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THE BY W. A. LEE AND HUGH WILSON. ABBEVILLE, S...C., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1875. , VOLUME XXIII?NO. 36. SHERIFFS m. By X. J. Wilson, Auctioneer. Joho W. McKellar, against > Execution *? ^^^^^flVTxccution to me mrv,!l sell at Abbeville * (Court on Salcday in January, il8Z6, within the legal hours, the fol lowing real estate, viz : 450 Acres of Land, $ snore or less, and bounded b}- lands of > Mrs. Hearst, Fed 'Jooke, J. L. Sibert Place, and other*. Levied on as the property of Sam'l B. Cook, at the suit of John W. Mclvellar. TERMS CAS EI. L. P. GUFFIX, S. A. C, . Sheriff'? Q&ice, Abbeville, ) y Dec. 7, J875, 3$-4t \ SHERIFF'S SALE. By L. J. Wilson, Auctioneer. Stuart and Cooper va Execution. IR. 31. Jlounoe. BY virtue of an Execution to me directed, I will sell ai Abbeville Court HonKC on Saleday in January next, within the le^ul hour*. VUC 11WV VI Juauu, contttiiuug 400 Acres, more or less, bounded by larid* *jf Peter Rykard, L. {1 Rykard, Jacob llykard, and land* known a* Mrs*. Alary Boozers', and others. Levied on as the property of H 11 Mounoe, ai the suit of Rebecca Stuart and J. J Cooper. TERMS CASH L P. GUKKIN, S. A. C. Sheriff's Office, *U?c. 7, 1875 35-4t J. T. Robertson STILL HAS A REMNANT OF STOCK ON SALE, at prices BELOW COST T At the old Stand, now occupied by Messrs. DuPre, Gamhr?ll & Co. 1AM NOW CLOSING MY Busi ness, and I expect all who owe nje to make Immediate Payment! and I hope that I will not have to resort J. T, ROBERTSON. Nov. 17, 1875 32-tf The State of South Carolina County of Abbeville. In Probate Court. Ex Parte Martha A. Moore, Petition of allowance of Homestead in the Real and Personal Estate of David Moore, deceased. By order of the Probate Court of Ab beville County notice is hereby j;iven that Mr*. Martha A. Moore, Widow of David Moore, deceased, has applied for a Homestead iu the real and personal <eetate of Maid deceased, and that the 24th day of December next has been fixed for the appointment of appraisers, who will on said day proceed to lay off a AJ.VIUVBIC4KJ IU X1AJ*. iVIOUlia widow, and to Emma Moore, Joice Moore, Olivia Mooie, Adeila Moore, Ce leutia Moore, lola Moore and Oscar Moore, children of David Moore, dec'd. J. C. wusmansky, Clerk Court of Proliaic, A. C. Office of the Probate J udge, i Nov. 19, 1875, 33-4t? | Final Discharge. BY Order of the Probate Court, pub lic r.otice in hereby given thai Mrs. Amanda Johnson, Administratrix of trie Estate of Sugar Johnxen, deecased, will, on the 30th day of DECEMBEK next, apply to the Probate Court of Al? beville County Tor a final discharge as administratrix as aforesaid, ami that the said day haa been ap|x>iuted by the J udge of said Court for the final settlement of the estate of Sugar Johnson, deceased. J. U. WOSMANSKY, U. C. P. A. C. Probate Office, I Nov. 13, 1875 32-4t | JUST ARRIVED. Saddles, Bridles. Harness, Waggon Whips. Buggy Whips. AT THE LOWEST CASH PRICES. BuPre, Gambrell & Co. prov. i/, 10to oi-n Cigars! Cigars!! Cigars ! !! \ E HAVE JUST OPENED A * fine assortment of American and imported Cigars. Our celebrated FIVE CENT CIGAR is something worth putting. Try it. dupre, gambrell & CO. Nov. 17, 1875 32-tf Goods bougbtat trowbridge's will be delivered free of charge to any place iu the incorporate limits oi Tow&. [Nov. 24, 1876, U Sheriff's Sale. By L J. Wilson, Auctioneer. Trustees Estate De La Howe, and others, Execution, j CR II. H. Harper BY virtuo of sundry Executions to; mo directed, I will sell at Abbe-1 :ville Court House, on Saleday in Jan uary next, (1876,) witbiu the legal! | hours, 650 Acres, rnpre or less, bounded by lands of T.| !M.* Tucker, James Bruce and others,' on Savannah iiiver. ALSO T?l? Perry, known as | Harper's Ferry, on Savannah River, ALSO, the following PERSONAL PROPER TY. at the residence of COL. H. H. HARPER. uear Lowndesville, consisting of 5,0011 LBS. SitflJ UUTIUN, more or leas, 150 Bushels Corn, 2 Horses, 12 Head Cattle, 15 Head Hogs, 15 Head Sheep, Wagon, Carriage and Harness, Buggy and Harness, Plantation Tools, &c, l.-vu-J on a.-> itic pioperiy of II II. Harper, ui .lit' suit of TruMiecH Do L* li.ivve. mid others TJSKMS CASH. L. P. GUFFJN. S. A. C. Sin-riff'* Oifii-e, I Dif. 7. 1875 35-41 I Sheriff's Sale. By L. J. Wilson, Auctioneer, nuniator A lion I VS. D. M. Rogers. Exccutiou. j BY virtue of an Execution to me di i rected, in the above stated ease, 1 will; ;nell to the hig'iest bidder, at Public! Auction, within the legal hours of Male, i at Abbeville Court House, on Monday,; the Third day of January, A. L). j ! 1876, the following described property,) ; to wit: All that Tract or Parcel of land,' situate, lying and being on Little River, jin the County of Abbeville, South Car-j jolina, and known as The River Place, i and containing Two Hundred (200) Acres, j ! i more or less, and bounded by lands of IM. O. Talnion, \V. D. Mars, and i others. ALSO The Valuable Mills AND Tract of Land known as the j Calhoun's Mills Tract, containing i 160 Acres, more or less, I and bounded by lands of Samuel It. Morrali, Alston lands, and others. Levied on and to be sold as the prop eitvof D. M. liters, at the suit of B. Allen, to sat]sly tne aioresmu i^xeoution and costs. | TERMS CASH. L. P. GUJfFIN, | 8. A. C. I ! Sh rif' V Ortlcv, Dee. 7, i87t:>, 3o-4t | i Sheriff'8 Sale. By L. J. Wilson, Auctioneer.! . Win. Wicklifle, Assignee, I iiL'ainst xeeution. > Win. Moore. | BY virtue of ail Execution to me di-j i rected, in Llie above stated case, I will i sell to the highest bidder, at Public Auc-1 ;tion, within the legal hours of sale, atj I Abbeville Court House on Monday, the i ! third day of January, A. D. 187U. the following described property, to wit:: I All that tract or parcel of land, situate,! I lying Hud being in the County of Ab-j !beviTle, South Carolina, and known as i the Win. Moore lloiuesteud, and cou jtuiliiug j 107 Acres, more or less, and bounded by lanas or 'Mrs, Tribble, and others. ! Levied on and to be sold as the pro perty of \Vm. Moore at the suit of Wni. j WicRliffe, assignee, to satisfy the aforc 'said execution and costs. Terms Ca?h. L. P. UUFFIN, Shemfl' Abbeville County, j SlierifTs Office, Abbeville, JJet*. 