Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1908-01-03

All, replleu lne uOcIOr, lHOSe repOrp-
ers are very sharp fellows. Some of them
are as good as trained detectives"
They are good enough in their way"
remarked the old housekeeper, as she be-
gan to clear away the breakfast dishes,
but could they begin to compete with
such men as Marmaud, Bassaud or Alfred
Cassagn especially Cassagne? Oh, he
is as sharp as a needle; nothing escapes
him.
Tell us something more about this Al
fred Cassagne. Why do you mention
him, particularly"
First, because he has a good reputa-
ton, and secondly, because l happen to
know something about him, monsieur" re-
piled the housekeeper, highly gratified at
being thus interrogated. HE is one Of
the most famous detectives in Paris, and
he has no need to be a detective at all,
or anything else, for that matter, as he
has plenty Of money to live upon. All, he
is grand. 1t is a passion with him. When
anyone else fails to get to the bottom Of
a mystery, they call in Monsieur Cas-
sagne, and he always succeeds"
"Always?"
'If he does not it is because the case
is hopeless, has no bottom. He is very
shrewd. He adopts a hundred disguises.
An Engllshman stops you on the street at
nine o'clock and asks you the way. 1t
is Monsieur Cassagne At ten, Ger
man shoemaker leathern apron and all,
inquiries what time it is. 1t is Monsieur
Cassagne. A little further on a crossing
sweeper begs for few sous. 1t is Cas-
sagne again Finally, you see him out
side one of the cafes, slipping his choco-
late, only you don't recognize him, for
te is a merchant or perhaps a swell Of
the boulevards. All, but he is wonder
tul man, is this Alfred Cassagne."
do you know where he lives?"
Certainly, cousin OF mine once work.
ed for him. l have been in his house.
1t is the Rue de Petits Champs. Thirty
six Is the number"
II intend to employ detective on this
matter" said the doctor, presently, "and
as l don't know one from another, | am
inclined to say, Why not your friend,
Alfred CassagneT Slip on your bonnet
and shawl, Louise. l want you to take q
message to the telegraph Office"
The doctor took blank from drawer
and wrote his dispatch.
Take that" he said, handing it to the
housekeeper. 1T is a message to your
wonderful Cassagne, asking him to meet
me tomorrow morning at the Chateau
Villeneuve. We shall be on the ground
there, and he will have chance to show
what he is made of"
The old lady's face wore beaming ex-
preston. She put the telegram in her
pocket as if 1t were some precious jewel.
"You will not regret it, monsieur, for,
as l have assured you, you will find Mon
sieur Cassagne a very clever person"
Alerady in her simple mind, the gloomy
gates of La Mazas had swung back upon
their massive hinges, and the young
friend Of her kind master stepped forth,
a free and happy man.
1t was a beautiful morning. the birds
sang melodiously in the trees which sur
rounded the Chateau Villeneuve. DIR.
Mason had arrived from Paris on an early
train, and was now pacing impatiently
to and fro on the broad terrace in front
of the house. In his hand he held a
telegram which he had received from NJ.
Cassagne, the detective. He was glancing
at it for perhaps the twentieth time,
when one of the windows of the morning
room, which was on level with the
ground, suddenly opened, and Emily
Weldon stepped out upon the terrace.
She was pale even to ghastlness. Not
withstanding the fatigues of the previous
day. she had passed a sleepless night.
The upper chambers of the chateau
had all been placed nuder seal. Under
the inexorable criminal laws of France,
she had ben denied even the consolation
of watching by the body of her bene-
factress; and her excited condition of
mind precluded her from taking that re-
pose of which she was no much in need.
Harriet, on the contrary, to whose
softer nature the relief of tears had not
been denied, had, toward daybreak. fallen
asleep on a sofa. Utterly worn out by
the events Of the last twentyfour hours,
she now slumbered as peacefully as an
infant, which. excited by some childish
tribulation, sinks at last to rest in its
mothers arms.
Emily advanced a few steps along the
terrace toward DR.. Mason, who hastened
to meet her. Her first question was as
to whether NJ. Cassagne, the detective,
had yet arrived, for the doctor had tele-
graphed her that they would both be
there in the morning
II am expecting him every minute" re-
piled Mason. This telegram reached me
late last night at my house in Paris. I
should gather from it that he is a very
peculiar parsonage indeed. Just look at
that, and tell me what you make of it.
She took the telegram and read 1t, a
faint smile upon her lips.
ut, certainly is curious production.
He seems to put more stress on how he
shall be fed than anything else"
"Will be at vileneuve at nine morning
I.,z II. II. L N..,n nlza