Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-11-07

he looked around at the Swiss be-
seechingly. but finding nothing there
which might bid him hope. said despair
ingly:
'Good-by: thank you even for this. ;"
The Swiss walked on and reached the
door OF the conversatory. He leaned
against the Intel OF the door and wait
ed. People were beginning to come and
look for the players. The outer salon
was Already crowded.
Suddenly a pistol shot rang out and
echoed through the whole lower floor Of
the house The welI-dressed. excited
crowd rushed toward the conservatory.
The Swiss gentleman met them in the
doorway. There was something in his
face that stopped them irresistibly, on
the very threshold
Il wouldn't come in. if were you. The
Vicomte de Valiar has shot himself. He
was the murderer of Madame Roupell,
the old lady who lived at Villeneuve," be
went on to explain.
"Oh, Monsieur Lazare,"
Il am not Monsieur LaZare; | am Al
fred Cassagne, the detective"
Then they looked upon him and won
dered why they had not OWNED it from
the first, for it was a face well known
in the shop windows of Paris.
You had better all go home" he sug-
gested. and they went slowly away, all
but one passing safely through the cor
don of police.
AS Herr Goldstein came out with the
rest D'Auburon placed his hand upon his
shoulder.
Il want you" he said.
Another detectiveF
"Yes. another detective"
They took him away INTERESTINGLY, and
Cassagne and D'Auburon went into the
conservatory together. There across the
coping of the marble fountain. prone on
his face and stone dead with the blood
oozing slowly from a small wound in his
forehead and tinging with red the green
leaves of the water lilies, lay the body Of
Philip Graham.
Nearly a year had passed away since
the death of Philip Graham. The Cha
teau Villeneuve, from its long period OF
gloom and mourning, awoke one day with
bells pealing joyously from its towers,
its parks and woodlands smiling beneath
the radiance Of the summer sun.
From an early hour old Pierre had been
awake, bustling hither and thither. He
expected visitors. and long before their
arrival, everything was IN readiness for
their reception.
The train from Paris was in at last.
merry group met on the platform, and
its members took carriages for the cha
nv
and Mrs Paul Mason. The second by
Mr.. and Mrs. Van Lith. The third by
the mayor of Villeneuve and NJ. Delorme,
the justice of the peace. The fourth by
NJ D'Auburon and NJ. Victor Lablanche,
for the latter was magnanimous gen.
tleman, and could forgive a victory when
rival had fairly earned it.
1t was poon. Breakfast was quite
ready. The finest and oldest wines in
the cellars of Villeneuve had been brought
up. The cooks were growing nervous.
Still they did not sit down to the table
At last from the windows of the great
drawing room they saw another carriage
approaching.
You may serve breakfast" cried the
doctor. 1T is he"
II very NdppeI, SoHlehICu iOohihS N4O'
tai alighted from the carriage and as
cended the steps of the chateau, a lady
on his arm, little girl holding his other
hand.
He stood confused for a moment as
they all rushed forward to welcome him ;
but recovered Immediately, he said:
How do you do. my dear friends !;
this is my wife, Madame CasSagne; and
here is our little daughter Celeste"
And in the midst of the congra tula-
tons old Pierre was heard to say:
Breakfast is served"
(The End.)