The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1908-05-08
CHAPTER xI.-(Continued. J
3 y A u s t y n

CHAPTER XII Continued
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 lie rushed across
the foor 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 its peg
and put it 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
Ina ok AkA Ia
neuve@"
He got no further. Like 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 thinking Of?
He can't have been called in on that mat
ter. 1t was In the hands of the project
of police, and know he hates Cassagne
like poison"
Nevertheless 1t was with fingers which
trembled a little in their eagerness that
he opened the letter.
"Ahw 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. l know him; old
fop; club man. About as much chance
of his being implicated as of my getting
married. Well, declared"
There were two long sheets of instruc-
lions. His first 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
artter 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
ly. M. Jules Chabot, while mere &C
quaintance, belonged to a 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 scrupulously hidden from all his
friends and acquaintance his new occu
patton. 1t would be comparatively easy
task for him to keep watch of Chabot'i
movements. The only question was how
to do SO without exciting his suspicious
He sat revolving this matter in hi
mind for 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-that of rich
innocent dandy, to whom appearance Il
everything, and who has not thought II
his head beyond the set Of his hat or hi
tie.
He selected from his wardrobe 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 necktie of
very ultra fashion; a glossy hat, paten
leather boots and 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'Auburol
was as different being as you could wei
imagine, from the free and easy Bohe
milan of an hour previously. A sligh
drawl was apparent in his speech. Hail
ing a cab, he directed the driver to pre-
coed to the Alliance club. He was tn
most innocent looking young man in tn
whole of Paris. A vacant smile playe
around his mouth. One gloved han
sought his blonde mustache in a caress
ing manner, while with the other he r.
turned the salutations of his numerou
acquaintance. M. Jules Chabot, seate
dn the bay window Of the Alliance cluf
saw him alight, and surveyed him with
look in which contempt struggled wit
politeness and got rather the best of il
'"There Is that insufferable fop, D'Au
huron, coming up the steps," he remarke
to an intimate. II think that fello,
looks a bigger fool every day."
CHAPTER XII.
When Alfred Cassagne bid DR.. Maso
adieu, 1t was to return to Paris, first I
think and then to act. Never in tt
course of his experience had a encoul
tered case which presented obstacles {
SO puzziing nature. He was a trr
Partisan. A day or two In the countr
soon satisfied him. He required the stin
nina of a great city tn imnarf m h