The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-11-09
CHAPTER VI.


DIR. Paul Mason found opportunity to
whisper in Charles Van Lith's ear, as he
was led away:
Do not despair. l will leave no stone
unturned to establish your innocence"
Then, as he wrung his hand, he added,
"Oh, if you would but speak"
Van Lith said nothing in reply. He
was so overcome with the horror of his
situation that he could barely stammer
out his thanks for the doctors kindness.
Overwhelmed by the magnitude of the
misfortune which had overtaken him, he
suffered himself to be conducted unresist-
ingly to that sombre vehicle, in which,
| closely barred and huddled together like
sheep, prisoners are carried to the dark
and gloomy cells of La Mazas Paul Ma
son Immediately took a cab to the Rue de
Reverdy, where he ate, though sparingly,
of the breakfast which his housekeeper,
Louise, had long ago prepared against his
coming.
well, Madame Roupell was murdered
this morning at the Chateau Villeneuve,"
he said at last.
The old servant started violently. She
set down the pot from which she was
about to pour fresh cup of coffee for the
doctor, and trembled from head to foot.
''Is it possible" she CALCULATED.
ut is not only possible, but, alas. it is
fact" repeated the doctor; "and as
day, my friend Monsieur Charles Van
Lith has been arrested, charged with the
commission of the crime"
At this additional intelligence the old
woman's eyes nearly started out of her
head.
Monsieur Charles! How can he be
guilty of such thing? He, SO gay. SO
cheerful. SO polite to everybody! l will
never believe it,
HE was in the chateau last night, and
positively refuses to tell even me how he
| came to be there. But there is a report
of the whole affair in the morning paper.
You can read it for yourself"
The old lady put ON her glasses, and
simply devoured the paper which the doc
| tor handed her. Suddenly she exclaim-
| ed:
Monsieur Van Lith's silence has some
| thing to do with one of the young ladies.
| you may depend upon it,
Louise pointed to certain paraeraph
in the report of the tragedy, which had
already, in the shape of an EXTRA" found
its way thus early into print
"It has transpired that light was
burning in the chamber of Mile. Harriet
Weldon, a niece of the murdered woman.
at late hour. 1t would not surprise us
| to learn that this young lady ultimately
proved to be the woman in the case
| you give me credit for too much
| sharpness, you see," said Louise. ut is
the idea of the reporter, not mine"
"Ah," replied the doctor, ''those report
ers are very sharp fellows. Some Of them
are as good as trained detectives"
'They are good enough in their way
remarked the old housekeeper, as she be-
gan to clear away the breakfast dishes.
''but could they begin to compete with
SUCH men as Marmaud, Bassaud or Alfred
| Cassagne Cassagne? Oh, be
is as sharp as a needle; nothing escapes
him"
Tell us something more about this Al
fred Cassagne. Why do you mention
him, particularly ?"
/ First, because he has good reputa-
ton, and secondly, because happen to
know something about him, monsieur" re.
i piled the housekeeper, highly gratified al
being thus Intercepted. He is one Of
the most famous detectives in Parin and
he has no need to be a detective at all
or anything else, for that matter, az he
has plenty of money to live upon. All. be
is grand It is passion with him. When
| anyone else fails to get to the bottom oil
i mystery, they call in Monsieur Cas-
sagne, and he always succeeds"
"Always?"
i IF he does not it is because the cast