Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-10-05

e recollect, madame
}, Without awaiting her answer, | advance
: and replied myself, in firm voice 'Th
J, watch, sir, have seen in the hands of th
assassin himself; | recognize it, and 1 ca
t deliver the assassin into your hands th
= very night, if you will but listen to me-
9 Profound silence for moment followe
my address. The astounded officials locke
at each other; my comrades seemed t
D revive little.
Who are you, sir p demanded tn
: provost, recovering himself
am the comrade of these unfortunat
men, and l am not ashamed to own it
cried; for all, all of them, though poor
; are honest. Not one of them is capabl
of committing the crime they are accuses
of
Once more there was silence. The grea
Berthe began to sob under her breath
The provost seemed to reflect. At last
looking at me sternly, he said:
Where do you pretend you will find the
assassin for US p
Here, sir, in this house, and to convince
you, only ask to speak one moment tc
you in private
Come, said he, rising.
He motioned to chs chief detective,
Madoc, to follow US, and we went out.
L ran quickly up staifs the others close
behind me. On the third story, stopped
beforoothe window.Sand pointed out the
tracks in the snow. -
There are the aSassin's footsteps said
|. This is wherahe passes every night.
Night before las. he came at two o'clock
IN the morning. Last night he was here :;
no doubt he will return tonight
The provost and Madoc looked at the
footsteps for several moments without say
ing a word.
And how do you know these are the
footprints of the murderer p asked the
chief of police increduously.
L told them about the mans entrance
into our garret, and pointed out above US
the lattice through which l had watched
his flight in the moonlight. 1t was only
by accident L said. that l had discovered
the footsteps this morning
Strange muttered the provost This
modiies considerably the position of the
prisoners. But how do you explain the
murderer's being in the cellar p
The murderer was myself, sir
And related in few words the events
of the night before.
That will do said he, and then, turn
ing to the chief of police, continued
: must confess, Madoc, that these i'd
dlers' story has seemed to me by no means
conclusive of their having had anything to
do with the murders. Besides, their pa
pers establish. for several of them, an
alibl very hard to disprove. Still, Young 1
man, though the account you give US has .
the appearance Of being true, you will re-
main IN our power until it Is verified !
Mados'- do noe lose sight Of him, and take
your measures accordingly.
With this he went down stairs, collected
MS papers, and ordered the prisoners to be
AIKEN back to Jail. Then, casting look
If contempt at the corpulent landlady, he /,
ook his departure, followed by his secre-
airy. 4,
Madame said Madoc, who remained {
With two of his men, you will please pre- I
erve the most profound silence as to what
las taken place. Also, prepare for this {
rave lad here the same room he occupied !
light before last I
His tone admitted of no reply, and Mad 1
me Gredel promised by all that is sacred {
do whatever they wished, if they would {
My save her from the brigands. Il
Give yourself no uneasiness about the i
rigands, replied Madoc. We will stay b
ere all day and night to protect you. !
70 quietly about your affairs, and begin f
y giving US breakfast. Young man, will g
ou do me the honor to breakfast with a
le?' 6
My situation did not permit me to de- .
Inc this offer. [ accepted.
We were soon seated in front of ham
1d bottle of Rhine wine. The chief of
ollee, In spite of his leaden face-his keen n
7e and great nose like the beak of an G
lgle-was jolly enough fellow after a s
W glasses of wine. He tried to seize Il
nnette by the waist as she passed. He O
Id funny stories, at which the others G
Iouted with laughter. L. however, re- a
aimed silent, depressed. Il
Come, young man. said Madoc, with a d
ugh, try to forget the death of your es- O.
naole grandmother. We are all mortal. tf
IKE a good drink, and chase away all o'
ese gloomy thoughts al
So the time slipped away, amid clouds st
tobacco smoke, the jingling of glasses, II
ID clinking of cans. We sat apart dur CO
g the day in one corner of the saloon OF
nests came to drink as usual, but they ID
i'd no attention to us. At nine O'Clock. :
weyer, after :ho watchman had gone his to
und, Madoc rose. WI
Now said he. we must attend to our WI
tie business. Close the door and shut IN
- -r~f>ly, %1-I-----s ur---- - pU
d Mademoiselle Annette may 20 to bed 70
The chief and his two followers drew iie
m their pockets bars of iron loaded at WI
} ends with leaden balls. Madoc put a
sh cap on his pistol, and placed it care
ly IN the breast pocket of his over-coat, the
as to be ready at hand. An
Then we mounted to the garret. The old
attentive Annette had lighted a fire in mo
stove. Madoc, muttering an oath be- sea
zen his teeth, hastened to throw some ann
ter on the Goals. Then he pointed to an
mattress. tou
If you have any mind for it. said he fae
ne, you can Sleep or+
lie blew out the candle, and seated him r-o
with his two acolytes in the back part fiaT
the room against the wall. I threw arc
self on the bed, murmuring a PRAYER ere
/ Heaven would send the assassin. dv;
The hours rolled by. Midnight came. nod
, silence was so profound 1 could scarce oro
believe the three men sat there with W;tl
and ear strained to catch the least han
-ement-the slightest sound. Minute are
r minute passed slowly-slowly. I stor
III not sieep' y thousand terrible and
ges CHASED eacn olher through my bitl
y. Ohe clocA struek-tWo-yet up
iinS -ho one appeared: low
1t three O'Clock one of the policemen her,
ed. thought the man was coming clea
ut all was silent again as before. Ibe- of
10 'hlhA 'na1 haooc would take me for that