The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, December 22, 1875, Image 1
ILLE, S. C., TONE
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*s> It CRKW.
'ill
The nov? "or "er 111 elderly person,
-turned of sty, ni. whose nppearanrft
loudly proclaimed hat fief. Kmall,.mt"n>jre,
and slightly bentbe leant with t?<?.>lonjr,
nervous hands, rossed upon a namhoo
cane, w'uh a car*d ivory fop. I lis round,
unmeaning visat^wa-1 remarkable only for
an expression of. nid astonishment. ITis
oheeks ami ohin^ere closely shaven ; and
his nose, which ^is u lrigiiuut pug. seemed
t<> lie continual! snirtinir the ;iir. His small
eyes made tip it- their deficiency in size
by their perptttul movement?they were
never still forjfc moment ; while his hair,
which thatchedmt thinly a skull that set
you in mind oflhat of a greyhound, in no
wis** interfered with a j>iiir of lone ears,
which stood bollv out from his head, Jts if
they had been .ie winga which adorned the
cap of Mercur.
He was eoirovtablv dressed in a suit of
good broadclcit, wore cotton gloves a little
too large foruim, and gaiters a little trio
umall. A ver massive gold chain, iti the
extreme of -ad taste, went three times
round his le.i neck, and descended in a
cascade to h: waistcoat pocket.
Daddy Taaret, otherwise Oil Corkscrew,
plopped abxptly on the threshold of the
doorTg:?-e 0! fhar?\ quick glance at the
magistrate,4^ lov tvd hieyelids, and
Fnid. in a ice of deferential politeness,
" Vou havtione me the honor of sending
for rue."
"Yes," iswejvd Monsieur Pal won,
liowing h'eturn to the other's salutation,
which wn-f such a respectful nature that
it nearly <ised him to go ou all-fours.
"If I i be of any use to you," continu
ed the o!?ian, " I shall be only too hap
py".
" 1 (ill lie 01 very (jreiu wrviiT iu us,
Monsierinbaret," sai?l the magistrate, '-if
you an in finding1 out soma due
that will :?1 ilc ?js to track the assassin ;
for 1 inn,wn to you that we all seem to
he on 'he on;.' scent. If you will take a
chair, I v have the whole business ex
plained to n as far as we have rone."
**Oh, I k\v enough of it already," inter
rupted Olcjilisfr-'W. T.eeo(j <jave me the
details as vanie alomr."
44 Dot sti " insinuated the magistrate.
44 Leave to me, sir?h-ave it to me. I
like to truto my own first impressions,
unbiassed the ob--various of others,
however v;tb!? th<-\ may he : because
you pee, pi He.-pi: e on: ><*lves, we cannot
help bw'mir uenc"<l by thein. Hut 1 fear
T'm wastinpne, so, if you will allow me,
1 will conime at once my researches with
Lee.)."
Aim as i wilt* oki gejmeman sjmae,
hi- small gi>yes brightened and trleiim
ed till thevono like sparks of fire : his
who'e I'hysi omy reflected a sort of in?
terior joy, athere was a laugh in every
nied to grow tnller?young
er, even ; and it was with almost a linoyant
step that he crossed the room and entered
with eager |>m:i|>i fancy the second cham
ber.
il* stayed there some half an hour at
le.-ist, then came running out as quickly as
he had entere-1 ; ru.-hed back again?re
turned, but only to vanish again and again
as quickly.
The magistrate, M. Paburon, could not
divest himself of the notion that in this
strange old man's every motion and look
mere was ?i siaruiug i wmuiiuite iu a uvj;
who searches a scent. The upturned nose
and trembling nostrils appeared to seek in
th? air itst-lf some subtle emanation of
the assassin impalpable to others, while in
liis quick comings and goings, his restless
movings to and fro. he gesticulated and
spoke aloud, apostrophising himself, heap
ing abuse upon his own stupidity, or, by
little exclamations of approbation and tri
umph, appearing t<> encourage himself to a
mote energetic search. II s activity was
incessant, and his friend and admirer,
Lecoq, was not left for one moment in
peace. Daddy Tabnret required this. Dad
dy Tabaret required t'(1at. Now it was pa
!>er an<l a pencil, then it was a spade ; next
le shouted for some wet clay, some plaster,
water, and, last of all. a bottle of oil.
More than an hour having passed in this
manner, the magistrate began to grow im
patient, and demanded of the brigadier
what had become of their amateur deteo
" He's in the road," replied the brigadier,
with a prin. 44 When I last Paw him, he
was lyinjr down in !>*? mud on his stomach,
and inixins* up plaster in a plate. He
told me to say lie had nearly finished, and
would be at your disposition in a moment."
The words were scarcely out of the gen
darme's mouth, when Daddy Tabaret ap
peared, joyous, radiant, triumphant; look
ing positively younger by twenty ven'-s.
At his heel?, close a< his shadow, follow
ed L ecoq, oBrrymir with the frrea'est pre
caution a larg-e 1>n?k"t.
" I've fot it !" cried the old ^enMemrvn. as
he advanced briskly towards Monsieur
Daburon. " I've drawn the cork, though
it's the very tiprh'est I've ever wormed the
screw into. Lecoq, my pood yonnsr man,
pnt. that baske* down upon the table ; hut
pen fly?pentlv ! One ronph sh;ik*>, and I
shall have all my work to do over aeain."
At fhi? interesting moment, Gevrol also
re-e'it^r-'l the room. TT? had re'nrned
from his exn?*d?'i<>n ahnost as triumphant
as Oi l Corkscrew him-'-lf.
"I've mTvV"'l 1 ?' 'he chnp wHh the
enrnncrs." ho ?. !;" a b^au'lf"! ''-ail
to fol'ow. Th>' ! '?- down the river,
or*/? TS?rt ?/,* *?*-k . ? rtf ito
""" 1,1 ; n" "1"i .10
" Nnw, T .V' r,?f, J am anxious
to h'Hvc? youv r'>'-"V\" -:? ?! *' ?> m:i"istrate.
All ??yi>? scvc now 1urnn'l on Old ("Virk
dcrew. and ovc-v car rir'ck'"! -m to catch
wry word !li:? tniirbt f ill from hi* oracu
lar mnuth. TT" hsvl :iWa<lv oiimfwl out
upon th?? taMo fn>? of the l>:><ket?
viz,, ? la'-ffo clo'l of day, >?vf?-al lanr?
^hoo's of p-qiov. and *hm* or f hit pieces
of |>];tst??p. ?!'il wpf.
Standing nppjfht ltef?>n? jp turtle, the
queer old sjenlleman lolled doubly gro
tesque, and tl??? eccentricity of his appear
ance was no? lessened from the fact that he
was covered with mud from his toes to his
chin. With the air r>f a lecturer, and
amids* the deepest ??1-Mire, he commenced,
in a tone who-"* studied inod?<ty could not
alt' srether hide the pride that possessed
him :?
" My fi,-st discov^rv. jrentlemen. is this :
that rol>li?>rv has had nothing to do with the
crimo in question, and 'hat we shall find
there exist private and far more terrible
motives that have ]<>d to the murder of the
unfortunate Widow L-.TOii^e."
CHAPTRR V.
OX TIIK TRAIT..
u Yes," continued Daddy Taha ret, in a
tone of conviction 'hat evidently impressed
h:s hearers, '' this has heen no common
nwfitl purpose. h:i? 1 impelled l>v some
pecM and fearful de'ermination, that has
mad"1 fill otluT thoughts subservient to it.
