"
Reber slapped his leg.
Good 1t was worth 5000 francs 10 US
| for him 20 escape We will run him
| down and earn the reward
MY friend you are quick 90 think
| but you invariably think the wrong thing
| We shall do nothing of the kind We
| shall run him down. but the police shall
never sec him"
"oh. as TO that. you are able to pay
| the 5000 francs"
"And will Now get some rest. We
| must be early astir.'
They obeyed him. and early In the
morning they were ready and eager for
! the chase
II proved 10 be far from difficult to
| trace Nine. du Barry. She was well
| known I'm that quarter.
IL was soon learned by persistent ques-