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

CHAPTER XIV.
Raoul had been quietly creeping to-
ward the door, hoping to escape while
no one was thinking Of him. But M.
Verduret was watching him out Of the
corner of one eye, and stopped him just
as he was about leaving the room.
Not so fast, my pretty youth" he
said dragging him into the middle of
the room; lit is not polite to leave us so
unceremoniously. Let us finish the story.
Claneron hastened to London. Hc had
no difficulty in finding the farmers wife
t. whom the old countess had intrusted
Gaston's son. But here an unexpected
disappointment greeted him. He learned
that the child, whose name was regis
tered on the parish books as Raoul Val
entine Wilson, had died Of the Group
when eighteen months old"
Did any one state such a fact as
thatT interrupted Raoul 'it is false"
1T was not only stated, but proved,
my pretty youth" replied NJ. VerduIet.
You don't suppose | am a man to trust
to oral testimony, do you|"
He drew from his pocket several ON
cially stamped documents, with red seals
attached, and laid them on the table.
"These are the declarations OF the
nurse, her husband, and four witnesses.
Here is an extract from the register of
births; this is a certificate of registry Of
his death; and all these are authenti-
Gated at the French embassy. Now are
you satisfied, young manT
What next?' inquired NJ. Fauvel.
The next step was this" replied NJ.
yerduret. "Clameran, finding that the
child was dead, supposed that he could,
in spite of this disappointment, obtain
money from Nine. Fauvel; he was mis-
taken. His first attempt failed. HAY ing
an inventive turn Of mind, he determin-
ed that the child should come to life.
Among his large circle Of rascally ac-
quaintances he selected a young fellow
to personate Raoul Valentine Wilson
and the chosen one stands before you"
Nine. Fauvel was In q pitiable state.
And yet she began to feel ray Of hope;
her ncute anxiety had so long tortured
| her that the truth was relief; she
would thank heaven II this wicked man
was proved to be no son of hers.
"Can this be possible?' she murmured
"can 1t beT'
Raoul saw that the game was up.
you are a detective." he CALCULATED.
The fat man smiled grimly.
AT present." he replied, 81 am merely
a friend OF Prosper Bertomy 1t depends
entirely upon your behavior which char
acter l appear in while settling up this
little affair"
What do you expect me to DOR
Restore the three hundred and fifty
thousand francs which you have stolen. u
''The money is in this ROOM"
"Very good. This frankness is cred,
liable, and will benefit you. l know
that the money is in this room, and also
exactly where it Is to be found. Be
kind enough to look behind that cup
board, and you will find the three hun.
dred and Fifty thousand francs"
Raoul tremblingly went to the cup.
board, and pulled out several bundles OF
bank notes, and an enormous package OF
pawnbrokers' tickets.
Every we'll DONE" said NJ. Verduret.
as he carefully examined the money and
papers; this is the most sensible step
you ever took"
Raoul relied on this moment, when
everybody's attention would be absorbed
by the money, to make his escape. He
slid toward the door, gently opened it
slipped out, and locked it on the outside
the key being still in the lock.
"He has escaped" cried M. Fauvel
Naturally" replied M. Verduret
without even looking up; 81 thought he
would have sense enough to do that"
"But Is he to go unpublished" 7"
"My dear sir, would you have this af
fair become a public scandal? Do you
wish your wife's name to be brought
police courtT'
ooh, monsieur"
"Then the best thing you can do is tc
let the rascal go scot free. Here are
receipts for all the articles which he ha,
pawned, so that we should consider our
selves fortunate. He has kept fifty thou
sand francs, but that Is all the better
for you. This sum will enable him t.
leave France, and we shall never see hin
again."
SO saying, the fat man took up his hat
and quietly left the room, and jumpin,
into his cab, ordered the driver to return
to Paris, and drive to the Hotel dr
Louvre as rapidly as possible.
His mind was filed with anxiet,
about Clameran. He knew that Raou
would give him no more trouble; tn,
young rogue was probably taking hi
passage for some foreign land at tha
moment. But Clameran should not es
cape unpunished; and how this punish
ment could be brought about withou
compromising Nine. Fauyel was a prob
lem to be solved.
After long thought he decided that al
accusation Of poisoning must come from