I will prove this to yon by tho evidence,
mid afterwards if y>n will allow me, I will
pive von my hnnible opinion as to the prob
able motive of the crime."
fievrol prlanced at the magistrate, to see
the eff?fit Old Corkscrew was having
upon him ; but, observing the fixed and at
tentive expre^Mjon of hi.1* fnce, he checked
tho sneer that he wa? preparing, and con
led.hinis""' by ?
va\
>'"* V
avv ; t\ic
Mai iiirs
our wi?|?
ill.I "''.M-'-t
til.I
Ml- -|,M J'"\
n-st
\ V(i V"nr widow
;?,r; shoul'l-ft
a? fxpiifd, aii-ji. '
,.,i. >icknc?, In... ca^ ' ? f
)!lv. !lie otlif.?, c iWai!.-," rn;jnnur(?<l tlin
. ,*|- voir; \\ lie- of I"'!' w: * just the
^,e corner of his
Hill
I 1 v p:iMV miiM
i'ai'l-i < !' tin* ? p!isily authenticated," said
:i> U| tln-v will vci,p'l detective; " Kxuiniue
J'',1" t?-i\ an-1 will (Ik- oM hiph wrtf
iiioim v one of those that j*o from
am j,-' hours at a time; but,
j . : .'lies o, <\ one thin^ is posi- j
:>?thai ;1ih widow *vas wiiidinsr it up be
fore ?oin<r to bod. How, then, is it that this !
| dock phould have stopped at five oWvk ?
! Because she had just commenced t > draw !
| the weiphts up when th? knock came ; and
! to support the assertion. let draw your |
" : l .. iL. .1 ,_1. 1
HUemioii id mis fii.-iir iiiki't uic cuii ii, uiiu
i to the footprints upon its cover. Now look
! at the costume of the victim. The body of
her dress has been taken off. and, in her
I hurry 1o open the door, she hud thrown this
i old shawl around her shoulders."
" Well, 1 never !" exclaimed the brigadier,
evidently much struck.
"The widow," continued Old Corkscrew,
" recognized the knock. Her hurry in
opening- the door made me at first suspect
this. What follows pv ves it. Thus the
murderer was admitted ithout the slight
est demur, and must have bpen already
known to his victim. He is a man still
| young', a little above th?* middle height, and
| elegantly dressed. He wore on the even
ing in question, a hat, and not a cap. He
had an umbivlla, and was smoking a Tra
! burets cigar with a mouthpiece."
"Oh, come, draw it mild !" cried Gevrol,
j unable to restrain his filings any longer.
I 441 can swallow a great d" tl, but this is too
i much."
I "loo much, nr too little, retorted Did
i Corkscrew, " it's the truth. If yon are not |
! as minute and careful as I am. t'nat's your |
j fault, not mine. I seek, nn<l I find. Too j
i much, is it 1 Well, just come here, and, if i
j you will 1><; so condc.-cendinp', glance at j
these pieces of wet phister. l'hey j'epre- !
i sent the hoot-heels of the assassin, of J
which 1 found two mapiilicent impressions 1
near the ditch where the key wjis found, i
I'pon these sheets of paper i lmve traced
1 the entire footprint, which, bein?r upon
! sand, I could not succeed otherwise in
hriu^iufT away, L iok ! Hisjh heel, arched
iu-tep, foot little and narrow?an elegant
ho.it, you must own. Vou will find this
fool -tej) twice repeated on the road, and
j tiv times in the fjarden?which proves, by
the way, 'hat the wearer of the hoot had
j knocked, not at the door, but. at the
' shutter of the window, through the
chin's of which he must have seen
a liir'ut. At the entrance of the ?.ar
deti our man made a jump to avoid
stepping upon a llowur-bed. as the point of
tie' hoot, son!; deep in the soil, sufficiently 1
betrays. Tims he cleared. with a! :-ai-.-ii* 1 v !
lit tit* exertion. :i distance of neatly two
vards. This show.- liim 1o
ami sn|>j ! ?therefore. a yoiinjf niiUi."
Old <' .rksrrew spoke in >!iril! tones, j
inctallic and cutting as n razoj, and his [
rastless nes wandered incessantly from '
one to the other of his auditors, watching
their impressions.
u Is it my remark about the hat that has
astonished you, Monsieur (ievrol ?" pursued
Tabaret. "Examine the perfect circle left
upon the dusty marble slab of the old writ
ing-desk. Is it because I have tixed on the
height of the individual in question ? Be
so pood as to look at the top of those oak
presses, and you will j^nreive that hands
have passed over them, as if in search of
sontethiutr. Don't tell me that he stood on
? c'i.til-, for in that ea??? he could have seen
without Mm: obliged to feel. Are you
s.M-j.tii-il tli<> umbrella ? This clod
of earth contains an admirable imprint not
only of tii" 'op but of tii? round piece of
wood that holds Die .-ilk. Is it the cifjar
hut annoys you ? Here is the end of the
Tral'iiros. which I picked out of the cin
ders. II :s tin- extremity been bitten, or is
it with saliva ? No. Therefore the
p< . .' ho smoked it must have used a
til'*1.
I, ?) I'tide ivored, but with very small
sticc's-', to conceal his enthusiastic admira
tion of his old friend : and, in order to re
press any outward sijjns of approval, r"V
bed his hands softly together, as though he
'viT.' "oinLr throiurh the process of washing
them.
Th* ' ornnii<?nry of police seemed sttipi
tifil : the mii?rislrate looked delighted ;
wliil- (icvrol'- face, on the contrary, grew
longer and longer. As for the brigadier of
gendarmerie, he mpj<?*:ireel to be in the
seventh heaven of enjoyment.
" Now," continued the old gentlemen,
prav give tue your most earnest, attention.
We have come to the point where the young
man has entered the cottage. How he ac
counted for his presence at eolate an hour,
of course, I cannot tell ; but one thing is
very certain, he told the Widow Lerouge
that he hadn't dined. The worthy woman
immediately sot abou* preparing1 a repast
?a repast in which she herself did not
join, because in the cuphoard there are still
the remains of her dinner, and you will
perceive plxtes are not laid for two."
Here Ohl Corkscrew paused, elevated his
inquisitive nose in the air, mid, with twink
ling eyes, surveyed the assembled com
pany. Never was a man more delighted
with his audi"nee. All w?re deeply inter
ested in the marvellous exposition of cause
and effect. Attention was upon every
countenance ; and even those who had been
prepared to scoff, not only grave up such
absurb expectation, l>nt were. if possible,
more eagerly curiou* than the rest.
The cunnirnr old ferret had produced his 1
effect. His pans* was th?? pause of the
popular speaker or the favorite actor, who,
having "struck lire" 1>y some plowing
phrase or well-turned fiit of " sensation,"
wait" 'Dili* the exci'-nvnt ha* just a litlle
cooled before lie electrifies tliem with his !
next.
A murmur of impatience from every j
side, and I>add\ Tali.ire}, after sniffing !
miM'- nt 'i iiiiiiiwcj \ ci v n riiittiii^ 10 mu
nerves. wt'rit on.
"We now Approach the j^reat question of
qufl!?tinns?who was thL* voirntr man ? It
is evident tluit the wi.low considered his
portion in society to he much above her
own. In the cni?poard there is a taVile
cloth, hardly at a!! ; lint instead of
making use of it, sh" hrinirs ont a clean
one. and d"<*id'dlv on" of hor l>est. This
sph?ndi'l no' l"t of en' was, of course,
in'ewh"! for him, awl <i>--|?lay??l in honor
of his comin-r. Awl. h-tlv. I think, it is
prol> able she seldom use of this hand
some ivory-handled U* "S-."
' All !hi< is very x.icl," murmured the
masri^'ra't* " v?*ry "\act."
