Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-12-20
The Roupell Mystery
G r a n v i | 1 e

luietly by Harriet, endeavoring to com
iort her. Give me the note, | will go
at once"
Emily was about to hand it to him.
when the voice of NJ Chabot was heard
raised in marked remonstrance He spoke
slowly, deliberately, and as Charles Van
Llth listened, he felt that each word
was an iron link in that chain which was
soon 10 bind him hand and foot, and hold
MIN up to the world as a murderer
Monsieur Van Lith must not leave
THIS house until the shooting of Madame
Roupell has been investigated by the
proper authorities"
Ihe suddenness of this accusation, the
horror of it, the facts which. with it's ut
terance, instantaneously arose in the
mind of Van Lith and arrayed themselves
remorselessly against him, deprived him
Tor the moment of the power of reply.
In the dead silence that ensued VI. Cha
bot turned and dispatched the coachman
on his errand, adding in an imperative
tone
After you have called up the doctor,
stop at Monsieur Revell's, the mayor, ex-
plain briefly what has happened, then
go to Monsieur nslorme's, the justice of
the peace. Tell him, too. Remember,
madame's life may depend on the quick
ness of your movements"
NJ. Chabot, whom one would never
have suspected of being cast in an heroic
mold. was undoubtedly the coolest person
in the room.
Van Lith, fully conscious of the awful
peril in which he stood, again essayed
to speak. NJ. Chabot interrupted him.
He did it politely; but there was no
mistaking his frmness. The servants
thought 1t admirable his knowledge
of law, ah! was it not prodigious?
Monsieur Van Lith, you may be a per-
fectly innocent man. If so, it will be
easy enough for you to explain everything
presently to the mayor, whom | have
sent for. In the meantime, the fact Of
your appearance here at such an hour as
this, under circumstances which lay you
open to grave suspicion, make it my duty,
as a citizen, to forbid your departure.
Monsieur Chabot." calculated Har-
riet. What do you mean? You surely
don't believe that Charles-that Mon
sieur Van Lith has done this horrible
thing"
The Frenchman shrugged his high
shoulders-just a little, and showed his
white teeth as he smiled-just little,
in deprecating manner.
Nam 'selle must not blame me. l am
simply doing my duty"
l..
girl, now almost unnerved with appre.
hension. II can explain ALL can clear
| him"
But her wrist was seized in Van
Lith's grasp.
Nam 'selle can explain ~ began Cha.
bot pricking up his little ears like a fox
terrier.
"Mam'selle will explain nothing" re-
turned Van Lith, meaningly regarding
the Partisan.
Then perhaps monsieur CAM"
When the proper time comes, yes. To
you, you sneaking cur, not one syllable ~
The Frenchmans face took on a ghast-
ly color. He stammered out few unin-
telliglble words, as one who in the heat
of terrible passion pauses to find the
most stinging epithet. But an exclama-
ton from Emily Weldon checked both
men instantly. She had been bending over
the PROSTATE form of the injured woman.
Now she looked up, the calm of a great
despair in her face, the first tears she
had shed glistenng in her fine eyes,
20, Harriet" she cried, "she is dead.
| shall never hear her voice again"
The girls grief was something terrible
to witness Harriet stole softly to her
sisters side. and, putting her arms about
her, strove to comfort her.
Let us leave them" said Van Lith
to NJ. Chabot, who s,ood awed and hum
bled in the presence of such affliction.
And side by side the two men, the
Frenchman and the American, the ac-
cuser and the accused, went out from
the chamber, leaving the living and de-
spairing alone with their sacred dead.