7, itf'/o, ao-ii Bananas, Oranges, Apples, Lemons Almonds,! Biuzil Nnts, Citron, Currants, Fresh arrivals, at Trowbridge's. f | Nor. 24, J875, 33-tf :* ***** * tit %. SHERIFFS SALE. By L. J. Wilson, Auctioneer. \V. H. Parker, Commissioner, ct. al. against A. O. and P. W. Watson. Executions. Bv virtue of sundry Executions to ;m directed in the above stated case, I will sell lo the highest bidder, at Public Auc tion. within tiie legal hours of saie, at Abbeville Court House, on Monday, the third day of January, A. i>. isvu, tne following described property, to wit: All that tract or parcel of laud, situate, Jyingand being near the Town of Cokes bury, in the County of Abbeville, .Suutli Carolina, and containing 200 Acres, more or less, bounded by lands of W. C. Norwood, aud others. Levied on and to be sold as the pro perty of P. W. Watson at tho suit, of \V. H. Parker, commissioner, and oth ers, to satisfy the aforesaid Executions aud costs. To be sold at the risk of A. O. Watson the former purchaser. Terms Cash. L. P. GUFFIN, Sheriff Abbeville County. .Sheriff's Office, Abbeville, Dec. 7, 1S75. 35-4t Sheriff's Sale. I By L. J. Wilson, Auctioneer. J. Henry Smith & Co. | ugaiiiKt [ Execution. .Win. H. Fmzier J BY virtue of un Execution to me di rected, in the above stated case, I win sell to the highest bidder, at Public Auction, withiu the legal hours of sale, at NINETY SIX, -! [on THURSDAY, 23d day of December, | A. D. 1S75, the following described pro ! perty, to wit: 12 Bales Cotton I I Levied on as the property of W. H.1 K lazier ut the suit of J. Henry Smith & Co., to satisfy the aforesaid Execution and costs. ' I Terms uasn. L. P. GUFFIN, Sheriff Abbeville County. Sheriff's Office, Dee. 7, 1875 35-4t | By L. J. WILSON, Auctioneer. Dr. Franklin F. Gar}'. J By virtue of sundry Executions to me directed in the above stilted wise, I; willseil to the highest bidder, at Public j Auction, within the legal hours of sale, I at Abbeville Court House, on Monday,' the third day of Janury, A. D. 1K7G,; the following described property, t<? wit: All that tract or parcel of land, situate j lying and being in the town of Cokes-: bury, in the County of Abbeville, South : Carolina, and known as the Gary i Homestead, and containing lO Acres, l'"'o onr? Knmwloil hv lnndcnf! SHERIFFS SALE Ann V. Evans, ct. al. against lljilic: \V. C. Bennett, M.C. Gary, John Allen, and other*. A L80, 45 Acres, more or less, and adjoining homestead, Payne Institute, and others. Also, on THURSDAY, the 9th day of December,; at the residence of I)r. F. F. GARY, I the following Personal Property. One Fine Bay Mare, 1 Mule, 2 Bales Cotton, Household and Kitchen Fur niture, Levied on and to be sold as the property of Dr. F. F. Gary, at the suit of Mrs. Ann V. Evans, to satisfy the aforesaid Execution and costs Terms Gash. L. P. GUFFIN, Sheriff A. G. Sheriff's Ottice, Abbeville,) ltov 71 h 1X7.V 85-41 I SHERIFF'S SALE. By L. J. Wilson, Auctioneer.! Rebec<*a Stnurt, J. J. Cooper, and <?t hers, againat } Execution. ! Nathan Ingram, and Madison S. Ingram. J i BR virtue of an Execution to me diroeted, I will sell at Abbeville | Court House on on led ay in Janua-I jrv next, within the legal hours, the; following described Real Estate, to1 wit: One hundred and Seventy Acres, more or less, ! bounded by lands of T. A. Buchanan |T. P. Buehnnnan, John II. Buehannan. !G. D. Buchannan. and others, sold a* I the property of MntHsoo S. Injrnim !at the suit of Rebecca Stuart, J. j Cooper, and others. Sold at the risk of R. H. Mounc.;, former purchaser. Terms Cash. L P. GUFFIN, Sheriff A. C. Sheriff's Office, ) 1 7th Doc. 1875, 35-4t | THE Parisian Deleclive on, A DESPEHATE DEED. ET EHSKIXE BOYD, Lrmcn of "Thh Stoi.kx Crmn," "Deiten I'iiOM iloMK," &c., U.C. CHAPTFR T. THE CrtlMK D! -COVE^BD. On Tuesday, th? 6th day of Mareh, 1812, tlrr day following Ash Wednesday, in the above-mentioned year, five women, belong inyr to the villtijrn of Lii Joitehere, appeared at the police-station of I3oiHfiv.il, a small town near Paris, awl aituated on the banks of the Seine. Having asked to ane tlio commissary of police, they informed him that one of their neigld>ourp, a widow named Lerouge, who inhaliited singly a detatrhed cottage just on the outskirts of the village, had not been aeen by any of it* inhabitants for two en tin* days, and notwithstandin>,''their repeat ed endeavouia they had failed to gain ad mittance. The shutters being up at each of the windows, and the doors l>eing bolted and barred, they had found it equally impossi ble to find even a crevice which might niive given mem n hi mc imcnu.. This strange silence, this Kiidden disappear ance, had caused them great uneasiness and, fearing a crime, or at leiwt an accident, they begged that the polft'e would kindly break open the door and relieve them from their presoit anxiety. Bougival is an Agreeable sort of place, overflowing on summer Sundays with Paris folk, who have l>een pent up at the deck or in the counting-house, or kept prisoners be hind the counter, on week-days. "Small misdemeanours" are of frequent occurrence on these festive occasions; but anything in the shape of crime had hardly ever been heard of. Therefore the commissary of police of this peaceable little town refused at first to accompany his five lady visitors, and somewhat pooh-poohed their solicita I tions. However, finding them to be so evi I dently in earnest, and seeing no other way I to rid himpelf of their presence, the wearied I magistrate at last gnve in, and, sending for l V.m,ror)inr- nf irunil<U'lIlfl'ip. tWO 1X>lice< officers, and a