' TJchohl, then, our voiviir mtm seated at
table. !{ l.e-_?an l>y drinking n srlass of
wine while the widow prepared the ham
and e<r<jfs, awl placed the frying-pan on the
tire. 1 lion, m* h?-:irt tailm? nun. he asked
for brandy, and drank risrht off about four
or tiv<* lupitur glasses. After an inward
Bti-iiir<rl?' of, h?t lis say. about ten minutes?
it must havo tak*n about that time to have
cook-'d the hain an'l o>rjrs to tii? decree that
we now se.? them?the young1 man rose,
j approached th<* widow, who must have
I bf?*n <>n h?*r knocs <>r bont ov<t the tire, and
stabbed her twi<*? in tin* back. Death was
not instantaneous. She half rose, and
clun<r 1o th<> hands of Ihe assassin, while
t- 1 . .1 1 I I. I ..1
ii*% MJirimjf iiimm u.ivt:
her suddenly forward-, ;in?l then thrown
her on her fare in the position th;it we find
hoc at present. This brief struggle is indi
cated l?y tli" posture of the corpse. IJent
forwanis and -"truck in the back, it is upon
the hack she should have fallen. The in
strument *h" murderer used for his pur
pose was :t sharp and pointed one. Tliis
instrument, if I hiii not greatly in eiTor,
was a foil with the button taken off, ami
afterwards sharpened. He has left us an
indication of this in wipnij; the weapon
tmmt (* 11i?*?"> ' "f ' ' ' \-> dmr
L ] V his energy,
?...1 liir* fist at the
***" '.body ventured
t.) hr/.ard "T. p-iMii'rti'k, InO'lfiii eii his throat
Hiitl w?',it ?.n.
" Wi at the younir jT"i;tleinan want-d,
what he sought for. v. ha: hi determin I 'o
havi'. were papers- family papers ? wljieh
In- knew In hi' i:: the possession of the
willow. To lieeome master of the!"? he in
Bpects everything ? empties thn oaken
presses, unfolds the linen, smashes the old
writing-desk, of which he cannot jret the
key, and rips open tlie mattress. At last
success crowns his effort*?lie find? what
he seeks. And do you know what he does
wish these papers ? He hums them. Not
i!i me nn?|?i:ir?\ uiu m im? nun? mdvk hi iiiw
front room. The end he had in view being'
now accomplished, what is his next move?
T<i fly from the scene of his crime, ami in
tttkinir with liini every object of value en
deavor to put justice off the scent by indi
cating robbery as the motive of the murder.
II > v!:i_' mad a collection of every portable
sir:! !< lie can put Iiis band on, lie makes a
bundle of them in the table-napkin intend
ed f"i his use at dinner, blows out the can
die. -hut.- ami locks tin; door hohind him,
thr ~y - ?!;< ley into the ditch l>y tli:* road
t-ide, ami then?ami lion, gentlemen?
that's nil !"
So Kayinjj. M >nsi?mr Tahtiref, with h
phr?i;r. ;?t>: i ] ly suicided into a chair, and
\v:ji?-'i !:i-l with an old red .-ilk
pociii'i-haudkerehie f.
* 1"11'>s: my w<?rd. Mou-ietir Tabaret." said
the magistral--, "I must compliment you
npMii y.iur in-1!t"r> into this business. In
fart, from its 'x-ii.fr s-; dear, so precise, and
ho proba'ile. I am imlined to think
that y<>ii are on the trai.i "
"Hurrah! Pldn't 1 *;;:y so?" cried Lecoq.
Hjirinj^in^ from hi- chair, an 1 forgetfnl for
a moment of the pies* :uv nf M ?:.~i?-1:? Da
liitro'i. ?! i;i|tii!^- iii? i liii.in hi.- enthii-i-ism.
' I'l lirt ! sav li> "ii 'ir.ia tti>? cork, it anyone
c ..i! :r
'"i i's" h::ill lit-viol, with ill-concealed
irony; '!faddy Calrinl Itri.< certainly an in
ventive : ??] :y. lh;il, it -mIi:va.?d, wo i!d
PimTjo ih? fortune of a novelist. Hnl T'iii n
little d< u>>iS'i:1 al?>iii tl .:t j-s?r?-?-l?.1* piods lie
spoke of ji'.-t now. Fancy a yomiir swell
Wii!U:n,' h1 M?nt witii a i<<:ti?! 1 * t*iivi-l-?j ?I in
a lah!1-napkin, a.- if lie were talking his
own linen to tla* wa.-ili!"
"1 can't fancy it at nil," returned O'.il
Corkscrew, quietly. "You wil! apee with
me, 1 mi]>|M.se, that In; wonl'ln't h.ive lieen
t-o idiotic sip? to have taken the omnibus at
Marl;, !"
' Of course nnl," acquiesced flevtol.
"Now, my impression is thai li" went on
foot l>y the short cut to the luuiks of the
Seine, and there?unless lie has over
IliaiClieil III" III mill K.lllir.j mi-al
together?that h.?got rid of 1>is suspicions
looking and troublesome handle by throw
ing it into the river."
"Do you think no, Daddy Tabaret?" asked
Gevrol, reflectively.
"Think so! I'll bet yon anything you
like upon it; and the proof is, I have sent
thieemen under the direction of a gen
darme, to drag the river at the spot I have
! indicated. If they find the handle they
i shall be handsomely rewarded, I can tell
i yon."
"You don't mean to say you're goinjj to
j eti.nd the damage on your own account /"
I "Yes, Monsieur Gevrol; I ahull pay the
i reward from my own purse, and for my
owu satisfaction," said the old enthusiast,
| "It would indeed boa lucky chance if
they found the but die," commenced the
J magistrate; but before he had finished
| \vh:.t he was about to nay, a {gendarme en
J tered thu room, and placed ihe very bundle
t in question upon the table.
i It was dripping with water, and contahi
cd plate, money, and some jewelry.
I "One hundred francs was the reward
I promised," said the ^-ndarme, as, with a
military salute, he dropped the clnikii'^
trophy on the table.
Daddy Tabaret, with nn air of intense
patisfaction, drew from hi? pocket a bulky
r.nd somewhat gTeasy pocket-book, from
which he extracted a bank-note, and handed
it to the jrendarme; then, after annihilati.ig'
Gevrol with a look of triumph impossible to
j describe, he turned to Monsieur Daburon.
J "Now, sir, will you permit me to ask
i vonr opinion?"
j "Well, really," said the gentleman ad
! dressed, with difficulty repressing a smile
at the grand air of the little old man, "your
powers of penetration are bo extraordinary
i that "
I But here again, before he could complete
j his sentence, the doctor who had lieen sum
j tnoned to make the poxt vwrtem examina
tion presented himself.
He simply eonfiimed the assertions and
j the conjectures of Monsieur Tabaret. He
agreed with hint in his opinion that there
! hail been a struggle previous to the fact,
I which accounted for the position in which
the body had been found; and as a con
firmation of this, he nointod out a bluish
I circle l'uintly visible round the throat of the
; victim! as though produced by compres
j ei*>n; and lastly, he stated that the Widow
Uid.par'uken of food about thnjg
death.
j^B^^^^mained only a few odds and
V. evidence to be collected, which
might be of line at a later period in con
victing the murderer.
Old Oorkscivw, with the most extreme
care, again examined the finger-nails of the
de:i<l woman, and with the most infinite ]>a
ucuce miiwci leu m HXiraciinfj irom oe
neath tln'in tin; few atoms of the kill (jlove
he l?:id spoken of. Irifinitesimallv small
us these atoms were, yet the color of the
trlove was still easily to he distinguished.
He also put aside the pieces of petticoat
upon which tlie assassin had wiped his da;r
d'-r. These, with the handle which had
I teen found in the Seine, and the divers
foot-prints extracted l>y the old man, v.ere
the only traces left by the murderer.
