Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-12-16
Secret Of the PluDdered Safe
By EMILE GABoRIAu

III hudVery, was charmed ana dSt0nlSheQ.
Beautifully DONE" he cried, clapping
his hands with glee. 'That last SEN
tence will create a chasm between Mad
anne Fauvel and her niece. The promise
Of fortune for me will certainly bring
my mother over to our side"
II hope so," said Louis, with pre-
tended modesty. "But remember you
must scorn to receive any assistance
from me. You must declare that you
will brave all privations, want, famine
even, rather than accept a sou from a
base man whom you hate and despise.
But you know exactly what you are to
say. l can rely upon you for good act
ing"
mo one can surpass me when l am in
terested in my part"
But this disinterestedness need not
prevent you from resuming your dissipa-
tions. You must gamble, bet, and lose
more money than you ever did before.
You must increase your demands, and
say that you must have money at all
cost. You need not account to me for
any money you can extort from her."
81 can promise you, no time shall be
wasted"
Now listen to what you are to do,
Raoul. Before the end Of three months
you must have exhausted the resources
Of these two women. You must force
from them every franc they can raise, so
that they will be wholly unable to pro-
cure money to supply your increasing de-
mands. In three months l must find
them penniless, absolutely ruined, with
out even jewel left"
Raoul was startled at the passionate
vindictive tone of Louis voice as he
uttered these last words.
'1The day on which you lead Nine
Fauvel and her niece to the extreme Of
the precipice, pointed out its dark depths,
and convinced them that they are ire
trievably lost, shall appear, and res
cue them. Why, 1t will be the crowning
scene of our drama. I will play my
part with such grandeur, such lofty mag
nanimity, that Madeleine will be touch
ed, will forget her past enmity, and re-
gard me with favorable eyes. When she
finds that it is her sweet self. and not
her money, that l want, she will soften.
No true woman can be Indifferent to a
grand passion. l don't pretend to say
that she will love me at first; but, If
she will only consent to be mine, ask
for nothing more"
Raoul was shocked at this cold-blood-
ed perversity Of his uncle, but Clameran
showed his immense superiority In wick
edness, and the apprentice admired the
master.
"You would certainly succeed, uncle"
he said, were it not for the cashier.
Between you and Madeleine, Prosper
will always stand; IL not In person, GER
tainly In memory"
II don't mind Prosper or attach amy
Importance to him."
+, But she loves him."
$50 much the worse for him. Six
months hence she will dispise him. He
Is already morally ruined, and at the
proper time 1 will make an end Of him
socially. With your aid I will so cover
him with disgrace and infamy that Mad
eleine will drive every thought of hin
from her mind, and her love will turr
to hate"
Louis tone Of rage and vengeance
startled Raoul and made him regard thu
affair in worse light than ever.
"You have given me a dastardly roll
to play" he said, after a long pause
"Still, l have never been rich enough t.
be honest, but l must say it goes hare
with me to torture two defense!ess
frightened women and ruin the characte
Of a poor fellow who regards ME as hi
best friend. 1t is a low business"
"You are the most absurd, ridiculous
fool l ever met" cried Louis. "An op
portunity occurs for us to make an i'm
mense fortune. All we have to do Is t.
stretch out our hands and take 1t, whel
you must needs prove refractory, like
whimpering baby. suppose you prefe
theft on a small scale, stealing by drib
let's. And where will your system lea,
you? To the almshouse or the polio
station. You prefer living from hand t
mouth, supported by Nine. Fauvel, hav
ing small sums doled out to you to pa
your little gambling debts"
"I am neither ambitious nor cruel"
"And suppose Nine. Fauvel dies tc
morrow. What will become Of you? Wi
you 20 cringing up to the widower an
implore him to continue your allow
ance?"
Enough said," cried Raoul, angril
interrupting his uncle. 81 never had a
, idea of retreating. This arrangement
suits me very WELL"
: Finally, after long debate and muc
recrimination the matter was arranged
and they shook hands before separat
ing.
This was the cruel scheme. How
was executed to the final point of fort
ing Nine. Fauvel to assist Raoul In rol
bing her own husbands safe we hav
seen.
3 CHAPTER XIII.
{ Reaching Paris at 8 o'clock in tn
r evening, not by the Lyons road, as h
had said, but by the Orleans train, N
Q verduret hurried up to the Archange
q where he found the cashier inpatient