locksmith, set off for th? cottage of the Widow Lerouge, the 6ve wo men leading the way, La Jonchere is an insignificant hamlet, situated on the declivity of the hill, which overlooks the Seine between Malmaison and Bougival. A steep path, unconnected with the embankment and high-road, bikes you . to it by a short cut, but the litfle procession, with the pendarmes at its heud, followed the road by the embankment, and after a ehaj-p walk of about three-quarters of an hour'B dumtion, halted before a habitation of an unpretending yet readable appear- j ance. This house, or rather cottage, had proba- I bly l>een built by some retired tradesman, ! fond of " an open view," for all the trees | had l>een carefully cut down, and any in- i trusive ivy or other creeping plant aa assid- j uousiy Damsneu. The cottage consisted of two large rooms on the ground floor, with an attic or bo above. Around it was a neglected garden, badly protected from marauders by a stone wall of about a yard in height, which in some places was crumbling into ruin. A wicket gate with an iron latch oj>ened into the garden. " Thie is the place," said the women. The commissary of police stopped at the j little wicket gate and turned round to his men. During their walk their suite had been considerably increased by all the idlers of the neighborhood, and now con sisted of about forty persons, nil in a very inquisitive and talkative condition. " I/*t no one onter the garden," said the I commissary. And to enforce hie orders, he placed the | two jfondamiea before the ^rate, wnne ne | advanced to the house. accompanied by th# | brieradier of fjendarine ie and the locksmith, | First lie knocked lmidly with his loaded { cane several times at the front door, then j at all the shutters. After each Mow he ; placed hia ?^ar to tho wood and listened at- j ten lively. Hearing no pound or movement in an-wer, he turned to the locksmith. u Force the loci;," lie said. The workman unfastened his bag and took out his tools. He had just introduced one of hia picklocks into the keyhole, when a creat uproar burst from the group of idler** behind. A boy, playing with one of hia comrades, had picked up a large key in the ditch by the roadside, and, pushed by a dor-en offic ious hands, presented it in triumph to the commissary. The key, on being tried was found to be that of the front door; and as it swung back on its hinges, the commissary and the locksmith glanced uneasily at one another. 44 This looks very suspicions," murmured the brigadier, as he entered the house, * ?? va? WDU81 tbe crowu, wnu uimeuny hoiu ui check by the gendarmes, stumped with im patience, craning their necks and crawling along the wall, in their vain endeavors to Bee or hear what wju? going on within. Those who had suspected foul play were, unfortunately, not doceived in their conjec ture, for the practiced eye of iha commis sary detected tbe awful presence of crime the moment he placed his foot on the thresh old. The disorder that reigned in the room they entered, denounced with a dismal elo quence, the traces of its footsteps. Chairs, tables, a chest of drawers, and two large trunks were overturned, and thrown pell mell on one another. In the second room the confusion was, if possible, still worse. It seemed as if the hand of a madman had taken a wild plea* ure in tossing everything to rigm ana leri. Near the fireplace, her face in tho midst of the ashes of the burnt-out logs, lay tho corpse of the Widow Leroiige ; ho near, in fact, that one of her cheeks had absolutely been scorched by the heat and a portion of the long, gray hair consumed, though by some miracle the fire hud uot communicat ed with any porti ou of the unfortunate wornun's dress. "The cowardly dogs!" murmured the brigadier of gendarmerie. 44 Couldn't they have robbed without murdering the poor woman!" u But where has she been struck !" asked the commissary. " I don't see any blood." * Here. Kir." answered the gendiu-me ; u juct between the ehonldei-rt. Two steady j blown and no mistake. I'd wilder my next j month's pay that she hudn't time to utter j even a groan." lie bent over the body, and touched it J with his hand. M She's as cold an marble," be continued, oh he proceeded with his examination; "and If my experience ?C?es for anything, more thati one <'ny and night have chipped sinea the poor creature pot her death-stroke." J The commissary shnnrped his shoulders, i and, producing his writing implements, placed thein on a corner of the table, and j ; proceeded to draw up the necessary judicial j i report. " It's no nee making long speeches, or | 1 wnstinrr our time in snwiositions," paid he | to the brigadier ;"we can do that when we have discovered the nsffissins. Ail we have to do at prenenf, is to inform the justice of the peace and the mayor of the facte in 'ha ciise. The next, to start for Pari*, and iir-i seut this letter at the ofiice of the public prosecutor. Before two hours have elaps ed, the examining magistrate may he here. In the meantime I will mnke a provisional inquest, and endeavor to gain some addi tional evidence." u Am I to take the letter ?" ip<-":ired the brigadier. ^ "No; send one of your me... I shall want you here to keep back the crowd, and find ma the witnesses I may rt-ouir* 1 shall leave everything as yon' new see it and take up my quarters in the front roorc for the present." A gendarme was nt once started for the nearest railway station, awl the commis 8ary commenced proceedings according tc the law. Who was this Widow Lorouge ? From whenc* did she come ? What was her oc cupation ? How did she live?and upor what ? What were her habits?her con duct?her acquaintances 1 Had she ene mies ? Was she miserly ? Had she money or wai it reported she had money ? Thqpa were the inquiries that it was th< duty qf the commissary of police to make, in purmiR.ice of the French law. But the witnesses, though numerous gave but