Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1876-03-18
CHAPTER XIII.
THE MURDERER FOUND.

An hour later, Daddy Tabaret, accom-
panied by policeman. proceeded to the
railway station, in search of the missing
articles mentioned by Miss Nellie Nichol-
son.
His researches resulted in what he had
expected.
On shrove Tuesday there had becn
found in a second-class carriage an over
coat and an umbrella. In the pockets of
the oyercoat were a pair of pearl-gray
gloves. stained and torn, and a return
ticket, which had not been used.
Tho conviction that had grown upon
Ola Corkscrew, in spite of himself. from
the moment that the money-lender had
opened his eyes to the vices of Noel, had
become gradually strengthened by a
thousand circumstances. Whilst speak
ing TO Nellie Nicholson he had almost felt
convinced-but now he was appalled, at
the overwhelming evidence that crowded
upon him.
The one prevailing feeling in the old
done. To protect the innocent and arrest
the guilty had become with this strange
being the instinct of his life. With the
scent of the bloodhound, with him was
also added it's honesty.
The struggle was terrible. In his lonely
life the roots of strong affection had
struck deep; and now, moved by Il sense
of duty, the one pervading feeling of his
life, he was about to tear away this sole
abiding love, that had borne to him such
bitter, bitter fruit.
II dare not spare HIM" he murmured,
as he clasped his weary head IN his hands.
"No, no; though it be my death as we'll as
his, dare not spare him! A higher pow
er than any will of mine tells me TO speak
the truth, and, like Abraham of old, even
though that the sacrifice must be my
adopted son, that sacrifice shall be made.
Oh, Noel! Noel! other crimes only speak,
but murder shrieks aloud, and must,
sooner or later, call down the certain JUS
tice. And yet-and yet, loved the boy
no wellr'
The struggle was fierce, but the decision
was decisive as it was heroic; and, for the
sake of others, the old man buckled HIM
self to do his duty, and, once resolved
upon his course of action, took the field
at once.
Monsieur Daburon was in earnest con-
vcrsation with the Count do Valcourt when
this apparition appeared before him. The
magistrate had informed the Count of the
! death of Madame Gerdy, which had occurred
that morning-the poor woman remaining
insensible to the last-and also of tho
revelation made by old Lerouge.
The door of the room was burst sud-
denly open, and a shrivelled-up figure,
with livid face, stood upon the threshold.
What a change! For moment. even the
keen eyes of the magistrate failed to
recognize the features of Daddy Tab
aret.
With haggard eyes, and hands appraised.
he advanced upon Monsieur Daburon,
without perceiving that the room had an
other occupant.
"Monsieur," he said, in tones so un-
usually impressive that the magistrate,
though accustomed to these sudden in
roads on the part of his eccentric friend,
pushed back his char, and regarded him
with surprise-"Monsieur, at last l am
not deceived! Don't speak!-don't speak!
Alas, there is no longer room for doubt,
and the murderer is found!"
"Found"
"Dont speak!-dont speak, or I shall
break down! In mercy to me, let me get
through the task have set myself to do!
The nan-the assassin, is-is"-he paus-
ed for q second, then blurted out, with a
something between a gasp and groan-
''the son of my adoption, the child of my
heart-NoBL GBRDY!"
The words were scarcely pronounced