The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1908-01-16
CHAPTER VI

| O1Af LEX L.
DR.. Paul Mason found opportunity to
whisper in Charles Van Lith's ear, as he
was led away:
Do not despair l will leave no stone
unturned to establish your innocence"
Then, as he wrung his hand he added
"Oh, if you would but speak"
Van Lith said nothing in reply. He
was SO overcome with the horror of his
situation that he could barely stammer
out his thanks for the doctors kindness.
Overwhelmed by the magnitude Of the
misfortune which had overtaken him, he
suffered himself to be conducted unresist-
ingly to that sombre vehicle. in which,
closely barred and hudded together like
sheep, prisoners are carried to the dark
and gloomy cells of La Mazas. Paul Ma
son Immediately took a cab to the Rue de
Reverdy, where he ate, though sparingly,
of the breakfast which his housekeeper.
Louise, had long ago prepared against his
coming.
well, Madame Roupell was murdered
this morning at the Chateau Yilleneuve,"
he said at last.
The old servant started violently. She
set down the pot from which she was
about to pour fresh cup of coffee for the
doctor, and trembled from head to foot.
is it possible?" she calculated.
1T is not only possible, but, alas. it is |
fact" repeated the doctor; land as
if that was not trouble enough in one |
day, my friend Monsieur Charles Van
Lith has been arrested, charged with the
commission of the crime"
At this additional intelligence the old
woman's eyes nearly started out of her
head.
Monsieur Charles How can he be
guilty of such thing? He, SO gay. so
cheerful, so polite to everybody 1 will
never believe it."
HE was in the chateau last night, and
positively refuses to tell even me how he
came to be there. But there is a report
If the whole affair in the morning pam
You can read it for yourself"
The old lady put on her glasses,
simply devoured the paper which the
or handed her. Suddenly she excla
d.
Monsieur Van Lith's silence has so
hing to do with one of the young lad
on may depend upon it."
Louise pointed to a certain paragu
q the report of the tragedy, which
lready, in the shape of an extra" ia
S way thus early into print
1T has transpired that a light
urning in the chamber of Mile. Ha
Weldon. a niece of the murdered woInan
t a late hour. 1t would not surpris. ms q
, learn that this young lady ultimately
roved to be the woman in the CASE /
ssNnu OF mo
larpness, you see" said Louise. I "Tt is
lie idea of the reporter, not mime"
All, replied the doctor, those report- Z
$ are very sharp fellows. Some Of them
e as good as trained detectives" o
They are good enough in their way"
marked the old housekaeper as she be-
N to clear away the breakfast dishes.
tut could they begin to compete with ii
oh men as Marmaud. Bassaud or Alfred
specially Cassagne? oh. he W
as sharp as a needle; nothing escapes II
M"
Tell us something more about this AZ.
I'd Cassagne. Why do you mention
n. particularly
First, because he has a good reputa-
IN, and secondly, because | happen to %
ow something about him, monsieur" re- -.
ed the housekeeper, highly gratiAed at -
ing thus Intercepted. He is one of a.,
, most famous detectives in Paris, and
has no need to be a detective at all, hi
anything else, for that matter, as he
5 plenty Of money to live upon. All he
grand 1t is a passion with him. When
gone else fails to get to the bottom of
mystery, they call in Monsieur Cas- tn'
ne, and he always succeeds" thu
II he does not 1t L. because the case te'