Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-10-13
The COntrabandiSt;
One Life'S Secret!

silent on the subject until them. For
whoever had fired this shot at him was
an enemy, since he could not bring him
self to believe the deed unintentional.
And what enemy had he besides Gas
parde?
Louis passed several days in deep renec
ton. A double object occupied his at
tention, which was, in part, the discov-
cry of the present whereabouts of Gas
parde, whom he believed to be in the
neighborhood without the knowledge of
Hugh Lamonte; the other point the read
er will presently understand.
A half-perfected scheme was in pro-
gress of completion. For a time, rs we
have said, he meditated on this, and
| finally laid it out to his own satisfac-
ton.
By this time his arm was almost en-
tirely healed. He had remained within
doors for some days; but now resumed his
usual out-of-door amusements, taking
| good care, however, to avoid every place
| wherein a foe might lie concealed.
Some careless inquiries which he made
of Rose and her father, assured him that,
| even if Gasparde were in the neighbor-
| hood, they were unconscious of it. he
resolved to set a watch, however. to as
| certain the amount of correctness in his
suspicious.
One day, very shortly after the occur
| rences above recorded, Louis received let
| ters from Lyons which seemed to inter-
est him very deeply. Business of some
| importance, he announced, obliged him to
leave the chateau sooner than he had in
tended. The good marquis expressed the
utmost concern and regret at hearing
| this.
"Why, my dear Louis" said he, II
counted on keeping you for months yet.
Why will you go? Surely you can SUBJ
NIT to your agent, or avocet, all affairs
of business for the present"
"My dear uncle, the case is impera-
tive" answered the count.
"Then, as soon as this affair is trans
acted, you will return to US? I will hear
of no refusal"
ST promise you, monsieur, l will re-
turn"
Helen Montauban had waited silently
| for the decision. She made no attempt to
urge Louis to prolong his stay. She did
not even express a regret at the an
nouncement of his intended departure on
| the following day; but a closer observer
might have seen the emotion which she
| felt. And she received the parting kiss
of her handsome cousin with a smile.
''My dear Helen" he said, frankly, tax
| ing her hands in his, "tell me that you
are sorry to bid me adieu, or l shall not
believe it,
| 81 do regret your departure, Louis" she
answered, in low, clear tone; "but why
should 1 display it? You say your busi-
ness is imperative, and I would not detain
you. Besides, you are to return"
"Yes-I shall return" he echoed.
"Adieu, sweet cousinw
Louis" said the marquis, as he ac-
companied his nephew to the gate of the
court, "you must mind and come back
as soon as possible. Il the plan which
I mentiened the other day succeeds, Rose
will be an inmate Of the chateau before
winter Poor little Rose! one cannot but
wish to see her in such circumstances as
seem more beftting her. Helen needs
friend and companion, too, and both
will be benefited. If Hugh Lamonte will
consent to part with her, she shall come.
The first thing that put this plan into my
thoughts was the prosecutions of that fel-
low Gasparde. l wished to remove her
from his way. To be sure, he is not here
l at present, but then there is no knowing
how soon he may return. I shall talk
WIFI huSH"1 Sudll Ld1h WILL duu
Helen will use her influence, too, know
for she likes Rose. So when you return
you may, perhaps, find another cousin
Louis"
"Your plan is an excellent one, my dear
uncle,'' returned the young man, "an6
] wish you all success. Depend upon it.
the endeavors which you and my cousin
make, for the benefit Of Rose, will not be
thrown away"
The gate of the court closed; the guest
was gone.
Slowly rode master and man down the
valley to the little inn by the roadside
and here Louis dismounted. Immediate
ly, as he did so, there came from ar
inner room young man, who, appearing
at the door, made a respectful obeisanct
to Louis, saying:
"Ah! monsieur; you see 1 am pune
tual''
, "Goodv' answered the count. "Hov
long have you been here"
'"Three hours fully, I think"
''That is well. I see you do not forge
| your masters habits. But come; we mus
have a room in private for little while
Francoisv' to his valet, "get down ant
wait awhile I wish to transact some pri
vate business with this person. Core
Robinv'
''You have got your spade and it's &C
, compartments with you, presume" in
; quired the young count Of the man he hat
met, as the two entered little room to
gether.
| ''Yes, indeed, Monsieur Louis, and on
or two changes of apparel It is for n,
, more than a month or two, I think yol
said?'
! ''That is all.''
t "Then 1 dare say brought suficien
with me; more than that might b.
thought superfuous, yeu know. W.
must be natural"
"Yes-yes, Robin. 1t is all right. Shu
t the door now, and be careful there is n
chance for eavesdroppers."
, They went in, and the door was clos
: ed upon them.
| Some twenty minutes might have elaps
( ed when it was re-opened and they cam
forth again, the young count striking
from his vanished boot one or tw'
straws with his riding switch, and bend
ing his head to conceal smile that curry
| ed his mustached lip; while his compan
ion, with less apparent restraint, wa
: laughing outright-a low, musical, bu
: hearty laugh. He quickly grew grave
however, and said, aloud, as they pro
| ceeded to the outer door, where the inn
keeper was still standing, and endeaVor
} ing to draw the usually gruff Francoi