Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1908-03-27

Il bet fifty thousand francs"
Il raise you one hundred tho I'd
francs" and he placed that sum aiao on
the table.
This seemed to stagger the Frenchman.
1t was the last money the detective had,
but the other did not know it. NJ. D'Au-
buron's friend was indeed a millionaire
The Frenchman arose from the table.
Monsieur will excuse me for a mo-
ment," he said. II do but go to an inner
room to get some more money"
He shortly reappeared, making his way
through the dense and excited throng
around the table, with huge bundle Of
notes in his hand They were different
from any which lay on the table; they
were of the currency of the second en-
pire. The detectives eye glistened as he
looked at them and his heart beat quick
ly, as drawing forth one hundred thousand
francs from the bundle, the Frenchman
covered his last bet. Then he added, as
| if desperately:
And | raise 1t one hundred thousand
francs more"
II cannot meet 1t. monsieur" confessed
the Swiss, unless you accept my l.
o. u"
mo, it must be cash. That is only
fair. l am sorry monsieur has run be-
yond his bank 1t Is the rule Of the
game"
| The Frenchman had his opponent fair
ly outbet. But the temptation to make
more was strong upon him. The Swiss
had already scribbled an l. o. U. for
fifty thousand francs and pushed it to-
ward him.
The Frenchman was about to play, and
had raised his hand FOX that purpose
when his eye caught the queer three-cor-
nered piece of paper in front of him.
~ can't take l. o. U.S." he said ~
must have absolute security"
Then they saw the Swiss take from
the pocket of his vest small locket and
pass 1t over to the Frenchman.
Isn't that good for something, mon
sieur?"
With his face grown suddenly an ashen
gray the vicomte leaned over the table
and almost whispered, as he clutched the
locket in his shaking fingers:
Where did you get this?"
The detective leaned forward and pick
ed up one of the notes from the vicomte' 3
bundle.
From the place where you found this.
Ia it enough, or shall | show you some
thing else?'
What do you mean? Don't speak out
here before everybody. Come with me-"
The two players arose from the table
and. passing out into the conservatory,
left the money lying on the table, and q
group of astonished guests looking blank
ly at it.
They have both been crazy to bid like
this" said one; they have doubtless gone
to make some arrangement together"
They waited for a minute-for five
minutes. Still the players did not re
turn. They were in the conservatory still
hidden from the eyes of the men. II tn,
wondering group at the card table hat
been there, this is what they would hav,
seen and heard:
They would have heard the vicomt,
imploring vainly for one chance hav,
seen him offering all he had to the Swiss
if he would go back, and give him on,
opportunity to escape-would give him {
bare ten minutes start.
1T is more than | can do" replied
the Swiss. "My men surround this house
You cannot possibly get away. Sucl
mercy as | may, give you. 1t is bettel
than the gullotine."
He handed the vicomte his pistol, and
turning, walked toward the door of tn,
conservatory. Only once he looked bacl
to see the vicomte standing unsteadily b,
the fountain, horrible expression upoi
his face.
He looked around at the Swiss be
seechlngly, but finding nothing Their
which might bid him hope, said despair
ingly:
"Good-by thank you even for this.
The Swiss walked on and reached tn
door of the conversatory. He leane,
against the Intel of the door and wait
ed. People were beginning to come an,
look for the players. The outer salol
was already crowded.
Suddenly pistol shot rang out an,
echoed through the whole lower floor o
the house. The well-dressed, excite,
crowd rushed toward the conservatory.
The Swiss gentleman met them in tn
doorway. There was something In hi
face that stopped them irresistibly, Of
the very threshold.
"I wouldn't come In, in were you. TIL
Vicomte de Valiar has shot himself. Fl
was the murderer Of Madame Roupell
the old lady who lived at villeneuve" h
went on to explain.
"Oh, Monsieur Lazare "
IT am not Monsieur Lazare; am AL
fred Cassagne, the detective"
Then they looked upon him and won
dered why they had not OWNED 1t fror
the first, for 1t was face well know
in the shop windows Of Paris.
'You had better all go home," he sue
gested, and they went slowly away, al
but one passing safely through the col
don of police,