Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1874-02-28

sN'N.eN"n w Pvooohb nhba q mysterious his.
tory known only to myself"
And that mysterious history affords a
key 10 the solution to the seemingly in
sane ouer OF i've hundred francs -
"A apprehend such to be the case,
hat cross was foand upon a spot whore,
tGt lew days previously, revolving
e'ine nau been committed. II my sur
misses are correct, this strange visitor of
yours was the author Of that crime. If
50, ne and that little red cross are old ac.
quaintances, and he would readily saeri-
nee several times the five hundred francs
70 compass lis possession. Whyl Sim.
ply because 20 long as 1t remains In other
hsnos man his own, he Is painfully con-
scious tnat u may at any moment rise up
IN Judgment before him, and cost him
head" -'9
"And you have kept all this dark mvs.
tery from me-" complained Irene.
="I have, but will no longer have
reirained from making you acquainted
with the circumstances that are assoeI.
ated with my finding of the trinket solely
from a fear that the knowledge might
cause you TO conceive a morbid dlsiIke
TO 1t, and as It is really a pretty TOW. /
like TO see you wear 1t. And now for Inc
mystery. Do you remember tho murder.
six years ago, of Hobleman Of the name
Of Comte dc ~. Armande, In the Rue de
Germaine I"
"DlstinctlY," replied Irene. "All Paris
was thrilled with horror al the mystery and
barbarity Of the deed. But what assoeia-
ton can this cross have with that dread
full affair ~
IAN Intimate association. That eroes
was found by me on the Identical spot of
the murder, and but three days thereafter.
II you will closely examine the underside,
you will observe a small drilled hole at
each extremity. From these holes am
led TO infer that II was worn by the un-
known ASSASSIN on the fatal night 10
| question and Furthermore, that II was
wrenched from Its fastenings by the hand
OF the haPless Comte In bis dying strug.
gle. Naturally enough, Il fell to the
ground, the superhuman Efforts of by
no means obtuse police, and the incentive
OF fabulous reward by 81. Armande's
relatives, the murderer lie undiscovered,
and the whole affair remains wrapped in
impenetrab,e mystery. After all these
unreyealing years, who shall fay that the
coming together of this man and the
cross is not the working of retribulive
later Too well does the man of inexplica.
bic fancy know that the little toy he so
covels is adequate, II 1t falls into proper
hands, to work the crucinxion Of a great
scouhdrel."
"UEh I" shuddered Irene. "And ]
have hsen wearing II all this time, and
admirlDg II, totally ignorant of the terri
BILE thing it's blood-f red color symbolzes.
! can wear II bo longer. Here"-remov
ing from her shrinking neck the chain by
which 1t was suspendod-' can now
view II with no interest but that of hor-
ror," and she threw II nervously into her
husbands lap.
"Why you little fool 20 said Henri, in
a jocoGe tone, "are you going to faint
Are you afraid Of II It is Just as harm
less as It has been, and lust as beautiful .'i
81 do not fear it," replied Irene,
shrinking from II nevertheless. 81 an
not TINT foolish. But dislike II. Itt
innocent charm Is lost TO me forever"
After weighing the matter in his mind
until the specified week had nearly
elapsed, Henri suddenly and sagely con
cludnd 10 acquaiDt The prefect of police
with the etory, In all its BEARINGS, rea
and suppoeitory. That astute funclionarS
proved TO be en- Intelligent and patient
listener, and was only too glad to detail
two subOrdinates to further a scheme thai
promised to result in the capture of the
criminal who had succeeded In eludlng
the pursuit Of Justice. Early in the even
ing, week subsequent to that on which
the supposed criminal had called, Ilenr
sent Irene Into the city on a visit TO somt
friends, with the explicit understanding
that she was not 10 return until he can't
. ! hnF Erll lf.FIFN al l.
parture came the arrival of two gen
darmes, who were forthwith Becreted IL
= her but recently vacated bedroom, there
after TO make their rentree In the presenc,
OF the expected stranger or not, as h,
; might or might not criminate himself il
the Interview with Henri.
All the preliminary arrangements benl
made, our artist detective took station u
the window, and behind his closed blind
. became a silent and intense watcher
He was brave and resolute man but
nevertheless, an occasional misgivilj
fitted across his mind The busines
, before him was of an extremely hasardou
nature. Should the supposed crimlna
! prove to be the real criminal, his captur
. would be likely TO be preuded by des
perate encounter. If fatal, fatal T.
whom ! Henri thought of this, then O
Irene, and closed his eyes. Then h
thought Of the gendarmes In the mex
roOm, set bis jaw, and In spirit OF grin
defiance put all forebodings from him
! Morning, noon, afternoon, and eyenin
!, glided by with no result. Henri yawne
! with impatient dlscouragement. Iii
y allies took to the bedroom floor and card
early IN the forenoon. Hitherto the eA
element of the chase had been quit
> strong enough to sustain Henri's Interest
But now would the expectation not CON
at ALI A brief consultation with III
officers, who adhered 10 the opinion tbs
u he would come, aRd was more likely I
D., make his appearancewithln the next thrC
hours than at any time previous durin
the day, especially IL he was Togu
and WAS not lacking In the usual cunning
II braeed Henri somewhat. Lighting
: lamp for the quoudam gamesters, an
u another for himself, he cdmped on III
!, lounge. He had got but comfortably sc
tied, however, before a resonant rap q
;. the street door brought him instantly
y his feet. Schooling himself to meet Il
. probable crisis with quiet deliberation,
y leisurely proceeded TO the door and openC
u it. From lrene's graphic description
had no difficulty In recognizing his Wit
u tor. The expected man of the GRO
stood before him. His heart gave
e tremendous thump against bis breast
u but his voice was steady and quiet as
IN saluted the stranger with "Good eve
;, log, sir"
"Good evening, SIR" responded Il
in visitor, scrutinizing Henri closely. d"
If the madame at hOmel 2"
le "My wife is the lady to whom u
IN refer, / presume" said Henri. ''she
, absent on visit. Can / serve you
anythingl viii you not step IN, sir
IN Henri threw the door wide open, that Il
re- man might sec the room was vacant, al
ot hence might imagine him TO be alone.
n. "Ah you are the husband ofthe lady
ry remarked the stranger, who, after pee
" ing in, walked In.
= 81 have the honor. Pray be seated
Z" 81 will trespass upon your hospital
is but for few moments"
re ''No trespass, assure you. solitu
- Is not the best Of companions"
DO Without removing his hat the strarg
lr took the profered chair. 81 can tar
but a short time" he said. "Probat
n- your wife has informed you of an of
"a she received a week ago, for a small, ia
ne ciful cornslian cross that was In her 20
lie session 7"
I'd eyes, she did mention the matter
N me, and we both wondered at the stran
Cd iaucy of the man, and the excessive prl
C. he offered.
as "well," replied the stranger, with
,d forced laugh, "the fancy cannot matt
to you and as for the price, If you 8
ct 1t that ought to satisfy you on that poil
am the man, aud l renew the Cfier.
10, "Ah No, certainly not, the fancy do
ls not cOucern us, of course NOT, and Hel