Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-11-01
The Roupell Mystery


O' Hnslish ana carrying in his gloved
nanos tall silk hat, and the inevitable
umbrella OF the rain-af1icted Briton, en-
tefed the apartment. He was accom-
panied by lady whose grace Of carriage.
and really handsome face, accentuated if
anything IN the eyes of the Frenchman
the vlllainous fit of all her garments.
Ihere should be law passed to COM
pei such people to employ Partisan dress
| makers. But even then they would never
look like our women" was his inward
comment, as he arose, and with the DO
likeness OF his race bowed low as hA re-
| celved his visitors
Monsieur lie project, I presume" said
the gentleman, in French which was SIM
| ply execrable. Il have the honor of ad-
dressing Monsieur Lablanche, the project
OF the Partisan police?"
L am he, monsieur
Kermit me to present you to my wife,
Madame Observation-Disclosures Victor La
| blanche"
Ihe Frenchman bowed more CALAMITY
than ever. Really, Notwithstanding their
| gaucheries, these English women were
quite charming. In fact, the project was
agreeably surprised with his visitors. The
Engl1shman's manner was perfect With
his native dignity was blended delight
full air of Difference and politeness. Not
withstanding his villainous pronouncia-
ton of the French language, he managed
| to make himself clearly understood. The
evident cordially of his manner thawed
whatever reserve the project had sought
| to hedge himself in with. His heart
| quite warmed to the intelligent Lon
| doner
Il have the great fortune to be the
| bearer of a letter to you, monsieur" he
said, from the superintendent of police
| at Scotland Yard, our mutual friend,
| Mr.. James T. Henderson,"
II am delighted to see anyone who
comes to me introduced by Monsieur Hen
derson," replied the project.
He scarcely glanced at the letter. He
was afraid he had but little to show them
| after the magnificent department of his
friend, NJ. Henderson, in London. Still
he should be happy to place himself at
their disposal. What would they like to
see first?
"Oh, the rogues' gallery, by all MEANS"
| suggested Nine. Russell, enthusiastically.
''Or your splendid Bertillon system of
measurement for prisoners, which you
have brought to such perfection in Paris, !"
added her husband.
1t was a telling compliment, because
| it was true. M. Lablanche had been in
deed the first to adopt the Bertillon sys-
tenn, and under his supervision it had
attained a marvellous degree of accuracy
and perfection. He had taken the raw
theory of prison reformer, and reduced
| it to a practical science.
"Our rogues' gallery is not as extern
sive as it used to be-" he explained.
"Since the adoption of the system of
| measurements we have not photographed
any but the most notorious criminals. You
can pr6sably see more pictures in Lon
don. However, I will show you some Of
| the most important"
| He led the way into square, high
ceiled chamber, lighted from the roof only,
the walls of which were literally covered
with portraits of the desperadoes of
| France.
''You see we have them arranged al
phabetically, and here is an index book
on the table for instant reference. Oppo-
site each name, you see, l have placed
| the Bertillon measurement of all those
| prisoners who have come here since the
| sdontion of that system. There they are,
men and women, from all classes of So
cietv. and of every degree of crime and
misfortune"
The fair English woman seemed
strangely moved.
"Poor creatures" she murmured soft
1v as her little hand rested involuntarlly
| on the officers coat sleeve.
| The nrefect regarded her admiringly.
Tears of genuine pity were in her bright,
laughing eyes.
"Rut it is strangely interesting" she
added. ooh! monsieur, please show me
| ono or two of the most desperate and
| relate their history
The prefect turned to NJ. Russell. The
EngIishman was evidently deeply engross-
cd in the index, hunting up the charac-
tiers for himself, in his independent Eng
| lish fashion.
"No I don't want to hear the his
tories" he said, looking up from the book
with a cordial smile. I'm perfectly
hornv But Mrs Russell Is an enthu-
eiost on criminal heroes. She would be
Co.. raising a monument to Jack Shep-
| nard and Dick Turpin, If l would allow
| her"
eft is a sad thing to have a brutal
husband" cried madame, with a pretty
mont, as she went across the room on the
arm of the project. 'Let US leave him
| TO his own devices, monsieur, since he
saws he is happy, and amuse ourselves.
The susceptible NJ. Lablanche was IN
tbe eventh heaven. He was entirely at
the service of madame. So he proceeded
TO regale her with short sketches OF MS
favorite malefactors. and madame looked
ON and laughed or became sad, just as
the proper time.
| They had completed the circuit OF the
| room and were near the door again. NJ
RUSSELL was still investigating on his own
account. Mime. Russell, the pressure OF
her little hand still upon the arm OF her
Gallant conductor, looked up lmplorlngiy
ot him with those fatal eyes.
ooh monsieur she said, do show me
some of the prisoners:
eft is not a pleasing sight for mad