Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-01-29


go strong desire to possess the cross
/ that, wild as the offer might seem, hs
would not demur at giving five hundred
francs for it,
Give hundred, parbleu The trinke
le not worth FIVE francs said Henri
exoitedly. " The man is either lunatie
or-what | more strongly suspect him q
being
"And what is it possible for you {
more suspect him of being?' asked Irene
A knave. In spite OF the temptation
of five hundred francs, [ sec that you still
bear your cross. | would have thought
the sum sufficient to buy up all the crosses
ID Paris, and all the women bearing them
How did you resist ~
II | did not know that your slur nr
woman aud their crosses was said NOR.
IN humor than earnest, | would not give
you another W ord OF information, | tclC
the man that the offer was very tempting
but tn It | could not possibly accept i
without fret consulting you."
"That was noble reply my darling
said Henri, drawing his wife close to hi,
side, bestowing on her an eloquent glance
and several passionate kisses. Here
after | shall consider you cheap at fifty
thousand frarcsi What said old Crmsns
to your priceless answer9"
AT first he appeared much discomtt
ed. After little he said he was going
into the country to remain one week thai
he should return this way, and if !, in the
meantime, gained your consent, or con
cluded to part with the cross without it
he would make good his offer. And then
he bade me reluctant adieu, went to a
post cheise that wae waiting IN the road
got IN, and drove off rapidly toward
Chaions.o
Finally we have the finale Of act first, ,,
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 popularity of design. II
was of q clear, blood red eornelian, the
upright pillar being carved tc represent q
descending arrow, and the cross piece a
very fine wrought imitation Of wings.
What attraction this bit of thing
which, aside from being yoyr gift, look
upon as worthless-can possess to rende,
it 30 exceedingly precious in the eyes Of
tEat nah | cannot conjecture G Etinued
the puzzled 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 person? ?"
Ear from that. He was quite tall, not
over Aeshy we'll dressed, and refined In
bearing and his language. His counte-
nance belokened much illness at some
early period of his life, or excessive dissi-
patton"
Should your cross enamored TREND
call again, and | much doubt if he ever
does,n said Henri, 9, am tbs rersen s,th
yThom he must deal. p.
Why with you, dear ?''
Because The object he ls SO extremely
solicitous to possess has a mysterious
history known only to myself
And that mysterious history afords q
KEY to the solution to the see ringly insane
offer of FIVE hundred francs ?"
81 apprehend such TO be the case,
That cross was found on spot where, but
few days previous, revolving crime
had been committed. If my surmises are
correct, this strange visitor OF yours was
the author of that crime. If So, he and
that little red cross are old aoquain.ances,
ard he would readily sacrifice several
tlmeE five hundred francs to compa5b lts
possession. Why? Simply because, SO
long as it remains in other hands than his
own, ne is painfully conscious that 1t may
at any moment ride up IN judgment before
him, and cost him the more irreparahle
sacrifice of his headO
And you have kept all this dark mys-
terry from me,n complained Irene.
4" have, but will no longer. | have
retralned from making YOU acquainted
with the circumstances that are associated
with my finding Of the trinket solely from
a fear that the knowledge might cause
you to conceive Il morbid dislike to 1t, and
as it is really pretty toy. liked to see
you wear it. And now for the mys terry.
Do you remember the murder, six years
ago, Of nobleman of the name of Comte
de st. Armande, IN the Rue de Ger
maine 7"
Distinctly" replied Irene. "All
Paris was thrilled with horror at the mys
terry and bafbaritJ of the deed. But what
association can this cross have with that
dreadful affair ?D
An intimate association. That cross
was found by me on the Identical spot
of the murder, and but three days there
after, IF you closely examine the under
side, you will observe small drilled hole
at each extremity. From these holes
am led to Infer that it was worn by the
unknown assassin on the fatal hight in
question and furthermore, that it was
Erenched from it's fastenings by the hand
of the hapless Comte in his dying strug-
gle. Naturally enough, it fell to the
ground, where found it.. 10 this day,
in spite OF the superhuman efforts OF by
no means obtuse police, and the incentive
of fab ulous re ward by St. Armandes rel
atIyes, the murderer is undiscovered, and
the whole affair remains wrapped in i'm
penetrable mystery. After all these IN
revealing years who shall say that the
coming together Of this man and the cross
is not the working Of a retributive fate
Too we'll does the man of inexplicable
fancy that the little toy he so covets is
Is adequate, if it falls into proper hands
to work the crucifxion of great seound-
rel.
"Ugh p shuddered Irene, "And
have been wearing it all this time, and
admiring II, totally ignorant of the terri
bic thing It's blood red color symbolizes.
] can wear it no longer. Here"-remov-
ing from her shrinking neck the chain by
which it was susqended-"I can now view
1t with no interest but that of horror and
she thl ew it nervously into her husbands
lap.
"Why, you little fool % said Henri, in
ajocose tone, care you going to faint
Are you afraid of it =? It is Just as harm
less as it has been, and Just as beautiful.
Il do not fear it, replied Irene,
shrinking from it, nevertheless. :" am
not that foolish. But | dislike it. It's
innocent charm is lost to me forever
After weighing the matter in his mind
until the specified week Lad nearly elaps-
ed, Henri suddenly and sagely concluded
to acquaint tho Prefect of Police with the
story in all its bearings, real, and suppos-