The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-12-07
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quasi-separation. which leaves the wife in
a position to enjoy herself without dan
ger OF comment, and supplies her. under
the French law, moreover, with the means
of doing so. fs,
OF the many frequenters Of the yicom-
tesse's establishment in the Avenue Way.
ram perhaps NJ. Jules Chabot was as wei
come guest as any. His undoubted re-
spectability made him an exceedingly de-
sirable acquaintance. NJ. Chabot, on the
other hand, liked the free-and-easy at
mosphere Of the de valiar mansion. De
Vallar was man who always had some
young, rich fool dangling after him. de-
sirous Of seeing life. A certain portion
OF the money only of these innocents
could be diverted to the innumerable and
mysterious uses. Of the Mutual Credit
and Trust Company. They were then af-
forded an opportunity Of losing the resi-
due at the card tables in the Avenue
Wagram. % n
Many, doubtless who frequented the
vlcomte,s establishment were totally un-
aware OF the risks they ran. These were
rarely suffered to 60 behind the curtain.
NJ. Chabot was one of those who had for
some time not been admitted to the priv
lieged circle without great care. To do
him justice, 1t is highly probable that if
the veil had been removed all at once, he
would have ceased his visits altogether.
he lived in bachelor apartments. Pro-
foundry impressed with a sense Of his
personal dignity, he endeavored on very
small income to keep up appearances.
Lately, however, he had Joined de Valiar
in more than one investment by which
he had profted.
The willy de Valiar. who had allowed
his friend to pocket something handsome
as his share of these enterprises, of
course, had his object in view. What
other, indeed, could it be than to discover
all about Chabot's rich friend, Nine.
Roupell, concerning whom Nj. Chabot was
not at all 10th to impart information,
for he would in his turn be able to dis
cover what probable dot the old lady
would be, able to give whichever Of the
girls he should choose to marry.
Such inquiries, the vicomte, whose Do
sition in the world of finance enabled him
to make better than Chabot, willingly
set on foot to oblige his friend. He as
sured NJ. Chabot that report had not ex-
aggerated Nine. Roupell's wealth. That
portion of a million and half of
francs had been set apart for the We'll
don sisters. In the opinion of M. Cha
bot, it only remained for him to declare
himself to one or the other of the young
ladies, and he had been, as the reader
will have seen, on the very eve, of max
ing such declaration to Emily Weldon
when the tragedy occurred. -a pa
The question which now arose in the
mind Of NJ. Victor Lablanche, the astute
project of police, was this: Had NJ Cha
bot sought to precipitate matters by the
removal of the proprietress Of the Cha
teau Villeneuve? He had discovered al
ready that inquiries regarding her fortune
and her intentions respecting it had been
set on foot by. Jules Chabot A little
further research revealed the fact that
the Frenchman's finances were in a des-
perate condition. In his later enterprises
with the Vicomte de Valiar, fortune had
not been SO kind. He had lost heavily
CHAPTER XII.
Five years before the tragedy at the
Chateau Villeneuve, Charles D'Auburon
had found himself the untrammeled pos
SCISSOR of considerable patrimony, and
had started in to enjoy life. He was then
twenty-one years Of age. Two years later
he had exhausted every means Of pleasure.
He was at that age when really good
woman would have proved his salvation.
She did not, however, make her appear
ance. He was destined to find relief in
a more novel and totally unexpected d.
rection.
The Rue Brodier Is not particularly
attractive street. either before or after
midnight. The police will assure you
that it is positively dangerous. Many a
sunrise has revealed the body Of some
victim lying in its dark courts and moi
some alleys. 1t is altogether strange
place for young man of means, who by
rights should at such an hour be snugly
in bed and asleep, to be wandering in at
three o'clock in the morning. 1t is the
abode Of robbers. Every house In 1t Is a
den of thieves. The Seine, running by
at its foot with dark and turbid food,
is altogether too handy.
It was to this unattractive street that
at an unseemly hour Charles D'Auburon
strayed with unconscious feet. He had
arisen from sleepless bed, and had
strolled far and near, intending to tire
himself out. Then his reward would
come; repose, sound and refreshing, and,
glorious thought, perhaps an appetite. to
which latter luxury he had been for some
days stranger
He walked on, totally unconscious Of
danger, thick stick his only weapon, In
all the confidence OF man who has never
felt the crack Of a brass knuckis In the
hand Of a earroter or made the acquaint-
ance Of sandbag.
Dark figures were creeping from the
alleys behind him. Mysterious whistles
reaounded and re-echoed from the courts.
Something told him Of his danger. He
stopped and looked mp at name on the
corner house, just legible In the dingy
Lamp light. To what part Of Paris had
hewandered? He was In the Rue Brodier.
Involuntarily he turned to retrace his
steps, only to find himself confronted By
1 half score Of sturdy rufiians. he grasp
ed his stick the tighter and backed closer
to the wall. His face was very pale;
but he did not show any sign Of fear.