The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1905-03-11
FRANKLIN. LA. SATURDAY, MARCH IT, 1905
"V1llebols, il you please" .nterpogsd

J "Villebois, if you please" :nterpossd
his interlocutor.
But am not mistaken, | hope. Yo,
are NJ. Richard Villebois de Brian
court. owner Of this chateau, are yo,
not?"
"Oh, yes; but l am better known a,
Villebois."
VERY goot. A client OF mine, q
wealthy man, is anxious to acquire this
demesne, and if you are disposed tC
sell 1t you have but to name any rea
sonable figure, and we can finish the
business forthwith"
II have not the least intention to sell
the property replied NJ. villebois,
drlly.
"But-say the chateau alone, with.
out foot Of land around it; snail we
say ten thousand pounds?" asked NJ.
Latour.
Il have refused that sum already"
I'm busy man, M. Villebois, and
things are going to the dogs in Paris
whilst I'm away. A hundred thousand
pounds, cash down; what do you say?'
"A hundred thousand pounds" ex
claimed NJ. Villebois. cam l mad or
are you? The place isn't worth it. Is
this dream, parbleu! or am talking
to a real man."
You'll think me real enough when
count out the bank-notes to you.
Well, what is it. You accept?"
Eyes. I'll take hundred thousand
pounds; but where's the money!" ejac-
ulated M. Villebois, deliriously, as if
recovering from trance.
"Oh. it's not mile oif,' replied NJ.
Latour, laconically. so, as we now
agree, here are the conditions
"YOu have, no doubt, heard that
your grandfather, who died during the
revolution, left will and a vast for
tune"
"Yes, my father told me all about
It,"
"Well, in those troubled times, he
was fortunate enough to be able to
realize all his investments in and near
Paris-everything he possessed, in
fact, except this far off chateau-and
convert the same into hard cash. His
fortune over and above this property,
exceeds a million sterling. Both the
will and all traces of the where
abouts of the fortune were lost un-
til a few weeks ago. They are in
Paris now in the hands of my client.
Attached to the will is plan marking
the exact spot where the iron chest
containing the fortune lies buried. 1t
Is on this veey property, M. Villebois;
but neither you nor any man in all
creation could discover it, even though
a lifetime were spent digging into
the bowels Of the earth. These are my
terms, M. Villebois. You must sign
deed making over to me one-half of
your inheritance. Out OF that half
will pay to you the hundred thousand
pounds purchase money, so that you
viii receive about six and four hun
dl,al thousand pounds"
"i3lt the fortunes my birthright!
sure'v commission"
"Iou have heard my conditions, T.
Vile I)ois. If you want The whole,
search for it, especially if you want 5c
shorten your life by bitter lisappoilt-I
nen' Here are the deeds ready for |
vour signature" added NJ. Latour, as !
1e drew from his pocket Two manus-
,rirts, and placed them on the table.
"Wall, if 1 must" sighed NJ. Vile
,Cis /
"--Jc, no! all you must do Is to please
,ou-s elf."
So NJ. Villebois, without Ilrther hes
latic1, seized the p7offered pen and
igre. the two documents which re
ated respectively to the assignment
t half the fortune, and to Tie sale
i the chateau for the sum Of one hun
red thousand pounds, payable twelve
ours after possession.
Every good" exclaimed M Latour,
lacing the document in his coat
ocket.
"The Chateau Briancourt is my
AOQCAJy AlOuA lu1o kuOiuSuI~ luSn
'hispering in the ear of M. villebois,
e continued: "The secret I sell to
ou only, you understand. You must
nd pretext to send away that SER
ant Of yours till tomorrow morning.
will be Esre at 6 o'clock this even
lg. Be alone and ready with pick,
shovel, lantern and a stout rope"
Then with lordly flourish of his
tt hand the new owner of Chateau
riancourt bade adieu to the bewil-
cred N. Villebois and departed.
Jeanette was pleased to hear that
le could go to visit some of her rela- {
yes about four miles away and re-
I'm the next day. Punctually at the {
,pointed hour M. Latour tapped at l
e door, which was opened by NJ. Viii
bois, whose features betrayed his
entail agitation.
'.Is all ready?" inquired N. Latour,
yly. h
Eyes, I have everything here" re- !,
lned M. Villebois. !;
Follow me then, to the Kitchen" :