The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1908-07-02

the center OF the lawn, and ! had bette
be quick about IT," he said.
Relying upon his general knowledge o
the construction Of Partisan garden. NJ
Cassagne walked rapidly forward. struel
his foot against some Unforeseen obsta
Gle. tripped, stumbled. and the ness mo
ment found himself struggling in th'
water. He had overlooked the fact thai
some gardens have fountains
where have you come from. and wha,
have you been doingf" was the astonish'
ed inquiry of Charles DAnburon.
He had been aroused from his bed al
midnight by a thunderous knocking at
his door. and on going to see what all
the noise was about. had discovered Cas-
sagne. standing. the picture Of misery,
under the lamp on the landing.
Dripping YET with the moisture which
ran from all his garments minus his hat.
and shivering like an aspen. the famous
detective presented picture well ealcu-
lated to excite the utmost commiseration I;
but a CLEAN Of triumph was In his I'M
dimmed eye: and he wore the air Of a
conqueror rather than Of a man who had
met with a humiliating accident.
Cassagne entered into a circumstantial
relation of his adventures. When he ar
rived at what he facetiously termed the
not restrain his mirth. and II was so con-
tagious that Cassagne. though the Joke
was against himself. could not refrain
from joining him. The two men roared
until the room shook again When their
merriment had somewhat subsidized M.
Cassagne took up the thread of his nara
tive in this wise:
II had hardly got my head out Of
water. and cleared my ears and eyes, BE-
fore l heard a door open and shut, In
the back part of the house. l crept softly
out Of the fountain and lay extended at
full length upon the grass Straining my
eyes in the direction Of the house. l per
ceived the figure Of a woman coming to-
ward me. She was woman daintily
dressed in full ball costume. had no
difficulty in following her She had slip
ped unperceived from the ball room. and
NO doubt believed herself TO be entirely
free frnm surveillance. l crept along on
my hands and knees and got close to her
as she came around the bend in the gravel
walk. As she neared me, the moon, which
had hitherto been concealed BY passing
clouds, shone out little and cleaned
upon her soft silk dress and her white
shoulders. In that brief moment saw
and recognized her"
-Who was she7' exclaimed DAuburon,
in a tone Of almost breathless interest.
"She was the woman expected She
was Madame Colbert Remplin. the bank
er's wife"
you are joking" exclaimed DAu-
huron. Both Mendotti and yourself must
have been mistaken. The light was I'M
certain, you say. Ii was some young Lady |
Of the household going to meet her lover.
1T was nothing Of the kind. II was
Madame Colbert-Remplin. going to meet
Madame Mechant. nee La Sour. who has
learned some secret Of hers and Is trading
upon it to her own advantage"
Impossible r.
~It is a fact. I can understand NOW
how Madame Mechant Is able to become a
owner By selling meat pud-
iings In the Rue Banquiere. She Is a
l myself heard money pass
between them The chink OF gold pieces.
Il Is a sound which l cannot be deceived
n"
D'Auburon knew the almost marveiouA
.ift which his friend had received from
nature in the matter Of hearing No stag
n the forest could cntch slighter
ound than his highly trained and ex-
Iuisite organ
you are probably correct" he said
Were you able TO CLEAN any particulars
f their secret?'
II was Lot The interview was very
rief, and what little conversation there
ras was carried on in very low tone
n fact, only once or twice did catch
broken sentence. Once they spoke
,uder than usual. Madame Mechant
ras threatening the bankers wife; and I
fadame Colbert-Remplin was begging the
Their not to expose her"
'She has her thoroughly in her powerI'
sked D'Auburon-
Undoubtedly, and that her secret Is
some way connected with Philip Ora
am. l feel convinced"
"whyT-
There was one other sentence I heard,
+ you have no mercy for me, do not .
lin my child. At least respect the feel =
igs Of his unhappy mother" 7
ITO be continued-) q