Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1908-03-27
The RoupelI Mystery

quietly by Harriet, endeayoring to com
tort her. Give me the note, | will go
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
Roupell 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
remorselessly 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 Grand adding in an imperative
tone
After you have called up the doctor,
stop at Monsieur Revel's, the mayor, ex-
plain briefly what has happened. then
go to Monsieur Delorme's, 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. ~. o.
Van Lith, fully conscious of the. awful
peril in which he STOOD again essayed
to speak. M. Chabot interrupted him.
He did it politely; but there was no
installing his frmness. The servants
thought it admirable his knowledge
of law. ah was it not prodigious?
Monsieur Van Lith, you may be a 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-
ret. what do you meany You surely
don't believe that Charles-that Mon
seur Van Lith has done this horrible
thng?"
. The Frenchman shrugged his high
shoulders-just little, and showed his
white teeth as he smiled-just a little,
in a deprecating manner.
"Mam'se must not blame me. am
simply doing my duty"
20, this must not be- exclaimed the
girl, now almost unnerved with appre-
tension. 81 can explain ALL can clear
him"
But her wrist was seized in. Van
Lith's grasp.
"Mamselle can explain ~ began Cha
bot, pricking up his little ears like fox
terrier.
"Mam'selle will explain nothing" re
turned Van Lith, meaningy regarding
the Partisan.
Then perhaps monsieur CAM"
when the proper time comes. yes. To
you, you sneaking cur, not one syllable
The Frenchman's face took on a ghast-
ly color. He stammered out a few unin-
telligible' words, as one who in the heat
OF terrible passion pauses to find the
most stinging epithet. But an exclama-
ton from Emily Weldon checked both
men instantly. She had been bending over
the PROSTATE form of the injured woman
Now she looked up. the calm of great
despair in her face. the first tears she
had shed gllstening in her fine eyes.
20, Harriet" she cried '"she is dead
l shall never hear her voice again."
1 The girls grief was something terrible
to witness. Harriet stole softly to hel
sisters side. and, putting her arms about
her, strove to comfort her.
Let us leave them" said Van LItt
to NJ. Chabot, who stood awed and hum
bled in the presence of such affection.
And side by side the two men, tn,
Frenchman and the American. the &C
cuser and the accused, went out from
the chamber, leaving the living and de
spairing alone with their sacred dead.