Slight material enough; but slight as it
may appear to us, in the eyes of Monsieur
Dabnrou it was of very {Treat imjiortanc.e,
and his spirits rose with his hopes.
Th?* rock that the police in general split
upon in crimes of a complex and mysteri
ous nature is an error as to the motive of
the act. Once they s .irt on A false scont,
they further and f ''ther from the truth,
in proportion to the aidor with which they
pursue their investie ions; but in the pre
sent case, thanks to Daddy Tabaret, the
nufS'istrate was nearly certain that he was
on the right track.
CHAPTER VI.
AN IDKA STKIKKS OI.D CORKSCItKW.
Nijfht had come.
For the time heing, the magistrate had
nothing morn to do at La Jonohere. fievrol,
I wlic was burning with impatience to bo af
ter the man with the earrings, declar
ed ii:s intention of taking up his quarters
at 15<n:jriv?I, and to spend the rest of his
evening in ferreting about the wine-shops,
and hunt up. if possible, new witnesses.
At the moment of starting1, when the
commissary of police and the rest had taken
leave of him, Monsieur Dalniron proposed
that Daddy Tabaret and he should jetiirn
to l'uris lOijeth'T.
"1 was just about to solvit that honor,"
said the ( Id man, bowing; and as they
valki-d id" by *?ide, the newly-discovered
<*i Mm* licatue the subjec' of th"ir converea
tion.
It was arranged that Old Corkscrew
should on the morrow take n]> his >i!:it
Bougival, and make secret ami searching
inquiries everywhere in its n?*i?rlil?orlio???i;
while Monsieur I Jabtiron was to keep the
old gyitlemati well posted with such intel
ligence, as his agents mi^h' concern
ing the past life and conduct of the unfortu
nate Widow Leronge.
"In conclusion, Monsieur 'Tabard," said
the magistral-', throwing off for the mom lit
all official reserve, "I am at all times visible
to you. Should yon have occasion to
speak to me, do not hesitate about the place
or Hie hour; night or day, it is the same to
me. I go abroad but rarely, and you will
find me always either at my own house in
the Rue de Seine, 01* in my own priv. te of
fice at the court, and 1 will give outers fur
jour immediate admis-ion at whatever tim*
yon may present yourself."
i liiev were v.. nie rauway station
Moncifii; PabiM.u made 'lis jvr mise.
which, together will; 'Ik* g"ncral si dne.-s
of his liini tier, gave great del! ! ' i>> i>: i.i
Tabard; but '.he latter in.- i
(rate's nlicr of a >e::l i-i he ? :? 1? i.< !:; i
called, 0:1 tii" ? ! ?? tin,: ? .* ? I.?
j tllf Rli? St. I.:i/-.TC. W.:> 11:: ( ; ; '-.V |.;i,
j from where M.ey . ...j i
' extend;! : hit; luiSi.
un the trail (?i jli? liiisii
"Ami I shall run him <i c.v:,.' (,'ic!
Corkscrew, .vith all thai sclt-cMitidenee it;
hip subtle instincts which marks Hip savage
dweller in the wilderness rather than tlie
civilized inhabitant of a great city. "The
scent is weak, and thu trail is indistinct as
yet, but the one will strengthen and the
other will broaden in time. And when ht
leas* expects it, when his confidence i-1 at its
highest, when his laugh of triumph is at
i1s loudest, I shall have run this fox !
earth!"
The old man laid a linger respectfully oi.
the arm of the magistral*, and there was a
bright gleam in his piercing eyes as h<?said.
In low, firm tones, that had Si; them : '" iiig
af vulgar vanity, "This is iioiv-min n tne,
as you say, and it is exactly that which
gives me almost a certainty of its detection.
T rlri nnt fluv tn-Trw?r* i?w nv n<?Tt <l:iv ?iim.
not for days, weeks, month.* I;> com": lap
the scent of blood i-- (In* stiongest went of
nil?i1 never dies . and lh? ciimson 111:11 k
that will lead 11s on, is t > him, the man we
seek.a red mist, through which he tfropej<
and stumbles toward.'" an open trruve!" .
Then raising his hat, and with a mutter
ed apology for the liberly he had taken in
touching- so familiarily th*> arm of the mag
istrate Hie strange old man turned on his
heel and hurried away.
The house of Daddy Tabaret, as hp had
said, was only four or five minutes' walk
from the station in tin- Rue St. La/are.
1' is a capital piece of house property,
and from its central position ought to pro
duce him a splendid income?that is, if he
is prudent enough to ask a reasonable rent
in the le'.ing r?f its various stories. As f>>r
himself he occupies (h* first lloor. which
consists of five handsome an>! -paeioMH
ro'.in-. i-omf'Tt i'ily fi'r i~' ], with his
collection of hooks as Iheir chit-f
a'l'-i*i? in-Mit.
IJ? lives here in a simple way?simple
and frn-ral fr.-.in v. ? 1 nr-il tast?> fi" urifli
iip from huliit?a!te;.d'-d l>y o-i?> s?rv:?rif,
nn ol'l tt'omnn, to whom th*? tMupon
irrand Ifjrls a ln?'|iiny hand, re
freshed |n pecuniary \v:iv I?y his land
lord and master, Monsiifiir Ta'<aret.
N I'niily in tlif house lias the fa'n^st
suspicion or the peenl'ar occupation and
tastes of their landlord. They suppose him
to lie a f|niet, inoffensive sort of man, whose
solitary life is e.onun?'ncinir to have a soft
ening e(f<vt upon his 1 train. They remark,
with pity, hi* singular haliits. his frfijnejit
and almost myst?roiis a'-sences from his
heme, and his eecentri", pro-occupied man
ner on his return.
Th?re was one of his lodgers, howevnr,
that the landlord delighted to honor, and
\vV?r? fi ?vm> in I m tiVHonfirMi in nvorv u'hv tn
the nil" he had laid down.
, Tin's whs a widow lady named Madame
j G-rdy, who lived on the third story with
j her only son. Noe|;
Daddy Taharet, in fact, was more " at
I home" in the widow's apartments than in
! his own.
' IT son. Noel, was a yonnjr man of alioit
j tl.iHv-three years of nge, looking- rather
I older than he jeally whs. H? was tall,
| well-made, and had a nol>le r.nd intelligent
I e\rii'"<sinn of fane. To add io his natural
adv.n'aires. he had also lirpe, dark ''yes
| ami b'ack '?iir, whieh curled naturally. Hy
i [>ri!'?s.?ion a harri?te?\ he had aspired a
| cr tain reputation. H" was what is oaile 1
] it 41 hard workrntliftr o1.a45i>:it? n nis
; oiiiirmm. vn"v i-old in .f>d
thonrr^'ful in r." h Ti?id"!M !> ?
f?-<e.'? ilso?]K-,-!iar- li?'l? ?<.<. uiuch
osten'nti >:<?:i ?.' ??? -"* ;. :n ids -! ns
privi ijilev. and was ?*': .siely ri<jid ind
aust ireii: his ?n<?nls.
In Mil 1 si ne G-'rdy':- iprrtrnen's P?d ly
T:ii>sm-t <v>nsiri"ieu nni.s-fiii !u on*1 01 ine
fninily. Ho looked upon her as a kinswo
nmn, and treated Noel as his son. had
often meditated offering- marriape to the
chnrminfr widow, notwithstanding that s'te
was much yonnper than himself, but he
had desisted, not so much from the fear of
a refusal, hilt from tl e fear of the conse
quences of his proposal. Supposing she
refused him. then good-bye forever io Ihe
quiet, happy evenings, and the delicious
halo of liome she had thrown about his
desolatn heart.
