Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-23

ohS
mot word. monsieur"
THAT is strange. Well, sit up for
madame. 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 will be no
need of attending us. Do you under
stand?"
II understand. monsieur"
Francois did more than understand.
He rejoiced, for he was sleepy.
The four passed on up stairs. They
entered the room in which they had
held the conference overheard by
| Buckford.
| Get light, Reber. while l unlock
this door," said vandal.
POOR muttered Reber, moving
about slowly to obey. ut is time we
got that thing out of there Poof! And
1t Is not so very hot either"
Eyes. it is high time" said Robello.
Reber having found lamp and
lighted it. NanGal took his key from
| his pocket and opened the door. He
stepped in with the lamp. The Others
followed him.
Vandal stood with the lamp raised
above his head. The other three stood
grouped around him gazing stupidity al
him and at each other. Casparin was
| the first to recover his speech.
There is something wrong herew he
said. "Some one has removed the
body"
"Impossiblew blurted out vandal
| "None but Reber and myself have the
| keys
You are surely mistaken. The door
was locked. Look! Has it been tam,
pered with?''
Nandal handed the lamp to Rebel
and examined the door and lock.
ut is in order" he said. Il do not
understand this-I swear do not"
"Some one certainly has access tc
this ROOM" said Casparin. "You told
me you two held the keys"
"And so-that is the truth. 1 myself
had this partition placed here. put
on that lock with my own hands.
There were two keys with the lock,
and I gave one to Reber. AS l live,
these are the only keys that will un.
lock 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 openw said Reber
ut was not so this morning"
'"That is still greater mystery!'
said Vandal. 1.-THE window was lock.
ed on the inside. Some one has man.
aged to come up and get it open and
take out the American"
Casparin laughed-a long, low hiss.
ing laugh of anger and derision.
81 am beside myself with delight
he said. II came from Deneslia to find
men who were quick and shrewd IL
planning. l thought the French coult
excel in that Why, we have plow
men in Deneslia who are better"
what do you think, thenr asked
Vandal.
"What do 1 think? My God! Are
you still in the dark! What do think
l know. The man you left in here wal
not dead. He recovered consciousness
climbed out of that window and made
his escape. We now have him agains
us and at liberty. We might better
have left him in the Palais de Justice
! There was no certainty he would b.
believed"
"He must have escaped" said Van
dal, having thought only for the dis
aster.
"Ee must have escaped. Yes, hi
must surely have gone out Of the win
dow" said Reber and Robello.
"And of course, since you are 81
wise, you gentlemen" said Casparin
you can associate his escape and tn,
disappearance Of your Nine. du Barr,
with each other"
"No, no! Surely not!" said yandal.
"Surely yes! Was her room not un
der thisY
"Her room is there"
"Her room no longer, my friend.
fear you will find the lady dead in he
room. 1t was not Nine. du Barry thu
cook saw leaving, but the American
dressed in madame's Clothes"
| At this Mortified cry came from
Vandal, and he rushed for the door
He led the way and the others follow
ed him to the floor below. The door O
madame's room was not locked. Van
dial entered, expecting to see a mos
CHASTITY sight.
He saw nothing but bed, slight.
rumpled, and articles of female cloth
ing lying about.
Il own my mistake" said Casparil
with a laugh. "The American has no
killed madame. He has eloped witt
her."
Vandal cursed roundly and well. Re
Der and Robello shivered.
Nine. du Barry knew their secrets
Not crime had been committed b,
either of them in years that Nine. d.
Barry did not know. And now sh
had gone with their foe-the American
1--WE will follow them! I will xii
them bothw cried Vandal.
'Take my advice and 60 to bed,
said Casparin. 1--WE can do nothin
before daylight. There is nothing t
|