Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1902-03-14

u uuu Out WHO ue IL Iudu 10 KNOW
who he is not. There is one man who
could give US all the information we
seek, but he will take good care to
keep his mouth Shut
IN. de Clameran?'
eyes"
II have always felt the most mex
plicable aversion toward him. All, If
we could only get his record in addi-
ton to what you already haver'
II have been furnished with a few
notes concerning the Clameran family
by your father, who knew them well.
They are brief, but I expect more"
"What did my father tell you?''
Nothing favorable, you may be
sure. will read you the synopsis Of
his information:
''Louis de Clame,an was born at the Chateau de
Cameran, near Tarascon. He had an elder brother
named Gaston In 1912. in consequence Of an a.
fray in which he had the misfortune to kill one
man and badly wound another, he was compelled
to fly the country. CASTOR was an honest, noble
youth, universally beloved. Louis, on the con-
trary, was a wicked. despicable fellow, detested
by all who knew him.
''Upon the death Of his father Louis came to
Paris and in less than two years had squandered
not only his own patrimony, but also the share
Of his exiled brother.
"Ruined, harassed by debt, Louis entered the
army, but behaved so disgracefully that he was
dismissed from the service
"After leaving the army we lost sight Of him.
All we know is that he went to England and
thence to a German gambling resort, where he
was mixed up in scandalous affair.
I'm 1865 we End him again in Paris He was
in great poverty, and his associates depraved
''But he suddenly heard OF the return of his
brother CASTOR to France. CASTOR had made a.
fortune in Mexico; but, being still young man
and accustomed to a very active life, he pur-,
chased iron mill Oloron, intending to
spend the remainder OF his life in working it.
Six months ago he died in the arms of his brother
Louis. His death gave our De Clameran an inn
mense fortune and the tile Of marquis"
A light began to break in Oh Pros
per.
''Then," he said, from all this 1
judge that NJ. de Clameran was very
poor when l met him for the first time
at NJ. Fauvel's."
"Evidently.''
"And about that time Layers arrived
from the country?"
Exactly"
"And about a month after his ap-
pearance Madeleine suddenly banished
me-"
"Well," exclaimed NJ. Verduret, 81
am glad you are beginning to under
stand the state of affairs"
he was interrupted by the entrance
Of stranger. The newcomer was a
spruce looking coachman, with ele-
CANT black whiskers, shining boots
with fancy tops, buff breeches and a
yellow waistcoat with red and black
stripes. After cautiously looking around
the room he walked straight up to the
table where NJ. Verduret sat.
swell, Master Joseph Dubois?" said
the stout man eagerly.
"Don't speak Of it," answered the
servant. Things are getting warm
Prosper concentrated all his attention
upon this superb domestic. He thought
he recognized his face. He had GER
tainly somewhere seen that retreating
forehead and those little restless black
eyes, but where and under what cir
cumstances he could not remember.
Meanwhile Master Joseph had taken a
seat at a table adjoining the one occu-
pied by NJ. Verduret and, having called
for some absinth, was preparing it by
holding the water aloft and slowly
dropping it in the glass.
"Speak," said NJ. Verduret.
"In the first place, I must say that
the position of valet and coachman to
NJ. de Clameran is not bed of roses"
"Go on. You can complain tomor-
row."
every good. Yesterday my master
walked out at 2 o'clock. OF course l
followed him. Do you know where he
went? The thing was as good as
farce. He went to the Archangel to
keep the appointment made by Nina
Gypsy"
"Well, make haste. They told him
she was gone. Them"
"Then? All, he was not at all pleas
ed, assure you. He hurried back to
the hotel where the other, NJ. de La
gors, awaited him. And have never
heard so much swearing! NJ. Raoul
asked him what had happened to put
him in such bad humor. Nothing
replied my master, except that little
devil has gone of, and no one knows
where she is. She has slipped through
our fingers Then they both appeared
to be vexed and uneasy. Does she
know anything about usY asked Raoul.
Nothing but what I told you,' replied
Clameran. But this nothing, falling in
the ear of man with any suspicious,
would put him on the track of the
truth Then Layers exclaimed, If it
is as serious as that, we must get rid
of this little serpent But my master
shrugged his shoulders and, laughing.
said: You talk like an idiot. When
one is annoyed by a woman of this
sort, one must take measures to get
rid of her enthusiastically This idea
seemed to amuse them both very
much"
II understand" said NJ. Verduret.
1T is an excellent idea. But the mis-
fortune is it is too late to carry it out.
I 0S0 q