* In the meantime he had made a will,
drawn hji in full form, malsinjj his young
friend, the barrister, his residuary legatee,
with the sole condition that two hundred
noiimls a-vear wore to be nut a?ide in favor
I -- .? ?,
of any detective " who drew 1he cork" out
of a difficult and baffling police cafe.
Short ns was the distance from Hie rail
way-station to his house, Da.My Takarnt
took more than a quarter of an hour to ar
rive there. No sooner had he quitted the
magistrate than lie resumed his self-com
muning and reflections, and so deeply was
he wrapped up in them that he walked on
without, heedinjr the passers l?y, and was so
' pi 15 ' d and el ho wed, that for every steji he
toijk in advance he lost the space of half of
it.
Tl J., J 41. 41. - ,..l.:??l
11 lf? UIIIPM-T'.-Jsiry " yay 111,11 iji?- *iii?|rt:?
of his tho'iirht \v:>- -'HI Hie mysterious
murder of t?i<* Wirlov Lor^n-re.
For t! ?= Hft!?*;}i titiv-, the old niiin r??] unit
ed to hini.-<-lf her word?, hs rej?ort?'d l?y llip
milk-woninn :?
" I have nothing in the funds: lmt I
have nil I want. If I wished for more, T
could have it."
"At the bottom or tliat boast," h? n? '
tered, " lie* a clue 'he wli'ij t?
The woman I.enviir- -:is in
pome secret which i was the infer"*' of
pome person or jvr- ' >?. rich and ! iijhly
placed, to keep Iii?i?l??s:. In 'Vist' snero* 1 -v
her fortune. It was h -i t>ank. from whir"
site drew at pleasure. She ha-' aim ?-?l 'In*
power she possessed, and they, driven to
desperation, have wiped her out ; that's
at>0111 the whole truth of it. But now
comes the question?what was that secret,
and by what means did she become its pos
sessor? It's possible that, in her vonth.
sne migni nave nem :i summon in some
great family, and while in the service of
that family she may have seen, overheard,
or ferreted out something of importance,
or something hur'fnl to its credit, danger
ous to its honor. Had it been merely a
rich man, a piece of common clay, whose
only strength was his wealth, he would have
hired some other hand to deal thr- blow
that was to silence her menaces forever ;
but here there was no second party con
cerned. The hand that did the deed tie
longed to the brain lhat had conceived it,
thus preventing the constant danger of be
trayal that must ever exist when, in a deli
cate matter, one works with an accomplice.
! i\. (jiwi bjuj n wnur\r*r u i?*, mm uiiH w iio,
hi? crime accomplished, will calculate every
chance of discovery calmly as a mathe
maticinn considers his %ui-es, trnMinp 10
hiB clearne ;s of hvaln, to his d j?th ( " knowl
edge, to produce . d< -imi nMu't. Ut-, i
murderer. \vhoe\ ' lie ;h. is ? '. iv'ug a l>0j l
game, evidently l< i larjre kIk-; hu'b
has not ye4 lake;: <>; d.ij TaKarci .uto Lin
scheme, and the :I r.-san will hw-rp Mi -
ch -. M-lioanl j>;."
So saying he tn>.vd tlyj gfclew.ay of h'?
hoU8<0
ter aiul'
?he, thl
woman,?
sinoky sic
" There i
niiin, Dit(f
inside the lu<T
quickly by.
" He niuat lij|
love this eveni^
with a prolong
to express the ex..
the same time i<)inf
nose with the fumes c _
she's sent him home l *, * ()fj1
a flea in his ear. Th.,ry,t
have something' mor?
ordinary." . , '
" It isn't decent, the way ho foraetimes
etopH ?ut of a night," grumbled th?
cobbler, aa he paused in hammering the
oole of a boot to glain-p out of his window
into the court-yard of the house. " He's
one of thoee soft old ?haj.a whom every
[Yhftri
one oan.tpke ndvanb.."* "F. Awo'.e . ;.|
hsiii i. in By th? lios-1. i. -ok sit him mrv !
'Pou my word, it would ba u ch?,: y if his
relations would club So0'i)thcr, and buy him
a strjJsrht-waistcoat."
" Inflations !" said the woman, h]->o copi
iner to the window, fryiiifr-pan in hand.
There's noboily an ever we've seen rela'ed
to the likes of nim. Jtut look at the poor
old unprotected soft one, and see what he's
up to in the middle of the court-yard."
It must be confessed that the conduct of?
our friend Monsieur Tabaret was?, to say
the least, eccentric.
He had middenly halted, and nfler tak
in^r off his hat, was rubbing1 his head vio
lently, and gesticulating in h manner that
was to a looker-on sufficiently ludicrous.
" No! no! no!" he murmured to himself.
" I haven't got the clue to this affair. As
the children say in their <rami\<,?I burn, I
burn!' but I have not had my hand upon
it y*t."
TI<< mounted the staircase of the house,
j anil ram.' nf the door of the apartments lie
j occupied, entirely forp-ttin-r that lie had
the latch-key in his po-ket. I lis hottse
keeper hurried, not without surprise, to
open it.
" Ts it you. fir, at this enrlv hour?"
" Kit! what?" asked her master, still ]ire
occnjn'ed. " What did you say?" repeated
the old man.
" I nay it is only half-past eiu'ht o'do-k,
and you rarely enter till lonif after mid
night. It would not astonish ine now if you
hadn't dined."
" Certainly. I have not. However, if
you've nothing ready, Marie, it doesn't
matter."
" Ah! that's just like jou ; as if a man's
stnm.ieh was like a pair of Ki-ll-nvs. to be
filled only with wind. Luckily. I've tho
dinner you always order and never eat,
| still warm. .So, you'd best sit down and
eat it, like a sensible man."
Daddy Taliaret, who was thoroughly ac
customed to the roijfrh honesty of his hoine
keeper, only smiled at this address, and
took his seat with much docili' v at the ta
ble. It was the second phase in Irs o.ven
tric life lie was conimenrinjr. He raised
the first spoonful of soup to his mouth, but
it never yot there.
I The mystery of th^ Widow L'Toii^c a<r;nn
troubled his brain, and witli liis i'vr>s lialf
j clos>?d In; remained like a status of marble,
j his spoonful of soup suspended in the
air.
" T beg-in to think that nil the worM must
t hp lijrht," thought Marie; 11 a man must be
wroiiir in the upper <tory?lie must have a
' tile off somewhere, when he ceases to care
! for a pood dinner when it'a placed before
him."
j As Daddy Tnbaret still remained motion
! less jn the one position, the housekeeper,
losing- patience, touched him 011 th? slioid
| fl?T, scr>?nintnjr IIKO itim e:ir, ns 11 ii? wito
! " "NVliy don't you eat? Why ilon't
j yon ??!tt?"
"Kilt! oh, certainly?yes, why not? Of
! course, I ou^'hl to 1 if hungry, very hungry,
I because, since this morning, I have been
j o' li'.'cil to?"
, He paused, as if struck by a thnnder
I 'mlt, his month open, and his eyes fixed.
" I have it!" he cried; " yes, I have it at
I last!"
CHAPTER VII.
OI.D CORKSCPEW PAYS A VISIT.
1 The movement that accompanied tlie
.vnrd recorded i- our last chapter was so
sudden and violent, that Paddy TaHaret's
! ousekcupnr started if she lud 1 iral
va- i/fd. and, has'ily *tr*??ti*?ir to th? door,
wai*'d. ?ilh ? . palpi nti-jy !i?'art, for the
f'r'he- devp!"prii(j ,t of lie/master's sud
den ti: -if madr.esa.
' Vi- " !?- continued, "I'm certain there's
a t;i v(**l lip :n it."
