The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1908-01-02
The Roupell Mystery
CHAPTER NI.-lContinned. }
B y A u s t y n

llt SpIdlS lIuul tllt Ddlll, lut NdltI
dripping from his firm, white body and
glistening in big drops on the thick hair
on his heaving chest, as he rushed across
the floor of his sitting room, holding his
towel around him with one hand. He
opened the door little way and took in
the letter. Still holding his towel about
him, he stood examining the envelope very
carefully. As he stood thus, with. one
foot slightly thrown forward. all his
weight on his left leg, his muscles stood
out like whip-cords. His eyes were bright
and the light of a new interest suddenly
sprang into them. He presented thus
splendid specimen Of physical manhood.
lie had little occasion for the brisk rub
bing to which he treated himself, when
he had put down the letter unopened
merely remarking:
Il wonder what Cassagne is doing at
Vileneuve."
The heat of his young and vigorous
body had almost evaporated the moisture
He went back into his bedroom and put
on soft. siken suit of pajamas, caught
at the waist with a brocaded belt. He
took a tasselled Turkish fez from it's peg
and put it on his head. Then he went
in to his chocolate and rolls, picked up
his morning paper and began to read. He
skinned the sheet at first with a langud
interest, eating very deliberately as his
eye Travelled over the paper. Suddenly he
came to this item
Nothing new has transpired since
yesterday in regard to the murder of
Mime. Roupell at the Chateau Vile
neuye-"
He got no further. Like a fash he
dropped the paper and reached out and
took hold of the letter which he had
almost forgotten, exclaiming
1.-The Chateau Vileneuve vileneuve
Why, that's the place Cassagne writes
from. Pshaw what am | thinking of?
He can't have been called in on that mat
ter. 1t was in the hands of the prefect
of police, and | know he hates Cassagne
like poison"
Nevertheless it was with fingers which
trembled little in their eagerness that
he opened the letter.
"Ah !" he exclaimed, "here's fun at
last. Cassagne is engaged in that Vile
neuve matter after all. Called in by a
friend of the suspected party, too. AL
ways on that side of the case-the most
difficult, of course. Wants me to watch
one Jules Chabot. | know him old
fop; club man. About as much chance
Of his being implicated as of my getting
married. Well, | declarer'
There were two long sheets of instruc
tions. His first excitement over, Charles
DAuburon read them twice very care
fully, slipping his chocolate so slowly thai
the contents of the cup were almost colo
before he finished 1t. Several minute.
elapsed before he finally put Cassagne
letter on one side and lay back to think
1t was curious that his new field o
activity should at last have brought hin
Into contact professionally with maj
whom he had hitherto known only social
ly. NJ. Jules Chabot, while a mere ac
quaintance, belonged to club of whc
he was member--the alliance" ii
was not very constant in his attendance
but he was tolerably well acquainte
there. Jules Chabot he had known a
one is apt to know those one casual
meets In the billiard room or at the car
table.
How fortunate II was that, acting ur
der the advice Of his friend Cassagne, h
had scrupulously hidden from all hi
friends aud acquaintances his new occt
patton. 1t would be comparatively cas-
task for him to keep watch of Chabot
movements. The only question was ho
to do so without exciting his suspicion
lie sat revolving this matter In h
mind for nearly an hour, at the end
which time he arose and completed h
toilet, dressing himself with unusual car
The role he had now to play was or
which had deceived many--that of n ricl
Innocent dandy, to whom appearance
everything, and who has not thought
his head beyond the set Of his hat or h
tie.
He selected from his wardrobe fir
morning frock coat and lowered walls
coat of an oriental design which was a
the rage among the boulevards. He pl
on a very tall collar and necktie of
very ultra fashion; a glossy hat, pateI
leather boots and silver-headed Malacc
cane completed his outfit. AS he descen,
ed the stairs he put an eye glass in OIL
eye.
Thus accoutred, Charles D'Auburo
was as different n being as you could we
imagine. from the free and easy Boh
mlan OF an hour previously. A sligl
drawl was apparent in his speech. Hal
ing a cab, he directed the driver to pr
ceed to the Alliance club. lie was Il
most innocent looking young man in Il
whole OF Paris. A vacant smile play,
around his mouth One gloved har
sought his blonde mustache in cares
Ing manner, while with the other he r
turned the salutations of his numero,
acouaintances. NJ. Jules Chabot, seat,
On the bay window of the Alliance clu
saw him alight and surveyed him with
look in which contempt struggled wi
politeness and got rather the best of
"There is that insuferable fop, D'A
buron. coming up the steps, he remark
10 an intimate. IL think that felo
looks bigger fool every day."
CHAPTER MI.
When Alfred Cassagne bid DIR. Mas
adieu. Il was to return TO Paris. first
think and then to act. Never In {
course OF his experience had encou