little Information. TVia Hpn.tsiHrmK of th<? neighbors WP1'( empty, incoherent, and unsatisfactory. No body knew anything of the victim; she ww an entire stranger to the place. A gardener's wife, who had bean friendly witl the Widow Lprouge, and a milk-woman whom she dealt with, were the only people who conld give any information of a pre cise and tangible nature. At last, after thre9 weary hours of ques tioning and cross-questioning, after having listened to all the vapid gossip of the vil lage, received the most contradictory evi dence,, and heard the most ridiculous tittle tattle, {he following contained the only r* liable statements gathered after so mucb difficulty by the commissary of police. CHAPTER IT. BBAROntNG FOR A CLCH. Two years lx>fore, at the commencement of 1800, the woman Lerongo had arrived al Bougival with a large van full of furniture clothes and other property. She stopped at a small inn, where she took up her quar ters for the time being-, informing the peo ple that she intended settling in the neigh borhood, and at once net about finding a boufe. Thin cottage being according to hei tastes, she had taken it at the yearly rental of thirty pounds, payable every six months, and in advance, but refuted a lease, al though offered at more advantageouf terms. The agreement being drawn up, she had entered the name duy, after having spenl uve [>uun(JB in rujHur?, She was a woman of about fifty-four or fifty-five years of age, well-preserved and enjoying robust health. Nbbody knew why she had Bflttled herself in a place where she was a stranger. It was sup posed that she had come from Normandy, because in the mornings she wore linen caps, common to the women of that prov ince. This rather homely sort of cap was, however, discarded in the afternoons, when the widow burst into bloom in the shape of very bright-colored dresses, gaudy head gear, and showy jewelry. In all probability she had come from some naval port, for allusions to the sea and ships were of constant occurrence in her conversation. She hud a dislike of speaking of her hus band, who had died, she paid, in a ship wreck; but upon this subject she had never been heard to enter into any detail. Once only she had said to the milk-woman, in the presence of three other persons, "Never was there a woman more unhappy in her married life than I was." On another occasion she ha J said,"Novelty alone pleases the men. My husband got tired of me after the first year." Widow Lerouge had the reputation of being- comfortably off, if not rich. She was also generous with her money. Had once lent a woman of Malmaison sixty francs to enable her to pay her rent, and afterwards refused repayment. Another time she had advanced two hundred franca to a fisherman of Port Marly. She loved good living, ordered her wine by the dozen, constantly gave excellent dinners to her friends, and was fond of patronizing them. When complimented on being rich was never known to deny it. Was often heard to say, " I have nothing in the fund*, but I have all I want. If I wished for more, I could have it." Apart from what has been mentioned above, she never allowed the slightest allu sion to eecape her concerning herself or her past life. At night she barricaded her house with bolt and bar, ?s if it hud been a fortress, and never went out after sunset. It was Kaid she habitually drank too much at ber dinner, and generally went to bed immediately afterwards. It was very seldom any strangers visited her. Four or five limes a lady and a young mau were seeu to enter the cottage, and on one occasion two gentlemen?one very old and wearing several orders; the other VOUIl^f ftUU cviuuuuy n. cat oiicu. These last had come in a handsome car riage. A pork-butcher of Bongivol, in pecuni ary difficulties, had been known to propose marriage to her, but had been summarily dismissed, with the observation that she had had one husband, which was quite suf ficient, and that she was by no means din posed to repeat the experiment. Nevertheless, on several occasions men were seen to call on her. At first, a young man having the appearance of a railway guard ; then, a tail, dark, elderly man, in a blouse, and of a sinister and disagreeable aspect. After the incident of the pork butcher, the village gossips put these men down as the widow's admirers. Whilxt the commissary was collecting this evidence and putting it to paper, the examining magistrate arrived. He brought with him the chief officer of the detective police, accompanied by one of hie agents. Monsieur Duburou, the examining magis trate, waa at this time about thirty-eight years of age. In figure he was taJl and well-made ; unci, nc twit&stanuing a certain coldness and hauteur in manner, with a gentle and melancholy expression of face. This melancholy hau remained indelibly marked on hia feat urn* after a severe ill ness, which two yearn before had nearly proved fatal to him. He had held his present important posi tion since 1 Siii*, ami hud rapidly acquired a brilliant reputation, liar-1-working, patient, and endowed v,ith aro; t of subtle common sense, ho could lOimnd tho mout tangled efepin in the nn st puzzling law case, ;u.d the midst of a thousand threads pick out the right one. With so many rare qualities, lie, however, hardly seemed fitted by nature for his ter rible office. He never condemned without a shudder, mistrusting his own judgment, and fearing to be led away in spite of him self by the extent of the authority placed in his hands. The chief of the detective police was no other than the celebrated Gevrol, who has played ho often a prominent part in the criminal dramas of our time. A wry able man, with one fault, an obstinate persistency whether right or wrong, in his own ideas. He never confesses himself wrong, and,the scent once lost, stubbornly refuses to rftfrace his steps to take up another which a subordinate might have discovered. With this