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

The man in charge of the apartment
house at No % Rue de Santin was a
short, dumpy man, of the name of Gug-
hatoff. Though he spoke French fluent
ly, even with the accent of a native, his
high Tartar cheek bones his oblique
eyes, and gutteral information when unduly
excited, sufficiently attested his Russian
origin.
In Gughatof, the Russian, NJ. Cas-
sagne found he had a far more difficult
person to deal with than the little laun-
dress, plant by reason of her excessive
greed. With Gughatoff, whose political
opinions now constituted his whole life
motive, mere gain was a secondary con-
sideration. He devoted all his spare time,
which was considerable, as his wife did
most of the work, to the discussion of
politics. He was one of those men of
whom people say: HE would sooner talk
politics than eat"
The Partisan detective now felt that
while his progress SO far had been salts
factory, the greatest caution on his part
was necessary. He had seen the most
likely cases ruined by too hasty conduct
He did not suffer himself to be unduly
elated by the extremely satisfactory out
como of his interview with Nine. Beau
santin. He went about his work with the
greatest deliberation. A man less a mas
ter of his difficult profession would have
at once excited suspicion, which would
have resulted in the Russians closing
his mouth forever. NJ. Cassagne avoided
this fatal error by the very elaboration
with which he went about his work. His
first step was to find out the kind of man
he had to deal with. In two DAYS, he
had possessed himself of all necessary
information. On the third he continued
to ingratiate himself with the ianitor, in
regard to whose antecedents and pecu-
iaritiss he bad been so careful to make
himself acquainted.
On the fifth day the morning train bore
the detective away from Blois, the richer
for some very important information. He
had shown the portrait in the locket to
Gughatof, and the concierge, like Nine.
Beausantin, had declared it to be the
portrait of the American Henry Graham,
In addition he had actually persuaded
Gughatoh that he had been ali the time
entertaining in Henry Graham a SPY of
the Russian government; that he. Cas-
sagne, belonged tc a friendly circle of
French cooperative Nihilists having its
headquarters in Paris; that Graham had
been at one time a member of the circle.
s sna H.: he Easb sfst T. 'sa1 Ii late
was as red rag to bull, had greedily
swallowed this remarkable fairy tale of
the detectives, especially when the latter
had produced a skillfully prepared docu-
ment in Russian which not only com
mended him to the Offices of all good Nj
hilists, but even gave a distinct account
of the object of his mission and infinitely
described his person for purposes of iden-
tihcation.
True, Cassagne was the author himself
OF this useful paper and had forwarded it
two days previously to D'Auburon in
Paris, where 1t had been translated into
Russian before being returned to Blois.
But happily the concierge was ignorant
OF this deceit, and the plan had therefore
succeeded perfectly. Burning with hatred
for the supposed spy, Gughatof had told
al he knew Of his late guest, which was
as follows:
Henry Graham had resided In Blois
some six or seven years, during which
time he had had correspondence with two
persons only. Gughatoff knew this, be-
cause, latterly, Graham, for fear of cred
itors, had rarely left his apartments, and
Gugsstof had mailed his letters for him.
The first of these persons was Nine.
Roupell, THIS again establishing beyond
q doubt the identify of the Henry Ora
ham of Blois with the dissolute brother
Of the late owner of the Chateau Vile
neuve.
The surname Of Henry Graham's Sec
ond correspondent had escaped the MEM
CRY of the concierge in the course of
years. He was positive, however, that
her first name had been Helene, and that
she had resided at Belliers, small village
n the department of the Loire.
This second correspondent had also
been a lsdy-a well-educated, refined
lady, be should judge, for he had been in
the habit Of taking up III. Graham's mail,
and the envelopes had been fine and deli
cately scented, and had borne crest and
monogram on the outside, such as were
only used by persons of rank
As the train rushed across the land
scape. Cassagne relapsed into a medita-
tive mood. The thought required TO him,
was this woman, after lapse Of 50 many
years, yet alive. and would ii be possible
to find her? If Graham was the murder
er, as he now believed the person most
likely to know of his present whereabouts
would be this one-the woman who, in
all probability, had been his wife. He fell
. studying how old this boy could be