The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-07-23

with me.
Your daughter oversees your house
hold in your absence"
. Yes, poor child, with Hannah'i
help"
l thought little while.
Madame" | said, there is some
strange mystery in this affair. l do moi
despair of proving to all the world your
entire innocence. Meanwhile, be as calm
as possible, and endeavor TO remember
everything connected with the sudden
deaths that have occurred III your house.
The incident that seems the least impor-
tant may really be of the most immense
value"
So l left and went home. Strange
enough, on the way | met the doctor who
had been called in. He was dull,
heavy sort Of person, considerably given
to beer-drinking, and my opinion OF his
ability was not very great. However, l
questioned him on the subject, and he
replied:
'Well, you see, 1 don't say the ola
woman murdered him. If she did, L
should say it was by sitting on him, or
smothering him with the bolster. L sup
pose the cause of his death was asphyxia. .
"Well, then, what is asphyxia?"
"Why, too little breath TO keep one liv-
ing. He died because he asshort ofbreath.
| wash my hands Of that matter. Only
there's the watch that looks dark"
| had learned nothing from the doctor.
The Coroner lived near me. His jury
had been twelve of the most ignorant men
in town.
This is all he told me.
''He was smothered, that man was; so
were the other two. Men don't smother
themselves. We made it inscrutable
Providence t'other time We make it
murder this time That there watch, you
know"
Thus, without any knew light, | went
home and formed my plans. There was
but one way in which to penetrate the
mystery. | must enter the house; L must
see the people there; l must penetrate to
the room in which these men had died so
suddenly, and | must not be known in
nv real character. That Madame Mat
teau was innocent | fully believed, but
that some one beneath her roof was guilty
L made DO doubt 1t might be the libra
rian, Mr.. Bassford, whose key fitted the
dead mans door. 1t was possible;
but no, | would not harbor mad super
stition. There could be no supernatural
power beneath which human beings
dropped and died. Death as it came to
us was mystery enough What had been
said TO me by woman who would have
been a Spiritualist had she lived to-day,
was a mere absurdity.
Il believe that there is some horrible
unseen thing in the room, she SAID,
sssome awful shapeless spirit, that when
it is locked in with its victim murders HIM.
Let others believe what they will, L believe
that.
The words haunted me, but l laughed
at them. of course. Whatever it was, |
would try to know. l had plan.
At dusk that day | went into my bed
room myself [ came out strange man.
[ wore a white wig, pair of green cog
giles, and an overcoat, the tails OF which
reached to nv heels. | had muller
about my throat, and little haunch on
one OF my shoulders. | carried thick
cane. and stopped great deal as walked.
In my hand carried a carpet-bag,
and in my bosom a pair OF pistols well
loaded.
AS passed out into the street the early
moon was just rising; she lit me on my
way to the door of Madame Matteau's
house.
1t was opened for me, when l knocked,
bv old Hannah Her eyes were red and
swollen. Then | told her that l was a
stranger, and had received Madame Mat
teau's address from a gentleman in New
York, and desired to stay under her roof
all night. She shook her head.
81 don't think you can stay" she said.
The lady is away from home. Besides
we are in trouble here. don't think
Miss Gabrielle would
But here Miss Gabrielle herself APP
peared
II am an old man, Miss" l said, land
as YOU see, quite infrm. Idread another
step. should take it as kindness #
YOU would accommodate me, and L VIII
pay airy price you ask.
Miss Gabrielle looked at Hannah.
1--WE have only one room" she said,
and that"
l ended the question of my stay by beg
ging to be taken to it.
''Will you have supper, sir" asked the
girl.
But declared that l had eaten, and
only wanted rest.
Her reply was:
Hannah, show the gentleman to the
blue room and make a fire.
was in the blue room, the scene OF the
three sudden deaths or murders. 1t was
a small apartment, painted blue 1t had
and q blnP
silk coverlet on the bed; neat striped car
pet, set of old mahogany furniture, and
a very handsome ever and basin OF
costly China. 1t was at the time almost
a universal custom of burn wood. In this
room, however, was a small coal fire. |
alluded to this as Hannah came in with
the scuttle.
Eyes, sir" she said. misses does burn
Goals. Her son is clerk, or the like, at
the new mines at Mauch Chunk, and he
sends it cheap to her; but its nasty,
dirty smelling thing and | hate it. Now
it's built and lit; twill warm up III
fifteen minutes 1t takes longer than
wood.
She went out of the door and came
back in minute with a little tray, on
which stood pot and a cup and saucer,
also bowl and tiny pitcher, and some
thing in a napkin.
Miss sent bit and sip, said she
Tea rests us old folks nightly. Coco
night"
GOOD night" 1 said. Il expect
shall sleep soon; must be up very early
though, for have bills to pay. have
some hundreds of dollars with me to pa.
out tomorrow, and it's in this bag.
She looked at me in queer sort OF
way, and fingered beside me. AT last sh
spoke:
''Look We, sir; think that old folks 0
your age do wrong to lock doors on them