excep tion, he is the beau ideal of a, police officer ?cool and courageous, gifted with a hercu lean strength, notwithstanding his meagre appearance, and ever ready to confront a danger, and arrest?often single-handed? the most desperate criminals. lint his special peculiarity, his priory, bin triumph, is an extraordinary memory for faces. A face oncc seen by him is never forgotten. In (he most unlikely places, under the most incredible disguise* he never fails to recopnize i'. This remarkable and unerr ing precision, he explains, is due to his never troubling himself about any other part of a man'* face but the eyes. lie could remember a glance, or detect a look, when the other features often escajwd his mem ory. To quote ati example: A few weeks before the occurrence we are now treating of, a question of identity had arisen con cerning threo malefactors, accused of a grave offence. Draj>ed with heavy cover ings, so as to utterly disguise both heiirlit and fhrure, their faces were hidden by thick veils, in which openings weieso managed hp to hhow only their sinister eyes, and in this state they were placed before the ke?n visinned detective. Without a moment'; hesitation he reco^ni/.ed each of the three raHr.nl*, anil pointed thorn out i>y name. Gevrnl's assistant in tho matter he lia'l now in hand was youn<r. l?nt, at Ihe game time, one of the most proniisini? of hi* stiifF. Keen hp a razor, and loving the profession he had adopted, he Paw the one jn-eat fault of his master, and never failed, when op portunity offered, to t:ikf? advantage of it. But Gevrol, on his f=i<7*?. i-c}riird?d lii.' younger colleague with a jna!ous disdain. This agent's name was T.neoq. The commissary of police who was be ginning to feel uneasy at ih" responsibility k;<> trate ;md the detective officers as a captive receives his liberators. Hp gave them a rapid recapitulation of the f and read the depositions of the various witness*?. "All this is very sntisfnetory," said the magistrate; "but there i? one fact you have omitted to ascertain." "And what's that, sir?" inquired the com missary. "On what day was the Widow Lorouge last seen, and at what time?" "I was just about to inform you. sir. She was met returnin"- from Rougival on the ev'eninjr of Shrove Tuesday, with a market-basket on her arm." "Are you quite sure of the hour?" asked Gevrol. "Perfectly, and 111 give you the reason why. Two witnesses,whose depositions! have taken?the woman Tellier, and a wine cooper who lives close by?were iretting out of the omnibuH that leaves Marly every hour, when they saw the Widow Lorouge crossing the road in front of them. They quickened their pace, and, joining her, walked with her as far as her door." "And what had she in her basket?" asked the magistrate. "The witnesses can't say, They only h:iw the necks of two bottles of wine, each one with a red seal. She complained of a bad headache, and remarked that though it wiw customary to entertain and 'keep it up'on Rhrove Tuesday, she intended to go to bed directly." "I've got it!" suddenly interrupted the chief detective. "What?" said the magistrate, engerlv. ""Why, it's clear as the day. We must find out the tall, dark, elderly man in tho blouse. The widow expected him to sup per?that explains the wine." "Oh," said the brigadier of gendarmerie, with great disgust, "the widow was old and ugly!" Gevrol looked with in air of much con tempt at tho simple-heartod gendarme. "You don't know the world, my friend, or you'd have known tliat a woman with money ifl always young and beautiful." ' Perhaps you may be on the track," said the magistrate, reflectively. "But what has struck me the most were those words of the widow, 'If I wished for more I could have it.' " "I must own I wits struck by thoso words also," repeated ti e commissary. Hut Gevrol ilid not stay to listen. Tin was on the scent, and was inspecting minutely every hole and corner in the room. Stiddoniy he turned toward the commis sary. "I've just remembered," be cried, "that there was a change in the weather on Tues day. It had been freeziiur for a fortnight, when it turned to rain. At what time did the rain commence hcref' "At half-past nine." answered the briga dier. "I'd just finished supper, and was going my rounds, when I was caught in a regular shower <:io.-e by tlw bridge. In lesa than ten minutes half an inch of water had fallen on (he ro;.dwav." "Very good," uaid Geviol. "Now, if the IIIIclll llfiu IWTII urn; HI. m?u-|?..ev boots would have tioou covered with mud, j unless ho nrriveil earlier. You ought to j have been able; to ascertain tiiis, as the floor is oaken, and has recently been waxed. Were there any miirb of footsteps when you first entered?" "I'm sorry to say wo never thought of looking." "Ah!" grumbled the detective; "what a pity?what a pity!" "Wait a moment," said the commissary. "It's not too late to see the marks?not in this room, but in the next. Nothing has been touched there. My footprints and those of the brigadier can be easily distin guished. Come along." And so saving, he was opening the door of the second room, when he was stopped ' by Gevrol. i "May I ask your permission, sir," said lie, | turning to the magistrate, "to be allowed to examine everything Deiore any one eise is allowed to enter? It is a matter of great importance to me." "Certainly?certainly," acquiesced M. Da bur m. Gevrol passed in fir.