Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-01-01

pretending 10 be asleep.
Who's that?'' l heard the yicomte
ask.
"oh. it's a chap from Limoges. He
came tonight for the first time" was
the reply.
I jumped up and said to the vi
comte:
q want a few moments converse
ton with you"
He looked hard at me, and conduct
ed me to the next room. l took of
my wig; but before could utter
word, the yicomte placed himself in
front of the door.
Get away from there" I command
ed. Il am NJ. Goron. Don't attempt
any nonsense. e. / call up my men,
| and have you and your croupier taken
to the depot"
He could not suppose that I had
come unaccompanied, and silently took
a chair
Perhaps you viii tell me what ali
this means?" he asked.
Certainly. But first ring the beH
and send away your servants"
My orders We're obeyed.
And now" continued, follow me
into the card room"
led the way, and from the mantel-
piece took the fifth pack, left there
When the Vicomte had dealt the cards
The croupier. who had remained be-
hind, moved toward theydoo
Come herel" l shouted to him.
Take off your coat and waisteoat, and
hand them to me-"
He did SO. trembling with fear, and
out or several long pockets, lined
with velvet to deaden the sound, I
took handful of counters.
You scoundreI," | said, 81 watched
you do this. And now, clear out; 1
want to talk to your master-and &C
complice."
| handed the vicomte the pack of
cards | had taken up, and said:
Let me call them over to you with
my back turned. Seven, nought. FIVE,
nine, nought-I forget the rest: but
think this ought to be enough. I
have seen the lightning Flash done
before. Do you want any more rea-
sons why came here tonight?'
He seemed stunned, and shook his
heal
Cannot this scandal be avoided?"
he asked.
Expect nothing from me, until you
have told me the whole truth about
the Allen B affair at Madame
is. What was the object of that
conspiracy, and who is at the bottom
of it?'
He looked at me with cunning ex-
preston
Il think I see your game, Monster
Goron. Allow me to compliment you
on your skill. In other words, you
want me to make certain disclosures.
In that case. 1t is but right shopid--"
/ gave him no time to flatsh his
sentence, but Selling him roughly by
the arm, shouted:
Il arrest you, you scamp"
What l expected happened. The
coward in him came to the fore. He
cringed and crawled. and then told
me he had instructed Bernard T.
to slip the cards In poor Allen BIS
pockets.
Whose orders did you carry out?"
An Englishman's"
Harold W, or, in reality, Ed
ward K-?"
He gave me a surprised glance.
Yes"
For what reason?"
81 don't know You can believe me.
1t is a secret between him and Allen
B, and l would never have done
this thing had l not been in Edward
ks hands. He compelled me to
do it."
He puf his statement down in writ
ing, and then look me to his apart
ment, where. at my request, he hand
ed me two letters from Edward k.
| was on the point of leaving when
/ remembered Mademoiselle Marthe.
"Sit down again. and write note to
the police commissary in your district,
that you wish to withdraw your charge
against Marthe D.
The vicomte, who had given up feel
ing surprised at anything, wrote the
note, and handed 1t TO me.
1t was six O'Clock and broad day
light when l reached home. at once
sent for Allen b
who is Edward K--?" / asked be-
fore he had even time to sit down.
"A distant connection. Why"
what object had he in disgracing
your"
He? Impossible-he belongs to
first-elass county family"
BLOW your county families! Read
thist and l handed him the vicomte's
statement
| never thought it possible that de-
light and horror could be expressed
at the same time on anybodys face.
Allen b performed that extraordi-
nary feat. Then he shook me by both
hands until my arms ached. and ex-
cIaimed:
what a scoundrell Who could
have dreamed this? Monsieur Goron, 1t
all dawns upon me now. Three years |
ago that man proposed to lady to
whom afterward became engaged.
She rejected him. and he
THAT will do These are family Sc
crets. don't want to know more
than / can help. Leave at once for
England. This document and those
two letters win clear you, and II any
body wants more information. refer