Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-08-29
CHAPTER TX.

Hardly had NJ. Alfred CaSSagne swat
lowed the last mouthful of his breakfast,
than his active mind reverted again to
the mystery which yet surrounded the
death of Nine Roupell.
Who was the man, at present unknown,
who had crept like a thief in the night
into the chateau, and as quietly stolen
away when his foul work had been &C
complished? And what was his motive in
committing the crime? Was he in any
way connected with NJ. Chabot? Could
it be possible that the project of police
tad stumbled on the real instigator Of
the murder in the person of Chabot. and
that this unknown person was his con-
federate? Most likely at that moment,
some officer from the prefecture was en-
gagged in closely watching Chabot's slight
est movements There might be some
thing in the projects theory. after all.
Mature reflection convinced NJ. Cassagne
that it would not do to dismiss it with
mere shrug of the shoulders. Chabot's
accomplice might be the man they were
looking for. Anyhow, it would not do to
leave the point uncovered.
Il must write at once" he said. pres
emily, ito Cliquot. Cliquot is my assist
ant We must have him keep watch of
this Monsieur Chabot's movements"
NJ Cassagne wrote out a series of in
structions, particularly cautioning his as
sistant to keep track of NJ. Chabot, and
under no circumstances, if he ran across
any of the people from the prefecture, to
let them really know who he was. Then
he appeared to be engrossed in thought
He rubbed his hands violently together.
as if he would impart activity to his
brain by the friction. He arose. thrust
back his chair. and began to walk raIidly
up and down the room, stopping occasion
ally to examine the pictures on the walls,
with the eye of critic.
"Madame's husband left her very well
off, I should Judge" he remarked at last.
Very" replied DR.. Mason.
How long ago did Monsieur Roupeil
die?'
About fifteen years"
And then she took up with the
nieces?"
Not Immediately. 1t was not until
/ the death of their parents that Madame
Roupen went to America to fetch them"
Tell me what relatives Madame Rou-
pell had besides these young ladies'"
There were no other relatives except
a brother, a dissolute character who fol-
lowed his sister from America to this
country"
And his name?''
Gas l recolect it, Henry Graham, I
believe. A man of fifty or sixty"
When did you last see this Henry
Graham?"
-.
to the chateau, on some begging expedi-
ton when l happened to be here. He
pretended to be very affectionate. He
| was poor looking creature, quite broken
down when l saw him, and not at all the
| kind of man to commit a daring crime
'Recollect that the moment Madame
| Roupell died he had an interest in her
| estate. He was her nearest heir-at-law."
But she had made her will, she had
| disowned him, and utterly cast him off
| That will bequeathed all her property to
her nicces. l witnessed it. | knew what
was in it."
NJ. Cassagn began to grow more and
more interested. He no longer cast his
| eyes upon the walls and ceiling But he
| looked the doctor straight in the face
ION what was that will written? Try
your utmost now to recollect that; a
great deal depends on it,
The first will was not written upon
paper. The second contained some slight
requests to friends and to favorite ser
wants. l believe I was mentioned my
self for some trifing amount. In other
respects the two wills were identical. The
! first one was drawn up by Madame Rou-
| III IL.
at her bankers. The first one remained
| in the house. 1t was engrossed on parch-
ment."
ION parchment" repeated NJ Casa ne.
Was it anything like this?" and he
| handed scrap of the article in question
over to the doctor.
Where did you find this?' inquired
the doctor when he could sufficiently re-
cover from his establishment to speak.
Il found it upstairs replied NJ. Cas-
sagne. Il put it in my pocket, because
it was in queer place for scrap of
parchment / found it with four other
| pieces. in the fireplace of Madame Rou-
pelrs bedroom. OF course, have the
| DRY, now, how they came there. First of
all, however. before l come to that, tell
me if you are certain that the scraps
were torn from Madame Roupells will
the first will, l mean-the parchment
one?''
The physician did not Immediately re-
ply. He fully realized the Importance of
his answer, and bow much hung on it.
Give me the scraps" he said. IF
| there is any writing on them l should
be able to tell by that 1t was a very
peculiar hand. 1t looked as if it had been
engrossed by an English scrivener. Yes,
the handwritings are identical"
1T is enough" muttered Cassagne,
sweeping the pieces of parchment up
from the table and putting them carefully
away in his pocketbook. Now for my
theory. Henry Graham is the man we
want to find. Mind you, ! don't say he
committed the murder. but you'll see he
is implicated in it in some way or other
He had everything to gain by Madame
Roupelrs death. provided she died intes-
tate. He must have learned in some way
that his sister had made g viii disinherit-
ing him To gain possession OF what ne
thought was the only will was his object
If he could do that, his sister. being lg-
norant of the fact that the viii was de-
stroyed. would go to her grave bellev-
ing herself testate. On her death her
brother could have come forward and
claimed the property.
1t was clever reasoning. The doctor
listened with breathless interest as the
detective continued:
Assuming that it is this Henry Ora
ham, let Us see what he knew and what