^t, and all those bo hind him paused on the threshold. Thus he took in at one glance the scene before him. CIIAPTET III. THB MAJf WITn TIM EARHUfOS. Everything appeared, aa the commissary bad already stated, to have been scattered pellmell, as bv the hands of a madman. In the middle of the room stood a table covered with a fine damask cloth, white as uie anven kiiow. iw. uic km met magnificent autique sublet of cut glass, an ivory-handled knife uid a plnfp. Next to these was placed a bottle of wine, hardly touched, and a bottle of brandy, from which about live or six liqueur glasses had been taken. To the right, along the wall, stood two handsome oaken presses, one on each side of the window. Both were empty, and their contents strewn about the floor. These latter consisted of wearing apparel, linen, and other articles of clothing, all rumpled, unfolded and thrown in a heap together. At the other end of the room, near the chimney, a large cupboard, containing crockery, was wide open, and next to it an old secretary, with a marble slab, had been broken open, and then smashed in various places, evidently with the intention of dis covering its innermost grooves. The shelf, half torn away, still h ng by a single hinge, while the drawers had been taken out and thrown on the ground. Tho bed also, on Hi? luft hnnd *ide of the room, was com pletely unmade, blankets and sheets lying1 in a disordered heap beside it, even to the mattress, which had been half ripped open, i and the horsehair strewn ubont like straw 1, in a stable. ! "Not even the faintest footprint," raur j mined (ievrol, with ill-concealed annoyance. I "He must have arrived before half-past j nine. We can enter without disturbing1 any I tiling now." ! And so saying, lie walked right up to the j corpse, and knelt beside if. I "Well, there's 110 denying but this atfair j has lieen neatly done," he grumbled. "The j assassin, whoever he may he, was no novice, j This is the work of a master and not of an apprentice." Then, glancing from right to left, "Oh, oh!" he continued, "the poor old i girl was busy with her cooking when the | blow was struck that sent hor info kingdom come in so unexpected a manner. Yes, j there is the frying-pan on the floor; the j rashers of ham and the eggs that were to j have made tho omelette. My irentleman was in a hurry, or he wouldn't have done ! the little business on an empty stomach. i Mi> hadn't even tin; patience to wan ior urn : dinner. At anyrate, lie can't plead in his | defence that bin head was confused by the ! gaiety of the dessert." j "It's very evident," said the commissary | of police to the examining magistrate, "that j robbery has been the motive of the crime." ! "I sliould rather think so," answered I CSevrol, with a slight sneer. "And perhaps | it was for the same reason that the forks | and spoons have disappeared from the I table." | "Milloli! here's some gold in this drawer!" i exclaimed Lecoq, who was rtimaging about ! on his own atvoiint. ''No less than three I bundled and twenty francs." | "Yon don't mean that," said Oevrol, ! somewhat abashed; but recovering qtiick j ly from his astonishment, he continued, ! with his usual confidence. "I've heard of j queerer tilings than that. I knew a man once who so completely lost his presence of I mind after he had committed the murder, that lie ran away without taking' anything, and forgot bin liat ami gloves into the bar gain. Our friend, on the present occasion, must have been nervous. Perhaps he was interrupted by some one knocking?who knows/ I'm inclined to this opinion the 'more readily from the appearance of tiie rati die. You see, he didn't have it burning, but took the trouble to blow it out." "Fudge!" said I/voq. "That proves nothing. He may have been a man of eco nomical tendencies." The investigations of the two detectives were continued over the whole premises; but after the minutest researches they dis covered nothing that gave them the faintest clue. Even the papers of the Widow Le > l- 1 ? - imu rur cvyr IUiyf llllCl U13 appeared. Not a letter, or an envelope, or a scrap of puper of any kind conld be found. Every now and then the disappointed Gevrol paused to swear at the world at large, and himself in particular. "Well, what do you make of it?" asked the judge, out of patience at the slow pace of the proceedings. "We are sold," replied Gevrol, with a despairing shrug of the shoulders?"com pletely sold! For the present, that is. The scoundrel has taken no end of precautions; but we shall have him yet. Before the evening I will, ?et my hounds on the scent; aiwl he'll be run down to a dead certainty." "Th-11, as it appears to me," observed Monsieur Daburon, "we are no farther ad vanced than we were this morning?" "One does one's best, and the best of ns CHn't do the impossible," 6aid Gevrol sullen ly. "If Old Corkscrew, now, were only here," muttered Lecoq, in a low voice, which, how ever, reached the ears of Monsieur Dar btircn, "he'd draw the cork, if any one COll 111." "What could the old fool do more than we have done?" asked Gevrol, darting an angry glance at his subordinate. Leeoq turned away, secretly glad to have wounded the vanity of his too confi dent chief, but too wiso to bring hia anger upon himself. "What's all that?" demanded Monsieur Daburon. "And who is this person?Old Corkscrew, as you call him?that he is like ly to succeed where experienced men have failed? I somehow fancy I have heard of him before." "He's a wonderful man," replied Lecoq, not sorry to be thus apjiealed to. "To use his own words, he can get at the heart of a mvaterv as easilv as another would draw a cork from a bottle." "He was formerly a poor clerk in a law yer's office," added Govrol. "The old fellow liau come into money now. His real name L? Tabaret He has constituted himself a sort of detective for 11is own amusement." "And to augment his revenues, I sup pose?" sneered the commissary. "Not he!" answered Lecoq., "It's a labor of love with him. He's never so happy aa when he's ferreting after some difficult case, that 'ud make another chap's head ache for a week. We call him Old Cork ! strew, just as well as we might call him ; Old Gimlet, because he can worm himself into anything. Why, it was he in that bus I iness of the robbery at the bankers you i know, sir, who asserted that it was the wife } who was the thief, and proved it too." , "That's all very well," retorted Gevrol; | but how about the poor little tailor whom j h? accused of having killed his wife, and i nearly got him condemned? He's too clever i by half, that he is!" j "Come, come!" interrupted the magis I trate, impatiently, "we are wasting time!" j Then, turning to l^ecoij, he said, "Ketch me j tins aionsieur .1 aoarei. 