"A ( ! ''] nrxft 1 up in jt! Good heavens!"
th >n *1;' Mare, "is ho alluding to the soup?"
And, fearful of the con-fipiences, should it
mnde p>.l>li", of Miis ?:M,a<?,,dinary de
lusion, she advanced quickly towards him
for an explanation.
"A child, air? What do you mean, sir?"
Hnr voice recalled Old Corkscrew to him
self, and he perceived, for th" tirst time,
that he was being watche?l by Marie.
"What do you want?" he cried, in a voice
itliATt' Vrttl utoTlfl flllMVV
prying into my private business, ami pick
injr up the words that fall from my lips to
repent them ngain to your gossiping
friends? Retire to your kitchen, and don't
come out of it till I call you!"
"Tin1 fit's on him!" thought the poor wo
man. "He's becoming ru'oil!"?and, slam
ming tho door liehiod her, she tied precipi
tately to the ki.chen.
Paddy 'I'aliaret resented himself, and
commenced sw.dlowing. with extraordinary
rapidity, spoonful after spoonful ?f the
soup, which was now completely cold.
"flow was it I never thought of that lie
fore? Poor humanity! I'm not worth
much, after all! I'm pitting old, and my
idea- are not so fresh a< they w->re; yet it's
a'l as clear and p Ip 'Me as the day. A
fool might have guessed it!"
As he spoke he struck a bell that stood
upon the table, and M.irie reappeared.
"Tin* joint," he said; "briiif* in the joint,
and TiiPii leave me; I want to be alone.
"Yes," hi* went on. dicing: his knife with
furious eniTiry into h small le^ of mutton,
?"y"R, there's u child mixed nj> in it?I'm
positive of it; and these are the circum
stances. The Widow I/rou^e was a ser
vant in the service of a very rich lady. The
husband, probably in the navy, leaves on ft
lonjr journey. 'Frailty, thv name is wo.
man!' us the English poet has said. So the
wife, during his :il??-tice, is false to h *r
marriage vow. To hide the very na'ural
con --fiu Tices of h irnilt, she confide- h r
Hecret to llif Will w 1. nil!.'!', and, wi'h her
assistance, liid:* tl.* i her 'hild
from the kno 1 ;c of iiifc \vt!i|."
Here Old CuiUmtcw i anjf the bell vio
lent y.
"Marie! the dessert ? and leave the
room!"
Certainly our old friend hardly deserved
the skill in cookery th:i* Marie displayed on
hi? behalf. He would have found it diffi
cult, if called 11}it>n. 'o nuMiti in what he hail
eaten for dinm-r. Nay, lie would have
frinnil if ormiillv ilifli. i.lt <ao much was Iih
preoccupied, to nay what he was eating
| now.
; "But the child!" he nmrmuml, slowly,
j masticating a spoonful of stewed pears.
I "The child! what ha.? liecome of it? Did
j they kill it. No. Because then the Widow
! Leronge would have been an accomplice to
I the infanticide, and therefore not to he
j feared as to betrayal. The father of the
j child must have wished it to live, and eti
j trusted it 1o the care of the widow who
nursed and brought it up. It was easy
enough to take the child from her; but not
qnilo so easy to destioy the proofs of its
birih and existence. Th'-re was the diffi
culty. The father whs the man who came
in the handsome carriage, and the mother
I was no other than the jierson who called
| once or twice with the aristocratic youth
! men iuied by Hie village gosrips. No won
dei that ihe dear < id lady wanted for noth
| in1.'. There 11 r sum* secivt^' !h>i! are worth
1 as i inch a-' a .-i.od ; ie nf !:ui'i'-<i property.
' 'lo get fin -1.- '.)! fr;i:?i two pfuple at
. on was n ii; ky str- ke nf biiMn??*s lor !?*?r;
! >: >!.? !' (. '? hea/ity mjmci the prop >?
!.<: declining* y ai.-, and it broke. Poor,
fhort-si-^hted woman! She must I.ari
threaie-ied tliem, and in their f<*nr they de
termined to get rid of her. liu: which of
them undertook tho business? The papa?
No; lie is too old. I've trot it?it was the
eon! Ho wished to save the honor of his
mother?so commenced by murdering1 the
ridow, and finished off by burning the
roofs of his illegitimacy."
Marie, during the whole of thia mine, was
iring her eye at the key-hole, alternating it
very now and then by placing her ear to
le same orifice. It whs intensely agravat
g and trying to her temper, however, to
find she could not succeed in catching any
thing but a few incoherent words, inter
spaced, every now and then, with a mild
oath or two, accompanied by sudden jumps
in the air, and fist shaking at invisible per
sons.
' It's vpry probable," she thought, "that
some designing woinpn have got hold of
mv poor master, and are endeavorintr to
persuade him he's the father of many of
their children. Well, it serves him ri^ht,
running after such disreputable people?at
his tim* of life, too!"
Sue got into such a state of irritated cu
riosity at last, that she hazarded a soft tap
at the door. No answer beimr forthcoming,
she turned the handle and peeped in.
; "Did you ring1 for coffee, sir?" she said,
tfnii'ily.
"2fo; I. didn't," said Old Corkscrew,
shortly,-"but you can bring1 it in, all the
same."
Hi" usual cup of coffee being handed to
him, Paddy Tabaret swallowed it off at
one draught, and scalded himself no horri
bly in the process, that he was forced to
dance a niatiitic dunce of pain before the
r..; * *
ii.^i.LC.iCU lunun, nug .*5 ...... m^v.
tately.
"Thunder and lightning!" he gasi>ed, at
last; "but it w:?s hot, and no mistake!
Bother the Widow L?rouge?she'll drive me
crazy! Besides, I shall Income a laughing
stock, if I ?ro on in this way, to my detec
tive friends! But which of them, after all,
could have done what I have done, and by
the sheer force of habit have built up the
whole story, bit by bit? Not Gevrol?poor
creature!?he's too obstinate!" And at the
thought of Gevrol, Daddy Tabaret rubbed
his hands with delight. "Won't he be vexed?
Won't he be humiliated? Won't he be sold?
Shall I pro off at once and communicate
with Monsieur Daburon? No; on second
thoughts, I'll sleep on it. I can manage
my ideas better in the quiet of the night,
and pick up the various little threads of
the web I have been weaving. On the
other hand, if I remain here alone, I shall
get too excited, and may have a rush of
blood to the head. They say intense
thoiiL'ht. directly after eat inc. is bad for
the health. 80 I'll go out Stop! What
if I pay my old friend. Madam* Gerdy, a
visit? She has been ill, lately, anrl will
think it unkind if I don't call. I'll have a
chat with Noel; it will help me to pass the
time, and will have a soothing influence on
my nerves."
So saying, Daddy Tabaret arose, put on
his overcoat, hat, and gloves, and inform
ing Marie that he was uncertain as to his
return, rang the bell at his friend's door.
CHAPTER VIII.
1I0W A PARAGRAPH AFFECTHD MADAMK (JRRDY.
The home of Madame G??rdy was one of
n - 1 1 1 i m: 1-. oL
me nifrn?*i*i refjieeiaiuniy. .-in'* w;t? uuui
fortal>ly off in her circumstances; and the
rifintr position of her .son at the bar had
increased th^je circumstances into some
tiling like afllnence.
Madame Gerdy lived a very retired life
indeed, seldom aeeimr any company, with
the exception of a f"\v of Noel's friends
who v.ere occasionally invited to dinner.
During: the fifteen years that Daddy Taba
ret had visited her, he had only met thr-H
peoj>le?the clergyman of lli?* parish ; an
old schoolmaster who had taught Noel in
his youth ; and the brother of Madame
Gerdy, a retired colonel in the army.
