Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-10-23
A LITTLE LADY.

was stopping at the hotel Windsor.
at Rue de Rivoli, Paris.
One morning 1 was smoking in the
colonnade, when a tall, elegantly
dressed gentleman asked permission to
light his cigar by mine. / saw at once
that he was Frenchman, although his
English was nearly perfect.
Have you heard the news?" he in
quired.
"No."
GO Is it possible Why, all Paris is
alive with it at this moment"
"What has happened?,
"The Countess de Marville, the fair
est OF the fair, was found murdered in
her bed last night, her bureau broken
open and ten thousand francs missing
from it. 1t was terrible The brute
who did the deed effected his entrance
through the window of her chamber,
near which unfortunately, was a tall
tree planted by the distinguished grand
father of the Countess years ago. Little
did he imagine what a terrible use was
to be made of it.
This is bad news. How any man
could harm woman thus in cold blood is
more than can imagine"
All, monsieur, if you had ever seen
the Countess you would wonder still
more. She was eautiful-beautiful as
an angel, he added, stroking his whis-
kers with an unmistakable air of vanity :;
81 knew her we'll"
Indeed"
"Oh, yes. There are in Paris few
popular women unknown to me-"
His manner now was decidedly con-
ceited, and l felt disguised. NV cold
ness evidently repealed him, for he soon
left me.
Afterward 1 heard from others ac-
counts of the late tragedy.
Among the details of the affair was one
which peculiarly impressed me and
which my first informant had not spoken
of-an oversight which surprised me, as
the occurrence he had not mentioned
was of that kind which would be most
apt to strike the fancy.
Upon the throat of the Countess the
murderer, in throttling her, had left the
mark from ring he wore-the impress
sion of a chariot-wheel with star In the
center.
"This," said my latest informant,
"may lead to the discovery of the MUIR
derer- Jean Mosqueau is already visit
ing the jewellers shops to find out from
which and by whom ring with chariot
wheel device was purchased.
"Who is Jean Mosqueau ?"
What, Mosqueau, our famous detec-
tive? Although his courage is well
known, you would not, to look at his
fair, delicate face and form, believe that
he could fight gnatr'
Aweek later was aboard the steamer.
bound from Calais to Dover.
Among the passengers / beheld one
whose face looked familiar to me. l was
not long in recognizing this person as
the same had seen In front of the Ho-
tel Windsor, and who had first informed
me of the murder of the Countess.
He was certaily very handsome man,
although his conceited air was blot
upon his good looks.
He movedlanguidly hitherand thither,
turning his brown eyes admiringly upon
the pretty lady passengers, while strok-
ing his whiskers with one white hand,
upon the middle finger of which was a
superb diamond ring.
/ am rather of suspicious nature,
which, combined with lively magma
ton, has often let me into singular err
rors.
Now, strange impulse moved me to
advance and hold out my hand to the
man whom had involuntarily disliked
from the first, in order that might have
a chance to glance at his ring. Some
how the idea possessed me that l should
discovers chariot-wheel device upon the
glittering bauble.
The stranger did not at first recognize
me. He soon did, however, and frankly
extended his left hand, which was not
the one containing the ring.
My brain fairly reeled the mans be-
havior was confirmation of my suspi-
cions,
1.-THE other hand, if you please" l
said, In low, stern voice.
i" Monsieur viii please excuse me my
other arm is lame with the rheuma-
tism-"
He beheld me glance toward the half
hidden ring, and l was sureiI saw him