The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1908-05-20
The Roupell Mystery
CHAPTER XI.-(Continued. J
A IL $ t y n

He sprang from the BATH the water
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 new interest suddenly
sprang into them. He presented thus
splendid specimen of physical manhood
He had little occasion for the brisk rub
bling to which he treated himself, when
he had put down the letter unopened,
merely remarking:
II wonder what Cassagne is doing at
Villeneuve."
The heat of his young and vigorous
body had almost evaporated the moisture.
He went back into his bedroom and put
on soft, silken suit of pajamas, caught
at the waist with brocaded belt. He
took tasselled Turkish fez from it's peg
and put 1t 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 languid
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
Nine. Reupel at the Chateau Vile
neHve--'
He got no further. Like q fash he
dropped the paper and reached out and
took hold Of the letter which he had
almost forgotten, exclaiming:
THE Chateau Villeneuve! Villeneuve.
Why, that's the place Cassagne writes
from. Pshaw! what am I thinking of?
He can't have been called in ON that mat
ter. 1t was In the hands of the project
Of police, and I know he hates Cassagne
like poison"
Nevertheless it was with fingers which
trembled d little In their eagerness that
he opened the letter.
"Ah" he exclaimed, there'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 impiica ted as Of my getting
married. Well, | declared"
There were two long sheets Of instruc-
tons. His fEst excitement over Charles
D'Auburon read them twice very care
fully, slipping his chocolate SO slowly that
the contents Of the cup were almost cold
before he finished it. Several minutes
elapsed before he finally put Cassagne's
letter on one side and lay back to think.
1t was curious that his new field OF
activity should at last have brought him
into contact professionally with a man
whom he had hitherto known only social
~. II. jules Chabot, while a mere &C
quaintanee belonged to club of which
he was a member-the Alliance" He
was not very constant In his attendance
but he was tolerably well acquainted
there. Jules Chabot he had known as
one is apt to know those one casually
meets in the billiard room or at the card
table.
How fortunate 1t was that, acting un
der the advice of his friend Cassagne, he
had scrupulousy hidden from all his
friends and acquaintance his new occu
patton. 1t would be comparatively easy
task for him to keep watch of Chabot's
movements. The only question. was how
to do so without exciting his suspicious
He sat revolving this matter in his
mind tor nearly an hour, at the end o
which time he arose and completed hi
toilet, dressing himself with unusual care
The role he had now to play was on
which had deceived many-hat of rich
innocent dandy, to whom appearance Il
everything, and who has not thought Il
his head beyond the set of his hat or hi
tie.
He selected from his wardrobe a fin
morning frock coat and Powered waist
coat Of an oriental design which was al
the rage among the boulevards. He pu
on a very tall collar and a necktie of
very ultra fashion; glossy hat, paten
leather boots and a silver-headed Malacc
cane completed his outfit. AS he descend
ed the stairs he put an eye glass in on
eye.
Thus accoutred, Charles D'Auburo
was as different being as you could we
imagine, from the free and easy Bob.
milan of an hour previously. A sligl
ing d cab, he directed the driver to pr
coed to the Alliance club. He was tt
most innocent looking young man in tt
whole of Paris. A vacant smile playe
around his mouth. One goyed har
sought his blonde mustache in a cares
ing manner, while with the other he r
turned the salutations of his numero1
acquaintanees. NJ. Jules Chabot, seat
in the bay window of the Alliance clu
saw him alisht, and surveyed him with
look In which contempt struggled wi
politeness and got rather the best of
ssThere is that insufferable fop, D'A
buron, coming up the steps, he remark
to an intimate. Il think that felle
looks bigger fool every day.
CHAPTER XII.
When Alfred Cassagne bid DR.. Mas
adieu, it was to return to Paris, first
Sc nj l.