1 ve neara a great I (leal of hiin, ami should like to fee him at I his favorite employment." Loroq whs gone in an instant, while Gov rol looked much mortified. "Of course, sir," he commenced, "you have every rijrlit to employ any one that you may think proper; hut " "Don't be offended Gevrol," said the magistrate, good-luimoredly. "It was not yesterday that I ma do your acquaintance i ?I know your value. Only to-day we dif fer completely in our opinions. You stick to the tall, dark, elderly man in the blouse, and I am convinced you're on the wrong scent." j "I still think I am right." answered the detective, "and I hop? soon to prove it. I'll i hunt up the rascal wherever ho is." ' That's right. Lot lis all doonrbrsf." I "'1 n:!rconi.v one lllllljf, liovvevt-r, nin.n f I hope yon will permit me to observe, with i out thinking- that I'm taking- a liberty " i "What's that?" ; "Well, sir, since you are so kind, -list al? I Imv me to warn 3*011 fl<rairisf Old Corkscrew ? I beg- jour pardon, Monsieur Tabaret, I mean." "fndeedf and for what reason?" "Because I he old boy is too hot-headed, too energetic, too eccentric; and as he is as vain as apoacock, he is very likely to lose his temper ar.d betray everything.* The moment he is made acquainted with a crime?like this of to-day, for instance?he has the impudence to explain every thing off-hand In .ihort, sir, he'd think nothing of inventing- a story to suit the situation, lie pretends that from one fact he can build up the whole scenes of an assassination, I like that learnea cnnp?i mrjfei nm umnc? j who, from the fragment of a hone embed ded in the earth, was able to reconstruct upon paper the entire bird. Sometimes lie (messes right, sometimes he guesses wrong. How abont that poor little tailor? I insure yon sir, if I hadn't interfered " "Tlmt'rf enough," -'aid Monsieur Daburon. "I'm much oblijjpd to you for your advice; be sure I shall profit by it. In the mean time, we must tind out at all hazards where this widow lived before she came here, and to what part of Franee she belongs." The procession of witnesses brought in by the brigadier of gendarmerie now com menced to defile before the magistrate. But nothing new was discovered. I The Widow J,eron>fe, wnen anve, nuisi I certainly have boon a most discreet woman, considering that, of all the words she had I uttered?and as she was a trreat talker, the number must have boon bejond hu man c-ilcnhtlion?not one of any signifi cance remained in the memory of any of her gossiping friends. All the witnesses, however, were obsti nately l ent on making- the mnfristrate a I confident of their convictions and their per sonal opinions, and tlie?o coincided with i those expressed by Gevrol. They nnanimously, and as with one voice, | accused the daik man in-the blouse of hav j committed the crime. ! Every one remembered his ferocious nir, I his sinister aspect; and their lively imasrina I tions were not .-low to add innumerable de i tails to the somewhat fancy portrait they i had sketched. 1 A : - l.ivod flint lift i UUt! cvt-uiiif;, 1 had threatened :i woman: while another ns I perteil that he had cruelly beaten a child. | It in true that neither the woman nor the child were forthcoming; but such small j verifications were not at all necessary, and j the public gave its ready belief to the wild i est statement. As an instance, while Monsieur Dabnron was impatiently pacing flie room, two fresh witnesses wore thrust upon him. One was a woman who k?>pt a port of I rlintifHer'rf shop in Unujrival, :it which the j niurdored woman hail dofdt; and the other ! u i?h;u*p-ey?d little rnpunnftin of it l?oy, both ! of whom, it was Itudly assorted, know "all ! about it." The woman was (lie first who appeared, j She hud hoard the Widow Lerouge speak of a son still living. "Are you quite sure of that?" Paid the magistrate. "As of my own existence. Mr. Jnd?v?," re plied the chandler's shop keeper. "Mora betoken that, on that wry game eveniuir? {or it were an eveninir both wet and chilly, ss I well remember?she, the poor defunct one, as is now no more, whs. if I may ven ture to state such a tiling before a respect nble prentlenian, a little topsy-turvy." "What?" 'T mean a little on the ?laok-ropp, which is as much as to say. in vulvar language, that she'd been taking a drop too much, l'oor creelur! she was always a eonversiblo woman, and not beinjr on that occasion equal to walking, she "stayed at my enop more than an hour." "Well, well, what did she say?" "I think I gee her now," said the Chand ler's sliop-krc]'(. > , brushing away an imagi : nary tear with the back of her hand,?"I think I nee her now, with both her elbows planted on the counter, close against the box that held t'-.e bacon and the candles, a chaf fing one of the boatmen, a? fihe called but a 'poor free], water make-believe, as was pood for nothing but to pick up tickle ! backs with a crooked pin and a stick.' 'My I husband,'says she,' as a regular sailor, j salt as this 'ere bacon,'?ar<d she laid her l hand on the flitch? who was away a year at a time on his voyages, which was a com , fort to both of us, as he often aaid.' She ! went on to sav that she also had a eon, a I sailor, liko his father, but where he was at i ? -i - 1-:? ?u? Tile UTT13 SIHJ w 113 Bjjcmviiig rue wiuuu i even guess." "Did she mention the name of her sonl" "She said his name was Jacques." "Did she speak against her husband?" "New; only that his manners were'bru tal, and he had a jealous disposition?a good man enough, but that he had led her a miserable life. His great fault was that he had a weak head, and would fly out about nothing. In short, that he was a fool, and not too honest." "Did her son ever visit her?" "She was a close woman, and never spoke of that." '? ' "Was she a good customer at your shop?" ""Well, that was according. About sixty I francs a month?sometimes more; because i when she took her liquor, she always took it of the best. Rest her soul! she was a worthy woman, and paid ready money," Here the shop-keeper, diverging upon the advantages of ready money payments as a principle, any me disadvantages 01 trust as a practice, was abruptly dismissed by the magistrate, while the other witness ?the boy?was shoved forward. 