Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1908-04-04
The Roupell Mystery
q r a n v | |

aie.y by Harriet, endeavoring to com
ort her. Give me the note, | will 60
at once"
Emily was about to hand it to him,
when the voice of NJ. Chabot was heard
raised in marked remonstrance. He spoke
slowly, deliberately, and as Charles Van
Lith listened. he felt that each word
was an iron link In that chain which was
soon to bind him hand and foot, and hold
him up to the world as a murderer.
Monsieur Van Lith must not leave
this house until the shooting of Madame
Ronpell has been investigated by the
proper authorities"
The suddenness of this accusation, the
horror of it, the facts which, with it's ut
terance, instantaneously arose in the
mind of Van Lith and arrayed themselves
remorselessy against him. deprived him
for the moment of the power of reply.
In the dead silence that ensued NJ. Cha
bot turned and dispatched the coachman
on his errand, adding in an imperative
| tone:
after you have called up the DOCTOR
stop at Monsieur Revell's, the mayor, ex-
plain briefly what has happened, then
go to Monsieur Delormes. the justice of
the peace. Tell him, too Remember,
madame's life may depend on the quick
ness of your movements"
NJ. Chabot, whom one would never
have suspected of being cast in an heroic
mold, was undoubtedly the coolest person
in the room.
Van Lith, fully conscious of the awful
peril in which he stood. again essayed
to speak NJ Chabot interrupted him.
| 10 hut
mistaking his firmness. The servants
thought it admirable-and his knowledge
of law, ah ! was it not prodigious?
Monsieur Van Lith, you may be per-
fectly innocent man. If so, it will be
easy enough for you to explain everything
presently to the mayor, whom l have
sent for. In the meantime, the fact of
your appearance here at such an hour as
this, under circumstances which lay you
open to grave suspicion, make it my duty,
as a citizen, to forbid your departure.
Monsieur Chabot % calculated Har-
riet. what do you mean? You surely
don't believe that Charles-that Mon
sieur Van Lith has done this horrible
!, thing?"
The Frenchman shrugged his high
! shoulders-just little. and showed bis
| Wullc ltttu as lie Sullitu-JuSl u llllle
in deprecating manner.
MAN selle must not blame me- l am
simply doing my duty"
| 20, this must not be-" exclaimed the
girl, now almost unneryed with appre.
hension. Il can explain ALL can clear
him"
But her wrist was seized in Van
d Lith's grasp.
L 'Mam'selle can explain?"- began Cha
y bot, pricking up his little ears like a FOX
L terrier.
"Mam'selle will explain nothing" re
, turned Van Lith, meaningly regarding
s the Partisan
l. Then perhaps monsieur CAM"
when the proper time comes yes. T,
Il you. you sneaking cur, not one syllable.
ID The Frenchman's face took on a ghast
/ ly color. He stammered out few unin
e telligible words, as one who in the hea
u of terrible passion pauses to find tn
e most singing epithet But an exclama
IL ton from Emily Weldon checked bot
Ie men instantly. She had been bending owe
T. the PROSTATE form of the injured woman
II Now she looked up, the calm of a grea
L despair in her face, the first tears sh
"a had shed glistening in her fine eyes.
u 20, Harriet" she cried, "she is deat
u l shall never hear her voice again"
y The girls grief was something terribl
to witness. Harriet stole softly to he
es sisters side, and, putting her arms abou
ol her, strove to comfort her.
"a Let us leave them" said Van Lit
III to NJ. Chabot who stood awed and hun
p bled in the presence of such affection.
~ And side by side the two men, til
lh Frenchman and the American. the a,
Sc cuser and the accused. went out froi
at the chamber, leaving the living and d.
#, spairing alone with their sacred dead.
ne