Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-01-29

Of his speech. gaze at me with any
thing but pleasure
Last night" / read, the police
were called TO a house in the Rue
Delambre. in the Montparnasse quar-
ter. where, in a bedroom on the fifth
floor, they found the body of young
woman stabbed TO the heart On a
piece OF paper pinned to her dress the
following lines were scrubbed in pen
ell:
This woman. a wretched spy in the en-
ploy Of the Russian police, has for a long
time past watched young men and girls
studying at the Paris universities. Two
girls who recently returned to Russia
were. on that womans information, ar
rested at the frontier. and have not been
heard OF since. There are. we know, 9TH
er female spies now carrying on their me-
farious work in some Of the French wa
teriag places, and their turn viii soon
come.
The police are investigating the AFFAIR,
which has created a tremendous sensation
among the Russian students here"
There was a moments silence when
had fr ished, and then two or three
Of the que its remarked that 1t was a
terrible business. The count remained
silent He soon after went to bed.
and | followed his example.
The next morning after breakfast
sat outside the hotel smoking my
cigarette. The guests were at the
springs or strolling about, while the
countess had gone on one OF her usual
peregrinations Toward two the count
appeared. and. passing me. gave me
one Of his formal mods. | went up to
him.
Pardon me-" said: II owe you an
apology for interrupting you some
what rudeiy last night; but | took the
liberty OF stopping you from launching
into what looked very much like a
diatribe against the Russian authori-
ties. You were apparently not aware
that political spy was sitting within
yard of you"
"A spy" he gasped
Yes, a spy, In the person Of that
good-looking girl, Mile. Eugenie Arco.
So, now, you will perhaps accept my
apology"
m Guibert." he laughed, 81 don't
know whether to challenge you t.
fight or to ask you to do me the
honor to lunch with me today"
There is no necessity for either"
replied 81 am only too happy to
have rendered you a slight service"
How did you know she was a spy?"
he asked Have you any proof?"
mo. only strong suspicion. Hut we
shall now have proofs"
The head waiter was standing at
the door
Il have not seen Mile Arco this
morning called out to him Il hope
she is not ill.,
She has gone away" the man re-
piled. she left early this morning. ="
The count looked puzzled We
walked a little way down the road.
and then | said
i had my doubts about that girl
from the start; she is bungler. a
novice in the business. Fancy her
suspecting me. Il native OF Brittany. of
being a Russian Nihilist! Political
spying is dirty work; but il you do It
you must do II well or it becomes dan
gerous. especially to the spy. And
that is why l tried to knock the fear
into that young creature by reading
out that paragraph last night"
Yes. about those unfortunate girls
Poor things
Reserve your pity for another oc-
casion, count. invented that story"
M. Guihert!" he cried. Il compli-
ment You on your perspicacity May
ask what your profession is?"
Il am commission agent"
Well" he laughed. you would have
made a fine detective"
You are very kind. But for every
body's sake 1t viii be we'll not to men
ton this affair
The count nodded assent
After the spy incident the count be-
came very friendly and talked freely
10 me on many subjects
The countess undoubtedly neglected
her husband. IL was plain that a cool
ness existed between the couple: the
head walter. who occasionally hon.
ored me with his confidence. informed
me that the lady was of humble ex-
traction The count had met her
while she was companion to widow
and had fallen violently In love with
her
Visitors kept pouring H. many OF
them members OF the so-called smart
set" did noe like the appearance of
several OF the newcomers. and | was
glad my cure was drawing to an end
Then remarkable incident occurred.
The countess had gone on one Of
her excursions with her male and fe-
male followers, the organizer OF the
party. as usual, being Rene Soudier.
Bright. witty, excelllng in all sports.
Soud r was Rdored by the women and
popular with the men. except with the
count The latter disiiked him cor
daily. and rarely Or never spoke 10
him
The party had left after ;rncheon,
and was not expected back before :
O'Clock At three In the AFTERNOON, as
/ / returned from a walk. / saw the
count walking M and down in iron,
of the hotel Something evidently had
gone wrong The moment he saw me
he gripped my arm and led me to a
secluded spot in the garden
NJ Guibert,' he began In an ex
cited tone which he tried hard TO con
troll; M Guibert you proved yourself
very shrewd when Won dealt With thai