'Now, my boy," said the magistrate, "what do you know of thin business?" "Nothing, sir! Only tho day before yes terday, I saw a man standing in M&dam? Leronge's gateway." "With a dark complexion, dressed in a blouse, eh, my little nianV" "No, sir; quite the contrary. The man J. saw was short, fat, and fair." "You are sure you are not mistaken!" "How could I be," said the boy smartly, "whort I spoke to him?" "And he replied t" "Yes." "Tell me what yon both said." "Well, when I saw him first, he seemed rather cross about something?angry, I may say, which is more tlyui being cross. His face was as red as a sliced beetroot, u/id so was his head?for his hat was off, and he was as bald as a billiard-ball." "Did he speak to you first?" "Yes; he called to me without waiting for an mironucuon. 'innon- iiiu? uii: snya hi;; 'you've a pair of (rood legs?do you want to earn hall a franc?' 'Of course I do,' pays I. 'Then,' pays he, 'cut along1 J down to the river, go on board the big j black boat, painted black with a red streak, I that lies close down by the landing-stage, I and ask for Jervis, the master. Tell him to ! make all ready to sbu-l, that my business is j over, and I'll be with him in the hauling of | a rope.' Th^n,placing the half franc in my hand, ho stiried me up with a kick, and 1 bolted off forliio >ivqr." ! "If Jill th^ witnesses were as sharp as j tliis little boy," s.iid the commissary, "to examine them would be a pleasure! And now4vll us how you pei formed the com mission." "I got aboard the boat, found the man, and gave tin messier*, and?and that's all." Gt'vrol. who had been limning with the t most esicr attention, stooped toward the ear of M. IJaburon. "If it's not askinjr too much, sir, will you 1)0 kind ononirh to let me put a few ques tions to the youngster?" "Certainly," answered the magistrate. "Look" here, my little man," questioned the detective; "do you think if you saw the man you've been tellinir us about, that you'd reeoimise him ajjain?" "Oli, yes!" "T'lerejtag something queer about him. 1hon?-? w "Wi.]'. hi? red face." "Was that all?" "Y -s. sir." don't- yon romeinlior how he was dressed? Had he a Mousef" "No; he had on a round jacket, with larj?e pockets at the sides, and s'i?kin',' out of <>n? was a blue-striped pocket-handker eiiirf." _ "What sort of trousers did he wear?" "T d -n't remember." "And !iis w.-ti-tfoa'?" ".Stop!" said the child, suddenly briirhten inir up again. "TTud he a w?i><{cna'? I think not?perhaps he had, and ?**h?vs hn hadn't. F don't remember. Hut lie hrd a neckerchief, I know, with the ends pulled Uiroii'.'h a I'injr." a wondorful boy!" remarked Gcv. rr>>, in ?i h *"?nd if I were h sin-flo ni?!', IM adopt Iiiin." Th" lild, meanwhile, had knit tod liis m?ft Krcw-' tisrhfly together, an with a violent ef fort <>f memory. I lvmiivkfd something1 el^e," he said, after a short pause. "Wl.a'.r * '!"!> ?mn wore earrings?large earrinp.1! ?vory l:ir-re." "B'-hvo!" cr'fd G?vjv1; "no'hinir elpe m wanted. I fool I've irof. him alre*?'iy. l/-t me have a warrant for his arrest, and tho tliin-r i- done." Thes? wo"ds were Fearc<?ly out of hi* mouth than T> -oq, eaper and energetic as i n? ! Inirst into the room. j "ili.-re's 9'{1 Corkscrew?I mean. Daddy j T:il>ar?t?that is to say. Monsieur T.iharet i ?speaking to strangers: I ranjrht him ! just as he was leaving his house. What a j man!?what a remarkable man he is! He } wouldn't hear of waiting for the train, hut f" -k a <*ah?the first on the stand?never ; kiryained for pri'-e, but drove down here i like a madman. Ilere heeomes?h?re lie is! I A wonderful man?:t remiivkable m. > ! | ll-'l1 draw the eork for lis in le.^s'h'in fiv* ! Mtiunt.-.-r* Tl.-' detervive became suddenly >ile*it. as | there appeared ujion the threshold of tiio room h man. whose aswvt we are hound to i iwifivs. l?y th> !n<*siii.? l tl:^? j hii 1 ii'iiv ospiv^eil by his .a ! j luiror. [to 1JB CGXrUtlED.] Discourtesy to .11 r, Davis. At the lale Texas Pacific Railroad Convention, held at St. Louis, Ueneraia Sherman, Beauregurd, and Johnston were invited to seats on the p]atforui, ' and interchanged cordial greetings amid tumultuous and long-continued cheer ing, but when Mr. Trimble, of Ken tucky, moved that Jetferson Davis also be requested to take a seat on the plat form, he was greeted with cries of "No ! No !" and though this motion was car jried, it was not without a considerable amount of noisy opposition. .' I r, \>nw ?nuv.u UI^imj anu ! self-respect, said : "J intended to say to the convention that for personal consid erations I could not accept of the kind ijoss the.v have shown. I atn chairman 'of thy Mississippi delegation, and have functions to perforin oil' the stand, and ! 1 did not wish to take a place upon it ; j but pityinir the poor spirit manifested by those \vii<> cnea "jso:" i will toll j them that if they had allowed nie, I would have declined the oiler, even if it had been freely offered." i The spirit which prompted this noisy j opposition to one who, whatever may have been his antecedents, is now a <1 i.? j tinguished and earnest advocate of every !scheme which promises to develop the 'Great West, is the same old war-spirit, j hich seeks to keep alive the animosity Joi the sections, and to insult the South through its chosen representative*.