The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-11-01
THE LITTLE LADY.

| was stopping at the Hotel Windsor,
at Rue de Rivoli, Paris.
One morning / was smoking in the
colonnade, when tall, elegantly dress
ed 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
CURED.
'No."
els it possible2 Why, all Paris is
alive with it at this moment"
"What has happened! ~
"The Countess de Marville, the
tairest Of the fair, vas found murdered
in her bed last night. her bureau bro
ken open and ten thousand francs miss
ing from it. 1t was terrible q! The
brute who aid the deed effected his
entrance through the window of her
chamber, near which, unfortunately,
was tall tree planted by the distin-
gu1shed grandfather of the Countess
years ago. Little did he imagine what
terrible use would 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 l-beauti-
full as an angel, he added, stroking his
whlskers with an unmistakable air of
vanity 81 knew her we'll "
Indeed"
ooh, yes There are in Paris but
very few popular women unknown to
me-"
His manner now was decidedly con-
ceited, and | felt Disguised My cold
ness evidently repealed him, for he soon
left me.
Afterwards | heard from other &C
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 sur
prlsed 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
mark from "a ring he wore-the i'm
preston of chariot wheel with star
IN the centre.
"This," said my latest informant,
"may lead to the discovery of the
murderer. Jean Mosqueau is already
visiting the jewelers. shops to find out
from which and by whom a ring with
charriotwheel device was purchased,
"Who is Jean Mosqueau ~
"What, Mosqueau, our famous de
tective? Although his courage is well
known, you would not, to look at his
fair, delicate face and form, believe
that he could fight a gnat -
A week later / was aboard the steam
er, bound from Calais to Dover.
Among the passengers I beheld one
whose face looked familiar to me. I
was not long in recognizing this person
as the same [ had seen in front of the
Hotel Windsor, and who had first in
formed me of the murder of the Count
esS
He was certainly a very handsome
man, although his conceited air was a
blot upon his good looks.
He moved languidly hither and thith-
er, turning his brown eyes admiringly
upon the pretty lady passengers, while
stroklDg his whiskers with one white
hand, upon the middle finger of which
was superb diamond ring.
l am rather of suspicious nature.
which combined with lively imagina.
;lon, had often led me into singular
errors.
Now, strange impulse moved me
20 advance and hold out my hand to
he man whom | had involun tarily dis |
liked from the first, in order that I |
night have chance to glance at his
ing. Somehow the idea possessed me
hat l should discover a chariot wheel |
lovice upon the glittering bauble.
The stranger did not at first recog-
ize me. He soon did, however, and
rankly extended his left hand, which
'as not the one containing the ring.
My brain fairly reeled; the mans
ehavior was a confirmation of my sus-
Icions.
"The other hand, if you please" I
nd, in low, stern voice. II