Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-11-09
MI sc FL l. A N Y.
The Guest Chamber Of the Inn at 81.
Ives.
TRoN TuE JOURNAL on A DETECTIVE.

puzzled in my lifc."
"It is not possible, then, that you are Ia.
boring under any Misrepresentation ?"
Certainly not; have | no, facts TO deal
wiih' SuppOsing, NJ. Gulliot that hall a
dozen dead bodies were found in a certain
nsighborhOod in rapid succession and under
very suspicious circumstances. would IL not
be fair conclusion that there had been iou!
play somevhero?"
81 should certainly deem 1t go"
"well-and II IN addition to this let Us
suppose that no clue can DO obtained which
would even give color Of guilt TO any per-
son, Notwithstanding that every effort had
been made would il not have been very
strange and mysterious?"
Unjust agree with you ,ha, 1t would"
"And by my life it is-,bo s,nnsc,t
thing | have ever known It is no, at
all wonderful that men die from diseases,
or accidents. bat when wo hear OF death
without apparent cause. and OF which no
explanation can b. given, | AN bound to
say that 4, puzzles me beyond measure"
"IIu, do you mean TO say, VI. Berrct,
that there ha. been no apparent cause for
ibcsc mysterious deaths"
"Ah-l forrot. In tho back Of each wa.
a wound. apparently made by some sharp
weapon. rhi. was without doub, the cause
Of their deaths"
"Sueh a wound, then. must have bccn in.
ilcicd by human hands-nothing can be
clearer than thi. conclusion Now, Mon.
sicur Barrett. bc so good as to state any
particulars which may throw light upon
this subject, tia, | may determine in what,
manner 10 act.
The foregoing eonvcrsa,ion took place be-
tween myself anl tho sub.agcnt. in the dil.
iecuec between St. Malo and 81, Ives. (
had received letter ircm him several days
previously urgently requesting my immedi.
ate presence In tho latter place, and in the
La, few lcases Of my journey was 80 for
tuuate a to NEE, him, Upon my request,
he gave a brief history Of the strange occur.
rcnces. In the Investigation Of which he
wished my assistance.
All. however. ,ha, he know of the matter
vas. that within the compass Of a few weeks
a succession Of startling murders had been
committed at ST. Ives. town within his
oGieial guardianship. Bodies had been
found in the streets. bearing in every in.
stance the wound in the back. Of which he
spoken and thus far suspicion had been
entirely bafllci and lcrt without a resting
place The excitement, consequent upon
thi, alarming state OF Affairs, had caused
the sub.accni to decide upon personal in
vcsiisation OF the matter, and when en-.
c1uniercd him, he had already started for
~. Ives. 90 that our destination wa. the
same
"You cntrapped the rascal Jacques Gui.
chard. % admirably" NJ. Bcrrc, remarked,
"tha, am led to horc for your success in
the rrc.cn, ca.,, dark and doubtful as the
matter now looks"
at all events. !" was my reply. III deem
I It no more than justice to myself to make
strong effort. mus, ask you, however,
Monsieur Borrc,,, TO give inc the entire
management and control Of ,hI, matter, in
every particular"
III will do 30. and with pleasure. Frame
whatever plans and use whatever means
YOU please. | will he guided by you in all
things pertaining to thi. business"
"This will be we'll But one thing more,
Monsieur Berre,. You mus. be as secret
as the grave. DO not, upon any considcra'
ton, let il be known in 81. Ives that there
is detective Officer nearer TO them than
Paris; and above all, do not suffer your
self to make an inquiry concerning the',
murders. Leave me to ask all questions in
my peculiar manner"
The sub-Ogcnt promised full compliance
with my instructions, and in a few moments
we were rolling through the darkness and
ram into the village OF 81. Ives. Daring
these few moments, however, an incident oc-
cured, which necessarily has an important
bearing upon my narrative.
Our conycrsation had been held as mat
ter Of course, in 50 low tone as no, to be
overheard by the other occupants Of the dill
igencc in fact, | had hardly noticed their
faces. But now as finished speaking tor
the time with VI. Berret, and looked around
me, discovered IN tho elderly gentleman
who sat directly behind US, Monsieur Au-
cu.te Lemarc, wealthy wlne.seller Of Bor-
dcaux, and with whom was quite lnti-
mate. Upon recognizing me, he greeted
me cordially, and We conversed together up
on passing topics for moment.
"You stop at the Hotel Of st. Ives. |
suppose ?" he said, changing the subject
somewhat abruptly. consulted the sub
agent, and learning that this was the only
place at St. Ives a, which he ever stopped,
| | answered in the affirmative,
"well, shall stay there alec but 1t is
possible that shall no, see yon again, as |
intend to leave St. Ives carly to morrow
morning. am now on my way TO Eng
land, travelling as my business conpels me
to IN roundabout way. Contrary to my
usual custom. have neglected to get letters
Of exchange. and have now the sum Of five
thousand fracs with me. Permit me to
count ,hi. over before you, in tho case any
unforeseen accident, should depr i've me Of it