Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-09-12
The Roupell Mystery
v u s IN G lie

u Auburon was rapidly cooling. He
had been waiting ali the evening for the
arrival OF his friend to indulge in his
TRADE against the project He had deliy-
cred himself. Then he became again, as
Cassagne put it, "a reasoning being"
Cassagne then gave D'Auburon a short
sketch Of what had occurred at the Cha
teau Nilleneuve. He finish his account
by producing the little gold lecket.
The man who wore this was last heard
from at Blois. The owner Of this Iocket
was the man who actually murdered Mad
anne Roupell. Whether he had accom-
plices or not it is hard at present to say.
The project argues. doubtless, from Jules
Chabot's presence in the chateau on the
night of the murder, that he is in some
way connected with it. Ny own opinion
Is that it is a mere coincidence nothing
more. Still it will not do to leave any
point uncovered. That's why want you
TO keep him well in sight. Do you see?"
Il see, Of course" responded D'Au-
buron. Il can keep him in sight read
lily. Meantime. what do you yourself pro-
pose to do? Go to Blois, suppose"
Exactly, and l start tomorrow morn
ing. That means shall go to bed early
tonight. You must try and discover
this man Chabot's most intimate friends.
meanwhile. l may be gone for a day or
so. Try and go where he goes, to be in
vited where he is invited; and above all
don't let Lablanche get ahead of US. He's
not such fool as you think. If he makes
blunders remember he makes remarkably
clever ones"
There was some talk of a ball to-mor-
row night" remarked D'Auburon at
length, when he had we'll weighed the
others words-'a ball at the Vicomte de
Valiar's-"
All do you know him."
Yes, as | know them all. l know of
him. He can be got at if necessary. From
what Chabot dropped" continued D'Au-
huron, Il believe he intends to be there.
He is quite in with the de Valiars, I
understand. You have heard of de Va
liars, l suppose? Great financial nabob,
and all that sort of thing
Cassagne nodded, quietly. You ought
certainly to be there. One never knows
what may happen"
Now to find, in population of near
ly thirty thousand people. this one indi-
vidual, this Henry Graham, who was last
heard from in this very city seven years
| ago." solnoquized NJ. Cassagne, as he
stepped from his compartment on to the
platform of the little railway station and
saw frowning from above him the ancient
| castle of Rlois. All the way down in the
train he had been busily occupied in plan
ming how he would find the human needle,
Henry Graham, in the bundle of hay,
Blois.
With nothing to guide him but his own
marvellous powers of reasoning. he now
started forth upon a search which ninety
nine men out OF a hundred would have
! considered worse than useless For it
was quite within the bounds of possibility
that the man he was looking for had lived
in Blois under another name than that of
! Henry Graham.
NJ Cassagne sauntered quietly down
the curving, narrow ms in street of the
old town. By nightfall he had accom-
plished this He had had his hair dress
ed nearly twenty times, he had ordered
| and paid for but barely tasted nearly
| forty meals. He had discovered that
| there were exactly two inns for every
barber in the town of Blois. But no
barber, and no innkeeper had been able
to inform him of such a person as Henry
Graham. NJ. Cassagne retired to rest in
the suggest hostelry in the town, the
Golden Fleece.
| Such progress did the detective make
the next morning in the good graces of
| NJ Cratteau, the proprietor of the inn,
that by the time the ancient gilt clock
| over the stables had chimed out the half
| Nd h.
len terms, walking around the little gar
den and chatting and talking confden-
TALLY.
NJ Cassagne was confding a wonder
| full fairy story. He was at Blois in the
interests of little girl of whose person
and estate he had been appointed guar
dian. He had only to establish the death
of one individual to prove his little ward
| heir to a large property in America. NJ
| Cratteau, in his ten years residence in
Blois, had doubtless met many Ameri-
cans.
Yes, many"
Had monsieur known an American
called Henry GrahamY
Graham! Graham?" No, the man
had not. But l think l can direct YOU
to person who cam" he added. Go and
see Madame Beausantin, the old washer
woman of the Rue du Concert. She has
done the washing of every American who
has been in Blois for the past twenty
years. She gets all the business because
she knows what they want She may be
able to tell you something about him."
1t was barely nine o'clock when NJ.
! Cassagne, having finished his coffee and
of the Golden Fleece, and proceeded in
the direction of the Rue du Concert 1t
was a short street, containing neither
inns nor barber shops, which, perhaps,
| accounted 70 his not having previously
set foot within its precincts. If it had
not been for the fortuitous meeting with
| Cratteau, in all probability NJ. Cas-
sagne would never have thought of
looking there for traces of Henry Ora
ham.
1t was a bright, smart shop with
large plate glass windows. in which were
| displayed, beautifully ironed, two long
lace curtains, lying specimens of the quail
| ity of the work which was never, even
| for the best customers, done within. The
| interior of the establishment was fitted
| up with a large stove in the rear, on
| which dozens of irons were heating. Rang
| ed in long rows across the floor were the
| ironing benches at which the women la
| bored. Through an open door at the
back. q glimpse of huge piles of linen, in
| various stages of renovation. was to be
had. The whole place was full of steam
| Though the weather was warm, there was
an entire absence of proper ventilation
| The atmosphere of the place 70 one nm
accustomed to breathe it was intoierable.
The appearance of the young women
| in the establishment of Nine. Beausan-
| tin, however, entirely belied that of the
popular picture. Notwithstanding the ar
| duous character of their employment, they
were as robust and strong as amazons.
! The glow of health was on their cheeks,
| and the muscles of their bare arms and
necks stood out like whip cords. They
| were not at work, however. when NJ. Cas-
sagne arrived 1t was a time-honored
| custom Of the establishment that from
| nj o'olounl- 70 boIf-r,oSf n he do