The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1914-10-15
AMysteriious Disap-
pearance Solved
By WILLIAM CHANDLER

Some workmen tearing down build
ing In Paris, on reducing the level Of
a compartment. closet or something Of
the kind about big enough for one to
stand in upright, came upon human
head There was hair on it, but not
much. 1t was more than skull, yet
not exactly head. AS the men went
on lowering the walls they revealed
female figure in the clothing of man.
which crumbled as they proceeded
downward.
The figure faced an iron door behind
Wainscoating. A panel was made, or.
rather, had been made, to slide side
ward, and the door behind it opened
inward, leaving sufficient room for the
figure to get into the closet and shut
the door. There was latch on the
outside. The panel had originally been
moved by weights and locked with
secret spring But both door and panel
had been walled up 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 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 it
was found. In time he published in
Paris magazine the result Of his inves-
legations, the following being an ab'
breviation Of long story:
The building in which the body was
found dated back to the reign Of Louis
XII 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 be 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
counterplot 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, nobleman who was
mixed up with these feuds and Joined
q coalition consisting Of the kings
brother and other persons to seize the
government. Mile. Louise de Fon-
tayne, the marquis daughter, was in
love with Rissfoli, 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
the most formidable Of all the plots
against the king, when it was discover.
ed his name was given to the prime
minister as one who must be taken at
all hazards Knowing his influence
with Nile. de Fontayne, he fed to her
house and begged her to conceal him.
Louise, who was a noble character,
that they exchange clothing.
While she was being taken away in
his stead be might escape as herself,
and upon her identity being discovered
she could rely on the influence Of her
father to save her from punishment
for aiding and abetting the escape OF
one Of the kings enemies. R1ss1oh ac-
ceded to this, and the exchange was
made.
It was not long after this that the
main door Of the chateau was thrown
open and a party Of armed men burst
In, seeking the Italian. It was plain
that if they found him they would Kill
him on sight. He had expected this
and had realized that whosoever they
found personating him would be stab
bed to death, but was too Contempt
bic to decline to permit Louise taking
this risk. Hearing the clamor below
for his blood, he darted away, leaving
Louise to her fate.
Louise, realizing that if found in Ris-
sioli's clothes and mistaken for him
she would be killed, ran to a secret
closet Of which she knew and intended
for a place Of concealment in case Of
danger. Having removed the panel
and opened the door, she stepped into
the closet, shutting both behind her.
Rissioli escaped to Italy and was
never again seen in Paris. he being
the only person with Mile. de Fontayne
when the party came for him and not
knowing where she had gone, there
was nobody in the secret of her hiding
place. After the commotion she was
missed. Day after day passed and she
did not appear. Indeed, though every
effort was made to find her it was un-
The antiquary found records of this
disappearance of Louise de Fontayne
occurring at the time Of the discovery
Of the conspiracy against the king. He
also found statement made by Ris-
sioli giving an account Of his being
with Louise up to the time the men
broke into the house and he and she
darted away in different directions.
This enabled the searcher Of the story
to tell it up to that moment
A careful Investigation was made OF
the apparatus for opening the doors
Of the closet with a view to determin-
ing why the imprisoned girl could not
release herself. but so old and decayed |
we're the apparatus and locks that 1t
was impossible to tell why they had
,o& rorto6 ONLY hvDOthetical SOlu-