The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1911-02-03
1
TIE WIDOW !
LER0UCE |
-HY--
I. ER|LE GAb02lAU.
CHAPTER XII

Sir" cried she. "in Heavens name
answer me-"
He opened the door, and said, i'm
patiently:
What is it now?"
Sir" stammered the girl, in tears,
this is the third time have knocked,
and you have not answered. Come,
implore you. l am afraid madam
is dying"
He followed her to Madame Gerdy's
room. He must have found the pooy
woman terribly changed, for he could
not restrain a movement Of terror
She did not recognize Noel
You see, sir,'' said the servant.
Yes. Who would have supposed
her malady could advance so rapidly?
Quick, run to Dr.. Nerves, tell him to
get up, and come at once; tell him it
is for me-"
DIR. 1Ierye was one of Noel's friends,
and old school-fellow, and the COM
panion Of his student days.
His first words on entering were,
What is the matter?"
In less than a minute, the doctor
seized the lamp, examined the sick
woman, and returned to his friend.
What has happened?" he asked
sharply. 1T is necessary l should
know?' "She is suffering from in
fammation of the brain. What can
have caused it? There appears to be
no injury to the brain or it's bony
covering; the mischief. then, must
have been caused by some violent
emotion, a great grief, some unex-
pected catastrophe ;"
Noel interrupted his friend by a
gesture, and drew him into the en-
brasure Of the window.
Yes, my friend" said he, in low
tone. Madame Gerdy has experience
ed great mental suffering; she has
been frightfully tortured by remorsa.
Listen, Rerve. 1 will confide our Sc
cret to your honor and your friend
ship. Madame Gerdy is not my moth
er; she despoiled me, to enrich her
son with my fortune and my name.
Three weeks ago discovered this un-
worthy fraud; she knows it. and the
consequences terrify her. Ever since
she has been dying minute by MIN
ute.''
Three weeks" he murmured:
then that explains everything. Has
she appeared to suffer much during
the time?"
"She complained of violent head
aches. dimness' Of sight, and intoler-
able pains in her ears; she attributed
all that though to megrims. Do not,
however, conceal anything from me,
Herve: is her complaint very SER
ious?''
$50 serious, my friend, so invari-
ably fatal, that l am almost under
taking hopeless task in attempting
a cure"
you asked for the truth, and
have told it to you. If you had that
courage, it was because you told me
this poor woman is not your mother.
Nothing short of miracle can save
her; but this miracle we may hope
and prepare for. And now to work"
The clock Of the st. Lazare terminus
was striking eleven as old Tabaret.
after shaking hands with Noel, left
his house, still bewildered by what
he had just heard. Notwithstanding
his haste to arrive at M. Daburon,s,
he did not ta..e a cab. He felt the
necessity of walking.
M. Daburon had just gone to bed
but had given orders to his servant.
SO that M. Tabaret had but to give his
name to be at once conducted to the
magistrates sleeping apartment. At
sight OF his amateur detective. M. Da-
buron raised himself in his bed, saw
ing:
There is something extraordinary!
What have you discovered? have Won
got a clew?"
Better than that" answered the
old fellow, smiling with pleasure.
Speak quickly"
Il know the culprit."
Old Tabaret ought to have been sat-
isf1ed; he certainly produced an effect.
The magistrate bounded in his bed.
Already said he. "Is it possible?p
i have the honor to repeat to you.
Sir" resumed the old fellow. chat
know the author Of the crime OF Il
Jonchere."
"And l." said M. Dabmon, 81 pro-
claim you the greatest of all detec-
tives. past or future. shall certainly
never hereafter undertake an inyesti-
cation without your assistance"
you are too kind. sir. have had
little or nothing to do in the matter.
Inc discovery is due to chance alone ,,
You are modest, Tabaret. Chance
assists only the clever. and it is that
which annoys the stupid. But / bes
you Will be seated and proceed
Then with lucidness and precision
OF which few would have believed him
capable. the old fellow repeated to the
MAGISTRATE all tho< ~ -