Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-04-13
Stlett Gale.
(From the Journal OF Detective
THE GUEST-CHAMBER OF THE
INN AT ST. IVES.

! received 40 urgent letter from the sub.
agent Of st Ives, calling me to come and
unravel the mystery of many murders com.
mitted there, to which no clue could be had.
Proceeding on my journey | met the sub
agent. Berret, 10 the diligence which had to
! convey ME 10 ST. Ives.
The excitement consequent upon this
alarming state Of afairs had caused the sub.
agent to decide upon personal investig alton
of the matter, and when encountered him
be bad already started for St. Ives, so that
our destination was the same
You entrapped the rascsl, Jaques Gui.
chard, SO admirably" Nj. Berret remarked,
THAT ] am led to hope for your success iu the
present case, dark and doubtful US the matter
now looks."
AT all events," was my reply. 81 deem it
no more than justice to myself to make q
strong effort. | must ask you, however,
Nj onseur Berret, to give NE the entire
management and control Of this matter in
every particular.
81 will DO so, and with pleasure. Frame
whatever plans and use whatever means you
please. j will be guided by you in oil things
pertaining to the business"
"rhis will be well. Bot one thing more,
Monsieur BerTe;, You must be as secret as
the grave. Do not. upon any consideration,
let 1t be known in ST. Ives that there is o
defective officer nearer TO them than in
Paris f; and, above all, do not suffer yourself
to make inquiry concerning these murders.
Leave me TO osk oil the questions 10 my
peculiar manner"
The sub.agent promised foil compliance
with my instructions, and 10 q few moments
We were ollipg through the darkness and rain
into The village OF st. Ives. During these
few moments, however, an incident occurred
which necessarily has an important bearing
| upon my narrative.
! Our conversation had been held, as a mat.
ter Of course. 10 so slow q tone as not to be
overheard by the other occupants of the dill
gence; IN fact, had hardly noticed any oI
their faces. But now, as ] had finished
speaking for the time TO NJ. Berret. ADD
looking around me, ] discovered 10 the elderly
gentleman who sat directly behind US, Mon
seur Lemsre, a wealthy wbs seller oI
Bordeaux, .ond with whom / was quite init.
mate. Upon Recognizing me, he greeted me
cordially, and We conversed together upon
passing topics for o moment.
| "You stop at the Hotel OF st. Ives,
suppose Z" be said, changing the subjec,
agent, and learning that this was the only
answered the question in the affirmative.
"Well, shall stay there also, but il il
possible may not see you again, as inteut
to leave ST. Ives early tomorrow morning.
| am now on my way TO England, travelling
as my business compels me to, 10 q round
about way.
"Coutrary to my usual custom, / hav,
neglected to obtain letters of exchange, auC
have now the sum of i've thousand francs will
mo. Permit me TO count this over before
you, that IN case ony unseen misfortun,
should deprive me of it before reachiu!
Calais, you may certify to my creditors as 4
my possession OF the money ut this time"
Producing a plethoric pocket book, th
wine merchant counted its coutents. Th
sum was correct as he had stated, Eve thou
sand francs. M. Berret also, at bis request
became witness OF his possession Of th
money.
The diligence now came TO a stop befor
the inn, and the passengers FASTENED to lesv
the one for the other. After We had take
our supper, accompanied the sub-sgept t
his room, where, for an hour, we talked on tn
subject OF our mission TO ST. Ives, and th
probabilities OF success and then as the hou
was quite late, bade him good night and re
turned to my owD chamber. and soon afte
| htut W eieePs
Nothing unusual occurred during the nigh
il may make one exception, which il may b
well TO mention in this place. had bee
sleeping about two hours. and was laying 10
half unconscious state, when ] was awakene
by a heavy though smothered grosn. / wa
perfectly sure that | had not mistaken th
sound, and mentally deciding that it had bee
occasioned 10 the next room. sat uprgt
aud listened inteDtly. But heard notbin
more, although ! placed my ear close 20 th
wall. Whatever the strange sound may hay
been, 1t was not repeated.
Upon inquiripg for the sub.agept the ne,
: morning. ] was told hs had rissn before n
aud left the ion.
The idea then occurred to me that migl
have az opportunity TO pass half an hour vii
Monsieur Lemsre and addressing the Ian,
lord, q heavy. .browed. ill-featured man,
, asked for hin. The man elevated bis bro
1 10 surprise. and declared that the wine sell,
bad not been 10 bis house for mouth.
"Perbsps yoo do not knos N. Auguste, ,"
ssid.