Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-09-19

the concierge, had given the child's age at
| about ten when Graham had left Blois,
and little more than twenty years had
elapsed since that time. If he could find
| him, ne perhaps might yet be in COM
munication with his father.
When Henry Graham had left Blois he,
too, had turned his steps in the direction
Of Belliers. For Gughatof had forward
ed several letters to him at that place. 1t
was toward Belliers, therefore, that he
| Cassagne, must hasten, there to pursue
his Investigations; but first Of all he
! would go to Paris. He must find out
| what N. Lablanche had accomplished He
/ must also receive the report of his as
| sistant, who meantime would not have
been idle
The first thing VI. Cassagne did upon
his arrival in Paris was to hail cab
Jumping in, he babe the man drive to
the apartment of his friend and assist
ant, DAuburon, in the Rue de Provence.
1t was about noon when he assembled the
staircase and raped loudly on the door
of the vestibule. D'Auburon came out
himself to let him in, rubbing his eyes.
Il have been up pretty nearly all night"
he said, yawning terribly. wait till
get a bath. Then we will have some
| breakfast"
"Confound the fellow exclaimed the
impatient Cassagne. Il never call on
him but he is either In the bath or just
about to take one. 1t is the one thing
against his making good detective. He
is too fond of water"
A minute afterward D'Auburon appear
ed in a loose dressing gown and Turkish
slippers, swinging two enormous Indian
clubs in manner that threatened de-
struction to the chandeliers and orna-
| ments.
While he was thus engaged, Cassagne
had arisen. He was walking restlessly up
and down the room. The splashing of the
water had given him a sudden fit of shiv-
ering. The sight of his friend wasting
precious time on what he deemed a friv-
olous exercise, also irritated him. Sud-
denly his eye fell upon a card in the
receiver on the center table. 1t was
very elegantly engraved piece of paste
board, surmounted with a coronet en-
bossed in gold. Its inscription read:
THE Vicomte de Valiar."
"Ah," exclaimed Cassagne, that's the
man to whom l procured you the letter
of introduction. You managed to get
there"
YES" replied D'Auburon, land he call
ed when 1 was out and left his card. A
great fnancier he is. President of half
a dozen big companies. He has made
one fortune and has twenty irons in the
fire. all of which he manages to keep re-
specially heated"
Never mind him for the present" in
|
me of Chabot, above all. I want to know
what the project of police has accomplish
ed. How many men has he got on the
lease"
-Four !"
"Who are they?"
'Vougeot, Remoul, Villeroy and Cou-
tinet."
None of them is up to much except
Vougeot," unused NJ. Cassagne, to whom
the detectives named were well known.
"Vougeot is a pretty smart fellow. What
is he doing?"
He is shadowing Chabot. So far be
has accomplished nothing"
Now tell me what has happened. This
man Chabot. Is monsieur lie project still
serious in his belief that he is in some
way implicated in this crime?''
"Assuredly, but there is a more absurd
phase to it than that. Whom do you
think, in addition to Chabot, monsieur lie
project has placed under surveillauce?"
"Oh, l can't tell. The man in the
moon, perhaps"
mo, not so bad as that. But, deter
mined to cover all points, 1 suppose he
has placed watch upon the movements
of the American, DR.. Paul Mason. That's
not all. Poor, honest Pierre, the butler
at the chateau, a man whom you yourself
examined and said wouldn't hurt a fly,
has also been included, 1t is positively
shameful to permit such bunglers as La
blanche to squander the secret service
funds in such fooleries. Another fellow.
l understand, has been haunting the park
at Villeneuve, and was nearly shot by
one Of the keepers who took him for a
poacher. They hauled him before the
mayor down there, and the man had to
tell his whole story to clear himself. The
project was raving when he heard of II
He discharged him from the force"
More bungling," remarked Cassagne
WHO was it,
Little Triflet" 20
Hunt him up. Pay him we'll, and tell
him to keep his mouth shut. He NAV
know just enough Of the projects plans to
be a very useful man for u.s. Meantime,
what have you found about this Mon
sieur Chabot?"
He is an adventurer, one Of the de-
cayed gentleman class; belongs to a cou-
pie Of clubs; has the entree into some
very good and also some very question
able society. He has become affiliated
nil r-.a
the last year or two. They are in several
schemes together. Lately he has been
making some money"
HAnd tht Ncaask You SAP, is an able
fnancier?",
Very, I should say. He ioated the
City and Suburban Messenger Company,
and was shrewd enough to withdraw be-
fore it went under. He is, as told you.
president Of the Mutual Credit Com
pany, and large operator on the Bourse
He appears to have been very successful.
His wife, the vicomtesse, has doubtless
been a powerful factor in the making of
his fortunes. All, but she is charming.
You should see her. 1t was her influ-
ence, doubtless, which secured the CO.
operation of Monsieur Colbert empl;n,
the banker of Rue Hartmann, in that
deal. He was a naughty old fellow and
never would have entertained the bust
ness proposition of de Valiar if it hadn't
been for the vicomtesse. She sat next
to him at dinner. The next day the
prospectus of the Montainbleau Charcoal
Company was issued. and the name of
Colbert Remplin was on the board of d.
rectors."
who told you all this?'
Told me? Why, 1 was there myself
They put me in as well. Look, here I am
in big type. See !"
m. CHARLES D'AUBURON,
Capitalist"
Cassagne's eye cleaned with delight.
He felt proud of his pupil. He sat and
listened while his pupil ratified on, think
ing deeply, as was his wont. Presently
he pulled out his watch.
"It is two o'clock" he said. MY train
leaves at three thirty, and 1 have a few
matters to attend to before I start If