The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1873-10-24
NO.23.
a@lsrellaaeuns.
THE LITTLE LADY.

| l usN stopping at he Hotel Wind
sor, al Rue de Rivoli, Paris.
| Oue noTnIng was smoking in the
coiornade, when a tai, elegantly dress,
ed gentleman asked permission 10
| light his cigar bY mine. l saw a,
once thst he was Frerchman, a.
though his "English'' was nearly Der
| 'acs.
Have you heard the news - he in.
qgi-ed.
-'Nu.''
'-I, it possible! Why, all Paris is
alive with it st this moment
''Wnat has hsppened p
"The Coutess de MArville, the fsir
est Uf tha fais, WAS found murdered
in her he'd lsst night, her bureau bro
ken open and ten thousand francs mis-
sing from it II was terribleI The
brute Eno did the Seed efiested bis
entrance through the window of her
chamber which, unfortunately, was n
tsll iree planted by the di ,tinguished
grandfather of the Countess Years
sgo. Little did he imagine wha. a
terrible use would be mSde OF it,
"Tbis is bad news; How any m9n
could harm woman thus in cold
boot IS more thsn can imagine.'
All, monsieur. il you had ever seen
the Countess you would wonder still
,aore. She is beau.i'ul-besutiful ss
an angel" he added, stroking his
Tbjskors with az 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 co.,
ceited, and I let disgusted. My cold
ness evidently repealed him, for be
soon left me.
Afterward | heard from others sc
counts Of the late tragedy.
Among The details OF the sff4ir was
one which peculiarly impressed me
-sud 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 throst Of the Countess.
the murderer, in throttling her, had |
left d mark from ring he wore-the
impression OF a chariot wheel with q |
star in the centre.
"This," said 10y latest informant,
"may lead to the discovery of the |
murderer. Jean Mosqueau isslresdy |
visiting the jewelers. shops to fbd |
out from which AID by whom q ring
with chsriot- wheel device was pur-
Chased"
"Who is Jean Mosquesu ?"
"What, MOsqueau, our famous de-
tective? Although his courage is
we'll known, you would not, to look
at his fair, delicate face and form, be-
iieve that be could fight gnat :"
A week iaierI was aboard the
steamer, bound from Calais to Do
yer.
Among the passengers behela ore
whose face looked familiar 10 me. ]
was not long 10 recognizing this per-
son a. the same had seen in front of
the Hotel Windsor,a and who hsd frs,
informed me of the murder of the |
Countess
lie was certainly very handsome |
man, although his c0ncelted airs vas
i blot upon his good looks.
He moved Ianguidly hither and
turning his brown ewes sd-
miringly upon the pretty lady pas
sengers, while strOking bis whiskers
with one white hand, upon the mid
die finger of which was superb dia-
moDd ring.
l sm rather of suspicious nature,
which, combined with lively imsg-
nation, had often led me into singu-
lar errors.
Now, 2 strange impulse moved me
10 sdvance and hold out my hand to
tue man whom / hal inYOluntsrily
iisliked from the first, that / might
have a chance to glance ct his ring.
Somehow the thought possessed me
that | should discover a chariot wheel
ievice upon the gIittering bauble.
TITO stranger did not at first recog-
l;ze me. He soon did, however. and
rankly exteneed his left hand, which
vas not the one that contained the
ing.
My brain fairly reeled the mans
behavior was q confirmation OF my
Il
"The other hand if you please" ]
said 10 a low stern voice. h
"Moasier will plesse excuse me
ny other arm is lame with the rh4u-
nstism.'
He heheld me glance toward the
half hidden ring, Land was euro | saw
him start and turn pale, st the same
boxing much surprised. He, how-
ever, opened bis right hand, a. il
perfectly willing for me to shake is #
chose to. II
Then bad a good look at the ring
md felt ashamed OF my suspicious.
The device was q common heart,
which certainly bore no resemblance
% a chariot wheel
Alter a general conversation, to re-
cover my self-possessjon, | turned
away, resolved in the future to have
a better opinion of my iellow-crea-
.Cres.
The strangers good locks seemed
to attract the attention OF q good
many OF the ladies. One espocisl'y.
4 modestlooking llttIe thing. sttired
n black, kept directing furtivs glance
:. the handsome passenger. Finaliy
she glided so close to hin that in
turning he brushed against her.
An apology, sniiingly received by
he little lady, remark sbou. the
weather on the part Of The gentlemsn.
and the two we've soon cOnversing
--.sa r:..aFinn M.au 4 bIia tne /