Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-11-09
FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 9, 1860.

Vucst occatne Nltnces 10 nls possession ol
tho money.
The diligence now came to stop before
tho Inn, and the passengers ha.tened to leave
the one for the other. After we had taken
our supper, accompanied the sub-agent To
his room, where for an hour we talked on
the subject Of our mission 10 81. Ives, and
the probabilities Of success. and then. as the
hour was quite late, bade him good night
and retired TO my own chamber. and soon
alter to sleep. Nothing unusual occurred
during the nigh,-'f may make one eIccp-
ton which i, may bo we'll TO notice in this
place. had been sleeping for more than
two hours, and va. lying in half uncon.
.clou. state, when was suddenly awaken.
Ell by heavy though smo,hcrci groan. |
| was perfectly sure that had not mistaken
the sound, aud mentally deciding ,ha, it
had been occaaoned in some manner in the
mex, room. Eat uprigh, aud listened in.
tontly. hut heard nothing more, al.
though placed my ear close to the wall.
Whatever the strange sound may have been,
1, was no, repeated.
Upon cnqairing for the sab-agcn. the
next morning, was told that hc had. risen
before me aud left the inn. Tho idea then
occurred to me. that ! might have an oppor.
tunity TO pass half an hour with Monsieur
Lcmare; anu addressing the landlord. a
hcavy.browcd, III featured man. asked for
him. The man elevated his brows in sur.
prise, and declared tha, the vino seller had
not been in the house Tor a month.
perhaps you do not know VI. Augusta, "
I said.
"Bu, | DO, monsieur, perfectly" he re.
piled. "You must b, mistaken about sec.
ing him here"
"IIo was certainly herein this town
last night"
"But no, a, ,hi. hou'c-you are doubt.
less thinking Of som, other p,rson."
"A' walked away, I noticed that hO
followed mo su'pieiou'ly with hi. eyes.
Ills manner seemed strange to me. I, was.
in fact, rather anxious and over.,raincI, as
though he wished very much 10 impres. 4,
upon my mind, tia, Monsieur Tcmarc had
m reality not bscn in the hotel. Upon fur.
ther reflection, however. was forced %
confess that really had not sen the wine
merchant in the inn. True, he informed
mo ,ha, he intended TO stop there, bat con-
cluded that be had changed hi. mind. and
80 ! dismissed the subject from my thoughts.
Passing into the street, strollcd along
in search Of the sub agent. | had contin.
ucd my walks for but few moments, when.
upon turning q corner. | was brought ab-
rupuy upon a singular and terrible scene.
\ number Of persons were crowded in COM
fu sion upon the siIc.walk-and among
them, as il happened. W. Bcre,. lie
quickly saw nc, and seiiinc my arm, con-
ductci me forward to the object OF common
attention. IL was. as had already begun
to suspect. another victim Of the my'tori.
ri5us assassin Of 5, Ires-the body Of a
map lay extended upon the pavement, face
the hack penetrated 10y deep.
ghas,ly wound. But no words can describe
my a'toni.hment ani horror, when upon
the face OF the corpse being exposed, | rec.
osnized my aged acquaintance VI. Augu'te
Lcmarc' The subagon,, too started back
IN horriGed surprise. and Tor q moment We
both galcl at the body in silence. My ha.
biiual caution. however, soon returned, aud
drawing NJ. Bsrre. hastily aside, ! whisper.
Cd few words in his ear.
"Now. Monsieur Berret, II you will fol-
low nv instructions, think | shall be able
to solve this mystery in the course Of the
next twelve hours. Have thi, body convey
ed as quicklya'po"ible to some place where
I, can be keP, privately, and then search
and see whether those Eve thousand franc $
can be found upon it. Do this, and rejoin
me in half an hour at the inn. | will wal,
for you there"
I returned Immediately to the hotel, and
before the expiration Of the appointed timO'
VI. Bcrrc, entered my room.
There is, he said, in voice laboring
under grea, excitement. "n) ves,ise Of the
money upon the body Of this unfortunate
man. I, has been plundcrcd Of everything
valuable"
"Ah-I expected il. Now. Monsieur
Bcrrct, let US sit down and talk calmly Of
thi. affair. think may be able to tell
you that which may surprise you"
"Is it possible that you have gained u
clue to the author OF these murders' Your
words aud manner lead mo to hope for it,"
"You are right. na,ter myself that |
have no, only obtained clue, but am able
even to lay my finger upon the guilty par.
,ics2 Would you like to hear Of my dis.
coreries ?"
"Yes--l am all impaiiencc. Please so
on"
The sub agent drew bis chair close to
mine and listened eagerly, while ! disclosed
the sigpifcan, facts which had gained
since my arrival at st Ives.
"In the first place, then, Monsieur Ber-
ret, said. ",hc discovery OF this morning
render, i, certain that we have selected the
righ. theatre for our operations. There
can be no question that these murders have
been committed in this town since we have
ourselves seen one OF the Victims
The sub.agen, nodded AGrmatiyely, and ]
continued
FIRST, then, II seems rather remarka'