Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-10-21
CHAPTER ".

CHAPTER ".
Madame Gypsy was quite young, small
and graceful, with dark complexion and
tiny hands and feet. Long curling silk
lashes sOftened the piercing brilliancy of
her large black eyes; her lips were full,
and her teeth very white. She was raw
ishing. Her beauty was so startling that
the dazzled detective was speechless with
admiration.
"Well," he said to himself, as he re-
membered the noble, severe beauty of
Madeleine, "our young gentleman GER
tainly has good taste-very good taste.
Two perfect beauties"
After scrutinizing him from head to
foot with undisguised contempt, Madame
Gypsy said, haughtily:
what do you want?"
81 am charged, my dear madam" he
answered, in his softest tone, "by M.
Bertomy, to give you this note. l may
be so bold as to claim him as friend"
The detective slowly drew Prosper's
note from his pocket, and, with a bow,
presented it to Madame Gypsy. At a
glance she read its contents. She turned
very req, Inen very pale.
Explain yourself" she cried. "What
does all this mean? Do you know any
thing about the contents of this note"
"Alas! yes, madam; he is accused Of
taking thousands from the bank SAFE"
prosper steal" she cried; what a
stupid idea! Why should he steal? Is
he not rich?"
IN. Bertomy is not rich, madam; he
has nothing but his salary"
But" she insisted, ~ have always
seen him have plenty of money; not rich
then He committed this robbery
in order to crafty my extravagant
whims."
Every likely"
"No," she cried, 81 regret to say that
Prosper would never have stolen for
me. One can understand a man robbing
bank to obtain means of bestowing
pleasure and luxury upon the woman he
loves; but Prosper, who is my cousin,
does not love me; he never has loved me.
1 know what love is. Once 1 was be-
loved by an affectionate, truehearted
man, and my own sufferings Of the last
year make me know how miserable 1
must have made him by my cold return.
Alas! we must suffer ourselves before we
can feel for Others No, am nothing to
Prosper; he would not care if"
But, then, madam, why"
"Ah, yes" interrupted Nina, "why?'
You will be very wise II you can answer
me. For year have vainly sought an
answer to this question, so sad to me
10 nrop,iSaI IaoI rpotbar ha rnnlI
always care for me, and has been O
true brother, impoverishing himself prob
ably for my extravagant whims."
Madame Nina was overcome by
thoughts of the past, and tears silently
coursed down her cheeks. But her de
spair was only momentary. She started
up, and, her eyes sparkling with gener
Gus resolution, she cried out:
But l love him, and | will save him
I will see his master, the miserable
wretch who dares to accuse him. l will
haunt the judges, and will prove that hi
is innocent. Come, monsieur, let III
start, and promise you that before sun
set he shall be free, or l shall be IL
prison with him"
81 ann at your command, fair lady
Let us go If you desire it; only permi
me, while there is yet time, to say tina
we are very probably going to do grea
| injury to Monsieur Bertomy."
81 cannot remain here inactive, with
out attempting to contribute in some wa.
to his safety"
"You have it in your power, madam,
he said, ''to render a great service t
| child ~ co;I nfa
lot, in a paternal manner. 'It is you
duty, your sacred duty"
"Oh, | understand now! Fool that
was for not seeing it before! My pres
ence here, where l have been for n year
would be an overwhelming charg
against him. An inventory of my pos
sessions would be taken-of my dresses
laces and jewels-and my luxury woul
be brought against him as crime. II
would be asked to tell where he obtaine
so much money to lavish all these ele
gancies on me-"
"That Is true, madam"
'"Then | must flee, monsieur, at once
Did not NJ. Bertomy say to the other en-
of PARISH
81 know Of hotel, but it might nc
suit you. 1t is not elegantly furnishe
like this room, but upon my reconmer
dation you would be treated like a queer
and above all, concealed 1t is OH tn
other side of the river, Quay Saint NJ
chel, the Archangel kept by Madam
Alexandra"
Here are pen and paper; write you
, recommendation"
He rapidly wrote, and handed her tn
, letter.
with these three lines, madam, yo
, can make Madame Alexandra do an,
: thing you wish
Madame Gypsy was about to send fC
hack, but Fanferlot said he was in
hurry. and would send her one II