Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-07-10

and, passing out into the conservatory,
left the money lying on the table, and a
group of astonished guests looking blank
| ly at it.
They have both been crazy to bid like
this" said one; ''they have doubtless gone
to make some arrangement together"
They waited for a minute-for five
minutes. Still the players did not re-
turn. They were in the conservatory still,
hidden from the eyes of the men. If the
wondering group at the card table had
been there, this is what they would have
seen and heard:
They would have heard the vicomte
imploring vainly for one chance; have
seen him offering all he had to the Swiss
If he would go back, and give him one
opportunity to escape-would give him a
bare ten minutes start.
1T Is more than / can do" replied
the Swiss. my men surround this house.
You cannot possibly get away. Such
mercy as / may, give you. 1t is better
than the guillotine."
He handed the vicomte his pistol, and
turning, walked toward the door of the
conservatory. Only once he looked back
to see the Vicomte standing unsteadiIy by
the fountain, a horrible expression upon
his face.
He looked around at the Swiss be-
seechlnsly, 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 pistol shot rang out and
echoed through the whole lower floor Of
the house. The well-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.
II wouldn't come in, II were you. The
Vicomte de Valiar has shot himself He
was the murderer of Madame Roupell,
the old lady who lived at Villeneuve," he
went on to explain.
"Oh, Monsieur Lazare
II am not Monsieur Lazare; l am Al
fred Cassagne, the detective"
Then they looked upon him and won
dered why they had not OWNED it from
the first, for 1t was a face we'll 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
A,,h v1la
shoulder.
81 want you," he said.
Another detective"
Eyes, 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
a merry group met on the platform, and
its members took carriages for the cha
teau. The first one was occupied by Dr.
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 a magnanimOus gen
tleman, and could forgive a victory when
rival had fairly earned it.
1t was noon. 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. at is he"
very dapper, contented looking NOR
tai alighted from the carriage and as
cended the steps of the chateau, a lady
on his arm, little girl holding his otheI
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
| Al l.. T. ~
here Is our little daughter Celeste"
And in the midst of the congratula
lions old Pierre was heard to say:
Breakfast is served"
| (The End.)