When thwe three visitors fonnd them
pelves together, which was but rarely, they
played a round ffame at cards ; but No>>!
seldom remained after dinner?shutting
.1, .........
from those of his mother. He was known
to prolong his studies of die law f:ir into
the night, and often in winter his lump was
only extinguished at dawn.
The mother and son lived lint for one
another ; those who knew them intimately
spoke in terms of admiration and respect
of the filial devotion of Noel?of th" sac
rifices he was supposed to make for h >r
sake in living, at his age, the secluded and
austere life of a hermit. The rest of Dad
dy Tabaret's tenants would often contrast
the conduct of this grave, studious young
man with that of their landlord, wh-nn
they looked npon as a gray-hearded Satan
of most incorrigilil" and irregular half's.
As for Madame fjerdy, she )>ositiv?ly
worshiped her son. In him she saw united
every moral and physical perfection. If he
spoke, she was silent, and listened. A word
from him was law ; a glance of his eye, a
command. Her existence, in short, was
passed in studying his tastes, divining his
desires, forestalling his fancies, ami en
veloping him in the soft and tender atinos
pliere ol maternal love.
But to return to Daddy Tabaret. " Li
RJ'adame Gerdy at home?" lie asked of the
sf rvant who opened the door ; and, without
wailing for her reply, went in, with tha
confidence of a man who knows tlm house
he visits, and is almost sure he will be wel
come,
A single wax candle was burning in the
drawing-room, which was not in its accus
tomed order. The round table that gen
erally stood in the middle of th- apart
i ment had been pushed into a corner. The
large arm-chair of Madame (tardy was
nejtr the window, instead of in its accus
tomed place by the chimney corner.
The volunteer of the detective police took
in all these details at a glance.
"lias anything unusual happened to
day?" he asked of the servant.
"Oh, don't speak of it, sir?don't speak
of it!" said the girl, mysteriously. "We've
all had such a fright ; it's quile upset me,
i can assure you, ana made me ail 01
tremble."
" Why. whaf hiw been the matter?"
" Well, you must know, fir, how ill n
uis has lieen for th? last month, eat:ng
nothing, so to speak, ami so nervous that
she couldn't sleep a wink at nights," Why.
this very morning as ever says to
me, slip says?"
"Oli, well, well!" said Old Corkscrew:
" I don't want to hear about this morning
Rather disapp ?in!ed at being thus cheek
d in her bit of n'.--ip. the servant went or
to expl tin that her mist*ess had gone afte;
I dinner into the d-.i . i-ig room as usual,and,
i -eating herself in n -r arm-ehair, had be
j ?iin reading the n-wspaper. Ifardly had
she commenced the first lines when she
jjave a scream of sii'-1 u piercing1 charac
ter that it echoed 'hrimjrli the house. On
rushing in to nwrci":iin f! cause, Madame
Gerdy wan foii'i-' ! i smis-Ics* on the
carp?t. Her soi i-..i?. I :?r, :in< 1 carried
her in his arms !<> her : !-<*!. .imber. "I
wanted lo run fur : V ijo-i-ti-," n.iiled th
Ifirl. "hilt tin* y<ni:j;r nusie wiiiildri': li
me. He s?aid he knew wha< win the ma"
ter."
" And how in sh* notr0"
ti CO _ I i *1. . t * I
Tuioa recovered ii**r snnnpv--iirr x
suppose she has, for Monsieor N<?'1 n .td?
me leave the room?in fast, quite pit.-lied
ine out of it. AJ! I know i? that jus' m-o
she was speaking very loud?so l???i?l tli '
could hear h?*r in thi kitchen. Ah, sir, li
very extraordinary,.- th>*
" What's very oxtr- i\!ii.:tty/"
" What missus sain c M ;?.<i*ur No?1."
"Ah! ah! my irirl !*" sin-ered Daddy Tab
arel: "so we listen at doors, do we?"
" No, sir; I would tint condi* end t?? tie
mean myself to mich baseness!" s.h.i ti.e
servant, coloring ; " lull mi?s"s wa? almost
fhrii kiiiff onl ln-r words. M,c said?"
' Aiy jfooil cirl," said l'.iii-:y T;?i.;?ri?t. tc
vetvly, " I sfi-iit-j's heai- no vh'm} of '!ovi
dclvi'H. A.-U M..rif?siieV h.. i :jiv1 r-.^.o
ri?-iKO in sot-h matters?and ?iu'il u-1.
mi ?.!?..!?: ii "
The ffi v.-mt wis lie<_Hn'iin * ? 'r,,,.r "xpht
n. V \i? !.I V.
.i i ; " ! k
1<> y iji id'-v-t-J .d :' >r
>t'l l?y telling him 1 aui hol e. I can e;tsil
til h;f cotni ig."
And, much satisfied with the little lesso
hud just been giving, ho picked up th
wspaper, and ph;. ! ig himself in tli
imney comer, drew the candle a lilt
arer, and began to read.
CHAPTER IX.
DESPAIR OF XOIil. OKKDT.
A minute had hardly pna-tid, hefoi
iddy Tubaret in his turn sprint!*' to h
4, and stifled a cry of instiuctive fe;
<1 surprise.
i'his is the paragraph which met hi
es
1 A crini" of the most horrible nntnre has iui
;n ('(tiuiiiiiicil in the little viltiiirt* of !.#.) ?
<n-, ami haw pliintr<'<> ' peni-vable Inhnhituu
o the utmost c?i-l-,'Tiiiitioii. A wlilov
jn-.j I.?:ri'iiur who v!H; niurli f'M'eomi'it mi tl
illilmiliuoa, li:t* boisi tmirilcrc'l in licr u\V
isc, iiiiilcr tlu'iiuMt i . >ieiioiisciieuni*tancc
e police were nn ??li:?l ly mfoiin<-<l f tl
I* i,l tlif ca-e, ami, w? lissve every rea?ou I
ii'vc. art ujjoii llie track vl llic as^anem o; a
bins."
'Thunder and lightning!" thought 01
rkscrew. " Is it possible that Madam
r>!y?"
i'his idea only crossed him like a flas
was ashamed of it in
idiut^^^^B*, and returned to his arn
iir, s^PPPng his shoulders as lie nun
ired, "I think I am rapidly devolopin
0 an idiot! This Widow Lerouge ha
rame a sort of walking1 nightmare-!
i't get her out of my thoughts!"
1 curiosity over which he had no cor
1, and which his common sense mad
n despise, prompted him to read th
kvspaper right through from beginnin
end. , . -
I'here wan nothing in it, except th? pfu
raph above mentioned, which could i
y way justify or account for the fain
f tit or the scream?or, in fact, any hijk
ii whatever.
'It is a very singular coincidence, a
? same. I don't care who nays to tl
ltrary," said the incorrigible old detei
fie also observed lhat the paper ha
?n slightly torn towards the hotto;
the page, ami cru .lpled, with th
ivulsive clutch of u human hand.
\gain he repented, between his teetl
t's strange?very strange!"
\.t tliis moment, a door in the drawing
>m, leading to Madame Gerdv's sleej?in
unber, was softly "pened, and No<
peared upon the thrchhold.
En all probability the sudden illness c
mother had very much affected hit)
he was very pale, and his face, whic
aally wore a calm and 6elf-posses.se
nvssion, was (lushed and troubled.
He seemed rather surprised on perceii
r Daddy Tabaret.
' Ah, my dear boy!" said the old man
'm so jrl.xJ to see you, for you can na*
mind about your mother. How i
r
' Mailiime frerdy is as well a3 can li
lected."
.V"dame (Jerdy !" repeated the ol
Hi, us'utiished jit tin- >fillim.'.-'js t>f the n
"(.'ouit'?rome! 1 see you've bad
at shoik, and haven't recovered froi
yet."
