The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-09-10
AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL
* FIND. *

has been so much plot and counter
plot as in Paris.
Recently workman engaged in raz-
ing house in the Faubourg st. Ger
main on removing square stone eX-
posed the crown Of human head. AS
stone after stone was displaced skel-
eton, dressed In the fashion Of the
time of Louis XII, was uncovered. The
space in which it stood was just large
enough to hold it. One side, opening
into large chamber, formed the door
to the compartment, being a tall, mar
row mirror, at the bottom of which
were two wooden drawers flanked by
candelabra, mirror, drawers and all
moving together when the door swung.
The architect at once sent information
Of the find to the Academy Of History,
and nj. Andre Brosseau, the secretary,
was dispatched to examine the skele-
ton. Brosseau was astOnished to find
that, though dressed as a man, the
frame was that of a woman. The dis
covery filled out the missing links to a
mystery of the time of Cardinal Richie
lieu that Brosseau had been long try
ing to solve.
In Richelieu's day dueling became SO
prevalent in France that the cardinal
made it an offense punishable with
death. Jules Beauchemin and Castor
Arnot, disregarding the edict, arranged
to settle dispute with rapiers. Beau
chemin was noted fencer, who had
often killed his man. Arnot was little
more than boy. Nevertheless Beau
chemin was left dead on the field. The
cardinals spies, who had got wind of
the matter, arrived Oh the ground only
in time to see Arnot jump on horse
and leave the spot at a gallop. Run
ming after him on foot, one of them
seized horse by the way and fol-
lowed him to the door of his home.
AS soon as they could gain admittance
they entered and searched the house
The young man was not to be found
There was no one there but servants,
one of whom, being threatened. con.
fessed that she had seen her master
! run hurriedly upstairs and into his
room. The cardinals spy spent an
hour vainly endeavoring to corner his
man. What puzzled him was that
there was no egress from the rear that
he considered possible. Concluding
that Arnot had got away by some hid
den passage, the entrance to which
was only to be found by one who knew
| the secret, he went to the cardinal and
| reported the facts. The same day q
notice was posted in the streets OF
Paris Offering a reward for Castor
Arnot, but the duelist was never taker
nor was he ever again seen in France
though mysterious reports occasion
ally got out that he was serving will
the army on the frontier.
Now. all this was matter of history
with which the secretary of the acad
envy had been familiar. If the skele
ton found had been that of man. 9
solution Of the problem as to what hat
become of Castor Arnot would have
been found. AS it was, the find only
added to the mystery, for what was 6
woman doing in this secret space il
the garb of a man? AS to the house
having been occupied by the Arno
family. that was uncertain. However
tn, riddle was solved by bit of paper
found in the pocket of the double
worn by the skeleton.
The story completed was in thi:
wise: Jules Beauchemin was sutton
for the hand of Henrietta, aged TWEEN
| cSc Of G
detested and refused him. Beauche
min not being able to take revenge
upon woman, while at cards .ont
evening with CASTOR, a boy Of nine
teen, deliberately accused him of cheat
ing. This was tantamount to killing
him, for Castor, Notwithstanding tht
cardinals edict could not live in Pari.
without having resented such an impu
tation, and Beauchemin always killet
his man.
Henrietta Arnot learned of this in
tended assassination of her brother
Inviting CASTOR to drive with her, sh,
took him to farm belonging to he
family on which lived a couple wht
were devoted to her. CASTOR was in
weighed into room from which Their
was no egress, locked in and left il
charge of the couple. In the earl,
morning the sister, dressed in he
brothers clothes, appeared on the duel
ing grounds. Just as the principals
were about to take their places Hen
rietta paused, lifted some gauze from
her face and said:
IN. Beauchemin, l am Henrietta
Arnot This quarrel is with me, no
with my brother desire before W.
fight that you sign this paper exon
Grating him from the charge you mad
against him.
Beauchamin, astonished. took the pa
per, signed it without reading it an,
handed it back to Henrietta. Then b
threw down his sword
"En garde! cried the girl fiercely.
Beauchamin refused. Henrietta mad
pass at him which, had he not MIN
bly, stepped aside, would have kille
him. He took up his sword. intendin
simply to parry her thrusts This b
did successfully for some time, whe,
ofthnr hic foot clippa1 or ho nooo,o