The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-03-18
ABBEVILLE, s. Co. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 1874.

"G our daughter oversees the
household in your absence ?"
"Ie es, poor child, with Hannah's
help"
l thought a little while.
"Madam," I said, "there is some
strange mystery in this affair. ]. dc
not despair Of proving your entire
innocence to all the world. Mean
while, be as calm as possible, and
cndeavor to remember everything
connected with the sudden deaths
that have occurred in your house.
The incident that seems the most
uuimportant may really be Of the
most immense value.
So I left her and went home.
Strangely renough, on the way ]
met the doctor who had been called
in. lie was a dull, heavy sort Of
person, considerably given to beer.
drinking, and my opinion of his
ability was not very great. How.
ever, I questioned him on the sub.
,ject, and lie replied:
swell, you see, l don't say the
old woman murdered him. If she
did, I should say it was by sitting
on him, or smothcring HIM with the
bolster. 1 suppose the cause Of his
death was asphyxia. Well, then,
what is asphyxia? Why, too little
breath to keep on living. lie died
because he was short of breath. So
we all do: I wash my hands of the
matter. Only there's the watch ;
that looks dark" ..
I had learned nothing from the
doctor. The coroner, lived near
me. His jury had been twelve OF
the most gnorant men in town.
This is all he told me.
Gle was smothcrcd, that man
was !; so were the other two. Men
don't smother themselves. We
made it inscrutable Providence
t'othcr time. We made it murder,
this. That there watch, you know. D
Thus, without any new light, ]
went home and formed my plans.
There was but one way in which to
penetrate the mystery. [ must ell
ter the house; l must see the pco-
pie there; I must penetrate to the
room in which these men had died
SO suddenly, and I must not be
known in my real character. That
Madame Mattcau was innocent,
fully believed; but that some one
beneath her roof was guilty, 1 made
no doubt. 1t might be Hannah. Il
might be the librarian, Mr.. Bass
ford, whose key fitted the dead
mans door. 1t was possible-but
no, I would not harbor a mad su
pcrstition.' There could be no su
pernatural power beneath whicl
human beings droopcd and died
Death as it came to us all was mys
ferry enough. What had been sale
to me by woman, who would have
been a. spiritualist had she livet
to,day, was mere absurdity.
II believe that there is some hor
riblc unseen thing in the room,'
she had said-"some awful, shape
less spirit, that when it is locked il
with its victim, murders. Let
others believe what they will, I be.
lieve that
The words haunted me, but ]
laughed at them, of course. What
ever it was, 1 would try to Lnow
L had plan.
At dusk that day I went into my
bedroom myself. | came out ;
changed man. l wore white wig
a pair Of great green ;gogglc les, ant
an overcoat, the taila Of Vhlcl
reached my heels. I had muflcl
about my throat, and a little huncl
on one Of my shoulders. [ carried
a thick cane, and stopped a grea
deal as I walked. In my hand
carried a carpet bag, and i'll M!
bosom a pair of pistols, well loaded
As I passed out into the stree
the early moon was just rising; sh'
lit me on my way to the door O
Madame Matteau's house.
1t was opened for me, when
knocked, by old Hannah. Her eye;
were red and swollen. Then l. tol1
/ her that I was q stranger and ha(
received Madame Mattcau's address
from a gentleman in New York
and desired to stay under her roo
! all night. She shook her head.
"I don't think you can" she said
"Thc lady is away from home. BE
sides, we are in trouble here.
don't think Miss Gabrielle would
But here Miss Gabrielle hersel
appeared. :,
II am an old man, Miss" I said
"and, as you see, quite intirm.
dread another step. | should talk
! it as a kindness if you would &C
co!nmodate me, and l will pay an.
price you ask
Miss. Gabrielle looked at Han
nah.
1--WE have only one room,' sh'
said, "and that
l ended the question of my sta!
by begging to be taken to 1t. .,
you will have supper, sir!
asked the girl.
Rut T declared that I had eater