Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-01-23

)SIlN, MOWER COUN
bear your cross. would have thought
the sum sufficient to buy up all tho crosses
in Paris, and all the women bearing them
How did you resist ?!
elf did not know that your slur on
woman ard their crosses was said more
in humor than earnest, would not give
you another word Of information. I told
the man that the offer was very tempting,
but th.t l could not possibly accept It
without 6rst consulting you."
"That was noble reply my darling"
said Henri, drawing his wife close to bis
side, hestowing on her an eloquent glance
and several passionate kisses. Here.
after l shall consider you cheap ut fifty
thousand frar cs! What said old Croesns
to your priceless answerW
"At frat he appeared much disctm6t.
cd. After little he said he was going
into tho country to remain one week that
he should return this way, and If I, in the
meantime, gained your consent, or con-
cluded to part with tho cross without it.
he would make good his offer. And then
he bade me a reluctant sdieu, went to u
post chaise that was waiting IN the road,
sot in. and drove ;off rapidly toward
*Fmally We have tho finale Of act tirst;'
remarked Henri.
"Yes;" responded the musing Irene,
toying with the object of so much discus.
ton, which was in reality of but little in
trinsio value, and is NO way remarkable
excepting from peculiarly Of design. II
was Of a clear, blood red cornelian, the
upright pillar being carved to represent a
descending arrow, and tho cross piece a
very fine wrought imitation of wings.
aWhat attraction this bit Of q thing
which, aside from being yovr gift, l look
upon a. northeastern possess to render
it 70 exceedingly precious in the eyes Of
that man cannot conjecture htinued
the puzslcd Irene.
~ think can furnish you with a clue
to the foundation Of his extraordinary
interest,"" remarked Henri, What was
his general appearance? ?-that Of a
coarse, ill-bred pers.n?"
"Far from that. He was quite tall, not
over feshy well dressed, and refined in
bearing and bis language. Ills counte-
nance be,okened much illness at some
carly period Of his life, or excessive dissi.
PATTON"
"Should your cross. .enamored friend
call again, and l much doubt if he ever
doss," said Henri, = am the persen with
whom he must deal.'
Why with you, dear ~
"Because the object he il 60 extremely
solicitous to possess has q mysterious
history known only to myself"
"And that mysterious history affords a
key to the solution to the seemingly insane
offer of five hundred francs ?"
~ apprehend such to be the case
That cross was found on spot where, but
a few days previous, . revolving crime
had been committed. If my surmises are
correct, this strange visitor Of yours was
tho author Of that crime. If 90, he and
that little red cross are old acquainsances
ard he would readily sacrifice several
times five hundred francs to compass itt
possession. Why? Simply because, SC
long as it remains in other hauds than bis
own, he is painfully conscious that it may
ut any moment ride up in judgment before
him, and cost him the more irreparable
sacrifice OF his head"
~And you have kept all this dark mys
terry from NO." comPlsined Irene.
IL have, but will no longer. I have
refrained from making you acquainted
with the circumstances that are associated
with my finding IF the trinket solely from
q fear that the knowledge might cause
you to conceive a morbid dislike 70 it, an,
as it is really q pretty toy. liked to se'
you wear it. And now for the lnys terry
Do you remember the murder, six year
ago, of q nopleman of the name of Comte
de St. Armande, in the Rue de Ger
maiue 2"
Distinctly" replied Irene. "Al
Paris was thrilled with horror at the mys
terry and barbarity of the deed. But wha
association con this cross have with tha
dreadful affair ?"
:. An intimate association. That eros,
was found by me on the identical spo
Of the murder, and but three days there
after. If you closely examine the undel
side, you wilt observe small drilled hol,
at each extremity. From these holes
am led to inter that it was worn by th'
unknown assassin on the fatal night il
question and furthermore, that it WA
Xrenched from its fastenings BY the hant
of the hapless Comte in his dying strug
gle. Naturally enough, it fell to tn
ground, whore found it. To this day
in spite Of the superhuman efforts Of q b,
no means obtnse police, and the incentive
of abuloue reward by st. Armande's rel
atives, the murderer is undiscovered, an.
tho whole affair remains wrapped in i'm
penetrable mystery. After all these un
revealing years who shall soy that tn
! coming together If this man and tho eros
is not the working Of retributive fate
Too we'll does the man of inexplisabl
fancy that the little toy he SO covets
is adequate, If it falls into proper hands
to work The cruci6xion of great scound
rel.
] "Ughw sbuddered Irene, "And
:, have been wearing it all this time, an
, admiring il, totally ignorant Of the terri
bic thing it's blood red color symbolic,
I Can wear it no longer. Here"-remo,
ing from her shrinking neck tho chain b
which it was susqended-"I can now vie,
it with no interest but that Of horror an
; she th' ew it nervously into her husband
lap.
*Why, you little fool ~ said Henri,
jooose tone, "are you going to faint
! Are you afraid of it7 It is just as harm
less as it has been, and just as beautiiu
Il do not fear it," replied lren'
} shrinking from it, nevertheless. II a,
not that foolish. But I dislike it. II
t innocent charm is lost to me forever"
After weighing the matter in his min
until The specified week Lad nearly clap
, cd, Henri suddenly and sagely conclude
to acquaint tho Prefect of Police with tn
story in all it's bearings, real, and suppo
itory. That astute functionary proved I
! be an intelligent and patient listener, an
was only too glad to detail two subord
: mates to further scheme that promised [
!. result in the capture Of the criminal VII
had succeeded in eluding the pursuit I
ustice. Early in the morning, wee
q subsequent to that ON which the suppose
criminal had called, H 'nri sent Irene int
l the city on visit to some friends, with IL
explicit understanding that she was not
/ return until he came for her. Followin
: close upon her departure, came the arri,
! al oftwo gendarmcs, who were Forthwith
= secreted in her but recently vacated be,
. room, thereafter to make their re. entire
in the presence Of the expected strange
= or not, as he might or m. =. hit not crimina