Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-12-23
CHAPTER XIV.

jumped lnto hackney coach and follow
ed her
Heaven grant that NJ. Verduret may
reach there in time!" cried Nina to her
self, otherwise Nine. Fauvel and Raoul
are lost.
Nine. Fauvel hastened to Vesinet
convinced that some new misfortune was
in store for her Her alarm was ground
less. She found Raoul more tender and
affectionHte than he had ever been. He
saw the necessity of reassuring her, and
winning his old place in her forgiN ing
heart, before making his disclosures. He
succeeded. The poor lady had smiling
and happy air as she sat in an armchair,
with Raoul kneeling before her
II have distressed you too long, my
dear mother" he said, in his softest
tones, "but repent sincerely; now listen
t. my"
He had not time to say more; the
door was violently thrown open, and
Raoul, springing to his feet, was con-
fronted by NJ. Fauvel. The banker had
a revolver in his hand, and was deadly
pale. 1t was evident that he was max
ing superl,uman efforts to remain calm
a
punish crime.
An" ne said, with a horrible laugh,
"you look surprised. You did not ex-
pect me? You thought that my imbecile
credulity insured your safety
Rsoul had the courage to place him
self before Nine. Fauvel, and to stand
prepared to receive the expected bullet
81 assure you, uncle" he began.
Enough interrupted the banker,
with an angry gesture, "let me hear no
more infamous falsehoods! End this act
Ing, Of which l am no longer the dupe."
81 swear to you-"
Spare yourself the trouble of deny
Ing anything. l know all. | know who
pawned my wife's diamonds. l lnow
who committed the robbery for which
an innocent man was arrested and i'm
prisoned."
Nine. Fauvel, white with terror, fell
upon her knees. At last it had come
the dreadful day had come. Vainly had
she added falsehood to falsehood, vainly
had she sacrificed herself and others; all
was discovered. She saw that all was
lost, and wringing her hands, she tear
fully moaned:
Pardon, Andre! beg you, forgive
mer'
At these heart-broken tones the bank
er shook like leaf. The memory Of his
lost happiness was too much for the
stricken man. He forgot the present il
the past, and was almost melted to for
giveness.
Unhappy woman" he murmured
unhappy woman"
For some moments nothing wal
heard but the sobs Of Nine. Fauvel.
81 came here" continued the banker
with the intention Of killing you both
But cannot kill woman, and l will
not kill an unarmed man. Defend Your
selfr cried the banker, raising his arm
''if you do not"
But the horror of the scene was toe
much for Nine. Fauvel to witness any
longer without interposing. She under
stood but one thing-her son and hel
husband were about to kill each othel
before her very eyes. Rushing up tt
Raoul she threw her arms around him
and said to her husband
Kill me, and me alone"
At these words NJ. Fauvel glared a
the guilty pair, and deliberately taking
aim fired. Neither Raoul nor Nine. Eau
vel moved. The banker fred a secont
time, then a third.
He cooked the pistol for fourth shot
when a man rushed into the room
snatched the pistol from the banker
hand, and, throwing him on the sofa
ran toward Nine. Fauvel. This maj
was NJ. Verdurst, who had been warnet
by Cavaillon, but did not know tina
Nine. Gypsy had extracted the ball
from NJ. Fauvel's revolver.
Thank heaven!" he cried, "she Is un
hurt"
How dare you interfere?' cried th
banker, who by this time had Joined tn,
group. 1.-The villain shall die"
NJ. Verduret seized the bankers wrist
In vise-like grasp, and whispered in hi
ear:
Thank heaven, you are saved from
committing a terrible crime; the anony
nous letter deceived you. Do you know
who that man is that you attempte,
to kill? Her son."
The words Of this stranger, showing
his intimate knowledge of the privat
affairs of all present seemed to con
IOuDU anu ldOui hoiC tuuh NJ
Fauvel's threats had done. Yet he ha,
sufficient presence of mind to say:
at is the truth"
The banker looked wildly from Raou
to NJ. Verduret then, fastening hi
haggard eyes on his wife, exclaimed.
at is false You are all conspiring t
deceive me! Proofs"
"Yon shall have proofs" replied M
Verduret, "but first listen."
And rapidly, with his wonderful talen
for explanation, he related the principa
points of the plot he had discovered
The true state Of the case was terribl
distressing to M. Fauvel, but nothin
compared with what he had suspected.
His throbbing, yearning heart told hir
that he still loved his wife. Why shoul
he punish a mistake committed so man
years ago and atoned for by twent
years of devotion and suffering? Fo
some moments after M. Verduret ha
f,;ched his exnlanation M. Fauyel re