The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-12-19
Mysterious Disap-
pearance Solved
By WILLIAM CHANDLER

ing In Paris, on reducing the ieNei o
compartment, closet or something o
the kind about big enough for one 4
stand in upright came upon a human
head. There was hair on 1t, but no
much. 1t was more than skull, ye
not exactly a head. AS the men wen
on lowering the walls they revealed q
female figure in the clothing OF man
which crumbled as they proceeded
downward.
The figure faced an iron door behind
wainscoating. panel was made, or
rather, had been made, to slide side.
ward, and the door behind 1t opened
/ inward, leaving sufficient room for the
figure to get into the closet and shut
| the door. There was a latch on the
outside. The panel had originally been
moved by weights and locked with a
/ secret spring. But both door and panel
had been walled up a long while be-
FORE and their existence had become
unknown.
The master workman sent word OF
the find to the owner of the building,
asking for instructions as TO what to
do in the matter. The owner came, ac-
companied by gentleman wearing the
button Of the Legion Of Honor, and the
latter examined both the body and its
incasement carefully. He was a pro-
fessional antiquarian He advised that
the body be buried and began search
for the reason of its having occupied
for so long the position In which 1t
was found. In time he published in a
Paris magazine the result of his inves-
legations, the following being an abb
breviation Of a long story:
The building In which the body was
found dated back to the reign of Louis
XI. In this reign the king increased
his power at the expense Of the no
bles, and the royal authority became
absolute His SUCCESSORS maintained
what he had gained. and from that
time down to the beginning OF the
reign OF Louis XVI. the government
was one OF tyranny and intrigue.
In the reign of Louis XIII. plot and
counterpart reached their height. The
king was a weakling. and Cardinal
Richelieu governed virtually in his
stead. There were conspiracies against
the king. the cardinal and every one
connected with the court. At this time
the building was occupied by the Mar
quis de Fontayne, a nobleman who was
mixed up with these feuds and Joined /
a coalition consisting of the kings I
brother and other persons TO seize the /
government Mile. Louise de Fon-
tayne. the marquis daughter, was In
love with Rission, one of those favor
ties Catherine de- Medici had brought
with her from Italy.
Now, this Rissioli was as black heart
ed a villain as ever lived. Being i'm
plicated In that conspiracy which was
against the king. when il was discover
ad his name was given TO the prime
minister as one who must be taken at
III hazards. Knowing his influence
With Mile. de Fontayne, he fed TO her
house and begged her to conceal him.
that they exchange clothing.
While she was being taken away in
lis stead be might escape as herself.
nd upon her identity being discovered
he could rely on the influence OF her
ather to save her from punishment
or aiding and abetting the escape Of
ne OF the kings enemies Rissioli ac-
eded TO this. and the exchange was
lsde.
IL was not long after this that the
lain door Of the chateau was thrown
pen and party OF armed men burst
i. seeking the Italian Ii was plain !
lat II they found him they would XIII a
I'm on sight He had expected this
nd had realized that whosoever they :
,und personating him would be stab
ed 10 death. but was too Contempt
e 10 decline TO permit Louise taking
lis risk. Hearing the clamor below i
II his blood. he darted away, leaving
ouise TO her fate.
Louise. realizing that II found in Ris-
oils clothes and mistaken for him 8
Ie would be killed. ran to a secret :
oset Of which she knew and intended a
r a place Of concealment in case OF s.
niger Having removed the panel =
ID opened the door. she stepped into <
= closet. shutting both behind her =
Rissloli escaped 20 Italy and was 4
yer again seen in Paris. He being
2 only person with Mile de Fontayne
ben the party came for him and not
lowing where she had gone. there
BE- nobody IN the secret Of her hiding &
lce After the commotion she was
ssed Day after day passed and she
! not appear Indeed. though every
on was made 10 fnd Der It was M n
ccessful
The antiquarv found records Of this
o. Louise de Fontayne n
surring a. the time 81 the discovery
The conspiracy against the king lie
% found statement made by RIs-
ID giving en- account q his being
fh louise up % the tine the men
AZ into fhe h0use and be and she
nd sway in different directions
o. enabled the sesr Der o. the story
ten q rs 81 that moment
careful inrerfirafian was made %
apuarafus ~ opening the doors
fhr ci8set 9Th rieu 10 detrrnin
vhy ne lufris1ned Fir1 couif not
.ase herssf tuf - % ard dr-nve1