The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1908-06-04
The Roupell Mystery
CHAPTER XIV,


The chairs were deep. roomy and sof
They seemed made on purpose to lull on
into feelings of security. II was abog
ten O'Clock in the morning. The vicomte
private secretary had just retired loade
down with papers and Instructions hi
employer sat at the table, pile Of docr
ments on either side. and before him
single sheet. upon which an astonishin
array Of figures appeared.
Minute after minute passed. and still
the calculations went on. At last be threw
down his pencil. and walked over to tn
window. Partly concealed by the cur
tains. he looked out on the throng Of peo
pie which passed up and down the street
But he hardly noticed anybody. BE wa
really lost In his reflections.
BE had. indeed. good reason TO b
thoughtful A gigantic scheme. the hoat-
ing Of which would insure him very large
returns. Tad that very morning been put
by him before syndicate Of capitalists
1t was no less one than the consolida-
ton Of the docking interests Of great
French seaport The plan was to bring
all the owners together and form trust
on what is known as the American plan.
and then raise the dock tolls With the
existing keen competition and the low
charges resulting therefrom. that property
at present yielded but small return for
the capital invested
The idea was brilliant one. IL would
net the Mutual Credit and Trust Com
pany, II successful, three million francs.
and the Mutual Credit and Trust Com
peny virtually meant the Viconte de Va
liar. he had already enlisted considera-
bic financial aid In support of the scheme
He was that morning expecting an add
ton 70 his forces in the person of NJ
D'Auburon. the friend Of that very useful
n Chabot. who had introduced him TO
the vicomte but a few days previously-
To sell this young man a big block Of
shares In the new enterprise, would. the
vicomte thought. not be a very difficult
task He had entertained him at his
house only an evening or two ago The
splsndor OF that occasion could not have
failed to properly impress him
Then his wife, the vicomtesse. had 50 |
ably seconded his efforts to make D'Au- |
huron feel that he was in good hands She |
had talked chilly of their country place. a |
establishment on the outskirts
Of the famous forest Of Fontainbleau. Of i
woodland rides, Of moonlit waters, and /
the feliclties of rural life far away from
the roar and din Of Paris Those marvel
BUS eyes Of hers had looked into his very |
soul and enthralled his senses
De Valiar smiled as he thought how
lew who had come within their influence
lad gotten away unscathed- A knock at
he door aroused him
Come In, " he cried out. and Jules Cha
,ot entered the room
Where Is your friend D'AuburonY p
vas de Valiar's first question
NJ Chabot did not Immediately reply.
3e sank into a chair He seemed anx-
ous and worried. and out Of sorts
What on earth's the matter with your
Iou're not III. are your calculated the
anker.
Its my nerves, I think. They're not
o strong as they used to be-"
You haven't been yourself for some
me, ever since that ugly affair at Vile
euve." remarked de Valiar. sympathet-
ally.
Chabot shuddered. and hid his face In
Is hands as If 20 shut out some horrible
ght-
Don't speak of IT. be almost whis-
sred. 50 faint was his voice YES. 1t
as enough to upset anybody" \
1T was a peculiar hardship on you, a
lies, just as you were on the point of o
as you say with-let me see.
hats her name-Mademolseile EMILY, c
isn't lit" o
Let's change the subject came to q
] you something about D'Auburon. b
We discovered, on inquiry, that be Is
en- better fixed than l expected How b
! block Of stock had you put apart n
; him In the United Dock Companyfv te
"A thousand shares l thought would be 81
pie You know Colbert Remplfn brings hi
large following, and there are Bonn st
I'd and the rest Still. some subscrfb- ys
win doubtless fail US at the last mo er
Mt Why do you ask7@
1T Is not enough He has some very hi
althy friends Only last night he was 3,
aking Of one. who. be says, follows his Fl
implicitly. BE Is a Swiss. He PAYS m,
iodical visits to Paris. and It Is said dr.
ests very largely in anything that tb.
likes his fancy ba
That's not bad news What Is this all
esus' nameT
He did not tell me-" replied Chabot. ye
{ simply said II he thought well enough oil
the venture TO put his own money In. an
I be would advise his friend to do ike 70,
e. II we needed additional capital. ths
at are shares to himT' DO.
Par-of course II Is easier to ser nj ext
than at fifteen francs on the one hum an
q. The one inspires confidence In a VII
eme, the other simply excites suspi- ,
L In fact I'm not sure but we win DO,
some premium on these Dock Com ira
y shares A little premium always adj
res them more attractive the
But there are seven millions of winter old
L" 90,
A proof concern like this dock trust trfl
stand good deal Of water replied the
fnancier. After all. what does n gag
teri All these people will have a cha
ace to sell out at a profit when we de- eve
E our first quarterly dividend. Those gro
IN we want to make use Of In the fu- '
can be given hint when to unload TIVE
? holdings" his
But ultimately the loss falls on some on
=. lent