' Vep. indeed," repeated the youn^ h?i
ter, sinking into a chair and passing lii
nd over his forehead ; " I've had a gm
irk."
[t was very apparent that Noel wji
ikin<; the greatest effort to appear ciiln
listen miietlv to his victor. and to ai
Pi1 his questions <!nnn?rti?illy.
Daddy Tabard in hi> anxhty perceive
thing of this, and entreated his frien
tell him the cause of his mother's il
I'he young man hesitated for a momen
though he were consulting with hiinsel
to the propriety of replying to so d?
led a question. After a long pause h
d, " You are an old friend, Daddy Tal
;t, and we have few secrets from yoi
tdameGeivy was overwhelmed by an at
uncement in the papers of the sii'lil"
d violent de;, h of a woman whom si.
ew and loved."
Thunder and lightning!" stammere
1 Corkscrew.
[n fact, he was so stupified for the m<
nt that he was almost betraying hi
inection with the police, and was o
i point of exclaiming, " What! you
'iner anew tne wmow L.eroujfer wne
presence of mind returned, unci h
iced his hand ov?-i his "yes to hide th
am of intense satisfaction that spark lo
them at thus being on the highroad t
cover something of the ]>ast life of th
tim of La Jonchere.
' Yes, Madame Gerdy knew the Wide
rouge," continued Noel. "The wido'
s her slave?body and soul her nla.v<
a sign of her hand she would hav
own herself ins he Haines."
'Then you, my de.ir boy, must nls
i*e known this worthy woman?"
'I had not seen her for a very Ion
le," answered Noel, whose voice seeir
veiled and husky from extreme am
1 emotion ; " but I knew her well,
rht to add?in fact, I don't mind cor
sing to you that I loved her dearly. 1
s very natural ; she had been my \v?
rse when sm infant."
The?that woman/" gasped Dadd;
liarot.
['hi* time the poor oM fellow felt ai
st dizzy. What! the Widow Leroutf
nurse of Xo? l!
t was too food in lie true. Providenc
.1 evidently taken him by the hand a
chosen instrument.
lis agonies of doubt?his despair a
aining further proofs?seemed nigl
r; and, overwhelmed at his success
lieut liefore Noel, silent and amazed,
lis subtle common sens?, however, toll
a that he must bide hid time, and 110
Kitvncolf oa \ru' \\ 1VJ11
y evident he would do unless he mad<
ue remark, howewti^oinmonplace, con
ninir thi* revelati^^BC* mtide to hir
the young barrist^^J^he cleared hi
as h
afor
or m
culculatior
-.4. bUbbec^tq the heart by the sara
iw that lias: struck ti e poor widov
r death, Monsieur Tabaret, has doslroj
all my dreams in the futire, and haj
Imps, crushed for ever my most just
ile hopes. 1 li:t<] tin' most cruel on
re to revenue, In it this sudden deat
> snapped the weapons 1 held in nv
ids, and has reduced me to hclples:
leless despair. Ah! I am indeed mos
fortunate."
Von unfortunate ? you unhappy ?
?d Daddy Tabaret, deeply moved a
sorrow of one he loved so well. " Ii
name of Heaven, what has happen
?"
I suffer!" murmured the barristei
h, how I suffer, when I think of it all
t only will the injustice that has bee:
wn to me be never repaired, but I an
: without defence against the bittores
nmny. The world can now say that
e Keen pinny 01 a series <h Knaviai
ks; that I am an ambitious adven
er, without common modesty and with
common honor."
>addy Tabaret hardly know what ti
ik. How could there he any associa
? between the honor of Noel and tin
rder at La Jonchere? A thousaiu
us, each one dissimilar to the other
ined junil?l?d in his bruin.
Come! come, ray boy!" lie said, cheeri
"compose yourself How can calumin
r reach you? Keep up your spirits
ind.-r and lightning! haven't you po
uds? Havo I deserted you? Trus
ne?tell me the cause of your sorrow?
t th<* devil's in th?* case if we two can'
ke out a something that will "
iff >re the old man could finish his sen
" Ihe barrister rose suddenly, ae i;
i'-k with a sudden resolution.
*'U. yrs: iiii^niijiint. ipp, )ul
know all! I ;im xvenry of WoHrmjj
irl'VJ of a 5A"i?'i ihnl !h i-hnkni^ me
; art I "*n pj. < >. 1 -hn^ -iiic
i-. I v i.-' ;t :ii who oil;
iiul ii.*ouiv J* i:;o?a trkn'j uiiC
who i? capable of aiivi.-iny; Hie f a
bad judges of our own causes, and this'
matter plunges axe into an abyss of doubt
and hesitation." . *'
' "You know," answered Daddy, pimply,
"that I am always at your* service, and
have your interests at heart :is much :u? if
j you were my own son. Make use of me
I in any way you . may think proper, and I
shall be only too happy if it is in my
power to serye you."
The barrister pressed the old man's
hands b,'tween his own!
"Von must know, then ' ho com
menced. "J'?nt. no; not here. We may
be overheard. Come into my study."
[to be WTivr nl
,King's Mountain Military
School.
Y0RKV1LLE, S. C. *
ESTABLISHED 1855.
Col. ASBUBY COWABD,
PRINCIPAL.
A Fall Corps of Able Professors.
rCOMPLETE outfit of Arms, Apparatus,
J cth.. for thoromrh mental and nhvsi
oal training. Location noted for healthful*
ness, ?ttd jpoasowing Railroad and Tele
graph facilities. 'Tor Illustrated Catalogue
Spmvto Principal.
vDflwfyl875, 35-4t
EMPORIUM
OF FASHION,
Latest Styles!
M'
[II.LINF.RY, Hnlr
?.l Good s, Ij res s
Goods, Fancy Goods,
.. and Ladies Goods
'? generally, always on
jji hand, at the lowest
?i cash prices, at the
m
Dec. 8, 1875, 35-tf
NOTICE
TO
Debtors and Creditors
OF
WILLIAM TREWIT, Dec'd.
VLL persons having daims against
the estate of WILLIAM TREW
| IT, deceased, will please present them
i to Col. Uothrau properly attested. All
| who are indebted to the estate come
Ifnrivnrii im mpi) iflfplv.
E. E. TREWIT,
W. K. BRADLEY,
Administrators.
Doc. 1, 1S75, 3o-3t
BOOTS AND SHOES
i
OUR STOCK OF BOOTS AND
Shoes is now complete, and at the
I r\f'tnaa fC4S(H ( 'nil PJlflv
and got a bargain.
DuPre, Gambrell & Co.
Nov. 17, 1875 32-tf
Onion Sets,
RED and WHITE,
AT
PARKER & PERRIN'S.
Nov. 9, 1875, 31-2t
McErran's & Bass & Co.'s
Just received, by
TEOWBRltGE, Agent.
24,1S75, 33-tf
CUNNINGHAM
AND
TEMPLETO
Have on hand a large
Stock of gents' linen
bosom shirts, at very low prices.
A large assortment of ladies' and
gents' morjno vests and
shirts; boulevard skirts,
SILK scarfs and ties. Give them
:i csll.
Dec. 1, lsto 34-tf
" THE STAR SHIRT,
Having tried these Shirts, we can
safely recommend them for h
tfoud fitting and durable shirt.
Collars, Linen and Paper,
LATEST STYLES,
WITH
Cravats and Scarfs to match.
Quarles & Perrin.
Sept. 28, lS7o.
I HUM AS' SAW MILL
Has been repaired, and is
now in running order. All or
ders for lumber will receive prompt at
tention.
J, W. THOMAS.
March 24, 187o 50-tf