The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1908-05-01
q r a n v e


of doing so.
OF the many frequenters of the vicom-
tesse's establishment in the Avenue Wag-
ram perhaps NJ. Jules Chabot was as well
come guest as any. His undoubted re-
spectability made him an exceedingly de-
sirable acquaintance. NJ. Chabot. on the
other hand liked the free-and-easy at
mosphere of the de Valiar mansion. De
Valiar was a man who always had some
young, rich fool dangling after him, de-
sirous of seeing life. A certain portion
of the money only of these innocents
could be diverted to the innumerable and
mysterious uses of the Mutual Credit
and Trust Company. They were then af-
forded an opportunity of losing the resi-
due at the card tables in the Avenue
Wagram.
Many, doubtless, who frequented the
vicomte's establishment were totally I'M
aware of the risks they ran. These were
rarely suffered to go behind the curtain.
NJ. Chabot was one of those who had for
some time not been admitted to the priv
ileged circle without great care. To do
him justice. 1t is highly probable that If
the veil had been removed all at once, he
would have ceased his visits altogether.
He lived in bachelor apartments. Pro
foundry impressed with a sense of his
personal dignity, he endeavored on a very
small income to keep up appearances
Lately, however, he had joined de Valiar
in more than one investment by which
he had profited.
The willy de Valiar, who had allowed
his friend to pocket something handsome
as his share of these enterprises, of
course, had his object in view. What
| other, indeed, could it be than to discover
all about Chabot's rich friend, Mime.
Roupell, concerning whom NJ. Chabot was
| not at all 10th to impart information,
| for he would in his turn be able to dis
cover what probable dot the old lady
would be able to give whichever of the
girls he should choose to marry.
Such inquiries, the vicomte, whose po-
sition in the world of finance enabled him
to make better than Chabot, willingly
set on foot to obige his friend. He as
sured M. Chabot that report had not ex-
aggerated Nine. Roupells wealth. That
| a portion of a million and half of
| francs had been set apart for the We'll
| don sisters. In the opinion of M. Cha
| bot it only remained for him to declare
| himself to one or the other of the young
ladies, and he had been, as the reader
will have seen, on the very eve of max
| ing such a declaration to Emily Weldon
when the tragedy occurred.
| The question which now arose in the
mind of NJ. Victor Lablanche, the astute
project of police, was this: Had M. Cha
bot sought to precipitate matters by the
removal of the proprietress of the Cha
teau Villeneuve? He had discovered al
ready that Inquiries regarding her fortune
and her intentions respecting it had been
set on foot by Jules Chabot. A little
further research revealed the fact that
the Frenchman's finances were in des-
perate condition. In his later enterprises
with the Vicomte de Valiar, fortune had
not been so kind. He had lost heavily
| CHAPTER XII.
Five years before the tragedy at the
Chateau Vllleneuve, Charles D'Auburon
had found himself the untrammeled pos.
SCISSOR of 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 a really good
woman would have proved his salvation
She did not, however, make her appear.
ance. He was destined to find relief In
a more novel and totally unexpected d.
rection.
The Rue Brodier is not particularly
attractive street either before or after
midnight. The police will assure YOU
that it is positively dangerous. Many 9
sunrise has revealed the body of some
victim lying in It's 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 a.
three o'clock in the morning. 1t is tn,
abode of robbers. Every house in it is {
den Of thieves. The Seine, running BY
at it's foot with dark and turbid flood
is altogether too handy.
1t was to this unattractive street tina
at an unseemly hour Charles D'Auburol
strayed with unconscious feet. He ha,
arisen from a sleepless bed, and ha,
strolled far and near, intending to tir
himself out. Then his reward woult
come repose sound and refreshing, and
glorious thought, perhaps an appetite, t,
which latter luxury he had been for som
days a stranger.
He walked on, totally unconscious O
danger, a thick stick his only weapon, il
all the confidence of man who has neve
felt the crack of brass knuckle in tn
hand of garroter or made the acquaint
ance of a sandbag.
, Dark figures were creeping from tn
alleys behind him. Mysterious whistle
resounded and re-echoed from the courts
, Something told him of his danger. H
, stopped and looked up at name on tn
corner house, just legible in the ding
lamp light. To what part of Paris ha
he wandered? He was In the Rue Brodiel
, Involuntarily he turned to retrace hi
, steps, only to find himself confronted b
half score Of sturdy ruffians. He grasI
( ed his stick the tighter and backed close
: to the wall. His face was very pale
t but he did not show any sign of fear
4 'You will 60 on" he answered, defian
E ly, "or l will call the police"
a 1.-THE police! But few Of those catt
Q make their beats in the Rue Brodier, eve
= in the daytime" retorted the leader ,
the ruffans. Come, your money, your
e master"
e D'Auburon put his hand in his peck
b and flung into the air what silver ar
e | - h.a1 ahN Ia ell -