The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1876-08-04


Thought little while.
MADAME" said ''there is some strange
mystery in this affair. I do not despair Of
proving to all the world your entire inno-
cence. Meanwhile be as calm as possible,
and endeavor to remember everything con
nected with the sudden deaths that have
occurred in your house. The incident that
seems the most unimportant may really be
of the most immense value"
So left her and went home. Strangely
enough, on the way | met the doctor who
had been called in. He was dull, heavy
sort ofperson, considerably given to beer
drinking, and my opinion Of his ability
was not very great. However, questioned
him on the subject, ard he replied:
"Well, you see, don't say the old wo-
man murdered him. IF she did, I should
say it was by sitting on him, or smothering
him with the bolster. | suppose the cause
of his death was asphyxia. Well, then,
what is asphyxia? Why, too little breath
to keep on living. He died because he was
short of breath. So we all do. wash my
hands of that matter. Only there's the
watch that looks dark
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 Provi
dence t'other time. We made it murder
this. That there watch, you know
Thus, without any new light, | went home
and formed my plans. There was but one
way in which to penetrate the mystery. I
must enter the house; must see the peo-
pie there; I must penetrate to the room
in which these men had died so suddenly,
and 7 must not be known in my real char
acter. That Madame Matteau was inno-
cent, I fully believed but that some one
beneath her roof was guilty, | made no
doubt. 1t might be Hannah. 1t might be
the librarian, Mr.. Bassford, whose key fit
ted the dead mans door. It was possible
but no, I would not harbor mad super
stition. There could be no supernatural
power beneath which human beings droop-
ed and died. Death as it came to US all
was mystery enough. What had been said
to me by woman, who would have been
a spiritualist had she lived to-day, was
mere absurdity.
II believe that there is some horrible,
unseen thing in the room," she had said
"some awful, shapeless spirit, that when it
is locked in with its victim, murders him.
Let others believe what they will, believe
that"
The words haunted me, but laughed at
them, of course. Whatever it was, I would
try to know. / had plan.
At dusk that day | wentinto my bedroom
myself. I came out changed man. l
wore white wig, pair of great green
goggles, and an overcoat, the tails of which
reached my heels. | had muf1er about
my throat, and little hunch on one of my
shoulders. I carried thick cane and
stopped great deal as I walked. In nv
hand carried carpet bag, and in my
bosom pair of pistols, well loaded.
As I 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.
It was opened for me, when l knocked,
by old Hannah. Her eyes were red and
swollen. Then told her that was stran-
ger and had received Madame Matteau's
address from gentleman in New York,
and desired to stay under her roofall night.
She shook her head.
II don't think you can," she said. "Tbe
lady is away from home. Besides we are
in trouble here I don't think Miss Gabri-
ellie would"
But here Miss Gabrielle herselfappeared.
II am an old man, Miss" | said, "and,
as you see, quite in6rm. ! dread another
step. | should take it a. kindness if you
would accommodate me, and / will pay
any nrice Won ask -