The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1912-12-13

" N
( z the Chamber Of Depu-
~ ties, had been execut-
WIS ed, and l had been
Nn.l. l.Ly compelled to attend
%w this hideous function.
had not been to bed.
l reached my office an hour later,
very tired, and determined, If possible.
to retire early. Up to four o'clock
nothing had occurred to prevent my
having a nights rest, when received
the following note:
Dear Goron: I expect you to dinner to-
night. Meet me at Pousset's at half-past
ARMAND"
Even without the last two words,
would have guessed that something
had gone wrong. My friends usually
bold writing appeared thin and shaky;
and he. the exuberant man, who would
write three pages to say what others
IMPRESS In three lines, had adopted a
1aconic style. Yes. that note forebod-
ed trouble-if not worse-and I scrib-
bled a line to say that l would meet
him at the appointed hour
Armand P and were old chums
Both born in Rennes. we were edu-
Gated at the same college. and, al
though in later years our ways lay In
different directions, our friendship
never changed.
Armand was the son of a retired
Dtockbroker, and had inherited about
one hundred thousand dollars from his
mother. who died year after he was
born. He had cousin, Marceline,
whom he loved; and on the day he
came of age he informed his father
and me that he intended to marry her.
shall never forget that date, because
1t was the only time he and I quar-
relied.
His father, knew, was strongly op.
posed to marriages between members
OF the same family When he remon-
strated with Armand and the latter
appealed to me, sided with the IA
Their, and. after. a stormy scene. in
duced my friend to give up his idea.
Marceline was not the wife for the
good-natured Armand, and I was glad
when that danger was past. Two years
later he married lady he had met at
Royat, and bought pretty villa near
Vile dAvray, where sometimes paid
them visit on Sunday afternoon.
Unfortunately. this union did not
turn out we'll. Madame P was
rather bigoted, and, being of a highly
nervous temperament. her husbands
nolsterousness and his loud laughter
seemed to upset her. These two had
no thoughts in common, and after a
while my visits to Vile d'Avray
stopped altogether.
AS to Marceline, she had married
cavalry captain. who soon afterward
was killed by fall from his horse,
leaving her a limited income and
house at Versailles From Vile d'Av-
ray to Versailles is but twenty min
'utes' drive. and I knew that Armand
since the captains death. spent much
of his time with Marceline.
When | reached POusset's and saw
Armand looked at him in surprise.
,Hollow-cheeked. pale. with sunken,
'lack-luster eyes. hardly recognized
my poor friend. He rose when he saw
me, walked with me to the door, and,
huiling a cab, told the man to drive to
Voisin's
is it a dinner-party I asked.
NO." he said. 1T was the first word
he had spoken.
At Voisin's he led the way to a pri-
vate room on the first floor. saw he
had ordered the dinner and that the
ual skill
II wanted to be alone with you he
said, "and here We can talk undis-
turbed."
was hungry and quite prepared to
do honor to Voisn's cuisine. but be-
fore had swallowed my first spoonful
Of soup. l noticed that the waiter had
placed before Armand a boiled egg
and glass Of milk.
Are you going to make your dinner
of that?"
Yes" he replied with a painful
smile. "but don't trouble about me-
We will talk when you have finished"
The fish was served. and the man
was about to leave the room when I
called him hack.
"That will do" ordered: you need
not bring the remainder Of the din
ner"
Then, turning to Armand, ex-
claimed:
And now, for heavens sake.
speak,"
He walked up to ME slowly placed
both hands on my shoulders, aud In
n strained voice asked
Did you see valiant before he was
led to execution"
Il did. Why"
"Because you will then have beheld
two condemned men in one day-Vail
liant this morning ME tonight"
Armand" I cried, ARE you mad?'
mo. l am not mad. I am"
saw he was nearly fainting. and
led him to the sofa.
II feel better, old chap" he said
after a while. land. now, have to i'm
part to you u fearful secret, which the
chief of the detective police must
ignore. 1t is not from him. but from
the faithful friend. and from the
clever detective that I claim assist
ance Goron. am being slowly pois
cned."
was speechless with Amusement
He continued:
Il want you to find out the culprit
ooJ kpOu. vOu will PVT ,.o,, u.il