Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-05-01
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
Five years before the tragedy at the
Chateau Villeneuve, Charles D'Auburon
had found himself the untrammeled pos
SCISSOR of a considerable patrimony, and
had started In to enjoy life. He was then
twenty-one years Of age. Two years later
he had exhausted every means of pleasure
He was at that age when really good
woman would have proved his salvation.
She did not, however, make her appear
ance. He was destined to find relief in
more novel and totally unexpected d.
rection.
The Rue Brodier is not a particularly
attractive street either before or after
midnight. The police will assure YOU
that it is positively dangerous. Many
sunrise has revealed the body of some
victim lying In its dark courts and moi
some alleys. 1t is altogether a strange
place for a young man of means, who by
rights should at such an hour be snugly
in bed and asleep, to be wandering in at
three o'clock in the morning. 1t is the
abode of robbers. Every house In 1t is a
den of thieves. The Seine, running BY
at its foot with dark and turbid food
is altogether too handy.
1t was to this unattractive street that
at an unseemly hour Charles D'Auburon
strayed with unconscious feet. He had
arisen from a sleepless bed, and had
strolled far and near, intending to tire
himself out. Then his reward would
come; repose, sound and refreshing. and.
glorious thought, perhaps an appetite, to
which latter luxury he had been for some
days a stranger.
He walked on, totally unconscious of
danger, thick stick his only weapon, in
all the confidence of a man who has never
felt the crack of brass knucke in the
hand of a garroter or made the acqualnt-
ance of a sandbag.
Dark figures were creepin, from the
alleys behind him. Mysterious whistles
resounded and re-echoed from the courts.
| Something told him of his canger. lie
stopped and looked up at a name on the
corner house, just legible In the dngy
lamp light. To what part Of Paris had
he wandered? He was in the Rue Brodier.
Involuntarily no turned to retrace his
steps, only to find himself confronted by
a half score of sturdy rutfi&ns lie grasp
| ed his stick the tighter and backed closer
| to the wall. His face was very pale
1 Out ne QlO uOl ohuW hLll Sigu OF rear,
"You will go on" he answered. defiant.
| ly, 'or l will call the police"
"The police But few of those cattle
make their beats in the Rue Brodier, even
| In the daytime" retorted the leader of
the ruffians. Come, your money, young
master"
D'Auburon put his hand In his pocket
| and flung into the air what silver and
| gold he had about him. 1t fell upon the
| pavement under the street lamp. They
| rushed at 1t like beasts. Then D'Au.
huron lost his nerve. He thought he saw
his opportunity. He sprang into the
/ middle Of the street and ran like deer
The mob rushed after him. He would
have distanced them all, perhaps, he was
50 very feet, when the leader put his
hand to his mouth and uttered a peculiar
cry. Immediately from the alley aheat
Of him sprang two men. He was upor
them before he knew 1t. He raised hi:
heavy stick and struck one down. Tn,
other jumped at his throat and bore hin
to the ground.
Even while he was thus fighting anC
struggling for bis life he became con
scious that something was being done il
his favor. He saw medium sized, thick
set man standing over them and hearC
him speaking in tones of authority. I'm
mediately the fellow with whom he wal
fighting relaxed his hand on his throat
On his dirty face alarm was plainly visi
BILE. With a muttered apology TO tn
thickset man be rushed % meet the mol
of his fellows, exclaiming.
Back, you fools. 1t is Monsieur Cas-
sagne."
Quietly they all sneaked away from tn,
man whom Of all others they dreaded. II,
had been known to go in amang them
and at the point of the pistol pick on
some desperate criminal and deliver hin
over to justice. That's how Alfrsd Cas-
sagne and Charles D'Auburon became &C
quainted.
Profoundly grateful TO N. CassAgns
D'Auburon not only die not lose sigh
Of him, but visited him often. N
friendship Of the detective was the other
] salvation. Merely curious at Hrst, DAT
] buron ultimately became completely "a