Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1876-03-11
CHAPTER XXXyIII.
OLD coRKscRKw AT WORK.

We all know, WAS great talker; but he
was something better than that, doer
also; and, when he chose, as thorough a
man of business as any to be found in the
Stock Exchange.
Deserted by his friend, the magistrate,
and thrown upon his own resources. he
went to work with redoubled energy, with
out losing minute, or indulging himself
in a moments repose.
The story of his scampering about in
an open carriage was no fiction. Scatter
ing his money right and left, the queer
old fellow Lnd found lot of recruits,
principally detectives out of employment,
several bankers clerks of shady repu;a-
ton, and couple of fraudulent bank
rupts With these honorable auxiliaries,
seconded by his fanatical admirer, Lecoq,
he secured the country round Bougival.
His researches were not entirely futile.
After three days Of minute investigation,
he was able to prove satisfactorily that the
murderer had not taken the train at the
nearest railway-station (that of Rueil), but
had proceeded to the next (Chatou)
Daddy Tabaret recognized the descrip-
ton given 10y one or two of the railway
guards. A young man, with dark hair
and eyes, and thick black moustache,
wearing a great coat, and carrying, 80 a.
umbrella.
He arrived by the train that left I'aris
for St German At half-past eight in the
evening, and seemed pressed for time. On
leaving the station, he walked rapidly
away on the road to Bougival. On the
route towards the village of La Jonchere
two men and a woman had remarked him
on account of his half-running pace, and
the energetic way he puffed at his cigar.
At the bridge which, at Bougival, con-
nocts the two banks of the Seine, he at
tracted still further observation. This
bridge is toll-bridge, and the murderer,
presumably, had forgotten the circum-
stance.
nashins through it, always at the same
running pace, with his elbows pressed to
his sides, with lips compressed, he sped
onwards. The keeper had to rush out
into the road Land call after him for the toll.
He seemed much annoyed ut the delay,
and, throwing sixpence Mt the man. con-
tinucd his headlong career without wait
ing for the change.
This was not all.
The stuton-master at Rleil remembered
that about two minutes before the ten-ff-
teen train, a man, in state of great ex-
second-class ticket for Paris. and was so
fain from III" haste that he had made, that
he recled like drunken man rs he en-
tered the compartment.
The personal description of this man
answered exactly with that given by the
railway guards at Chatou, and with that
of the toll-keoper at Bougival.
"Last, but, perhaps, not least" to quote
Il 81 ,,,I,
of man who travelled up to Paris in the
same carriage with my exhausted young
friend with the black moustache and the
silk umbrella
Such was the report, carefully written
out as q bankrupt files his schedule, of
Daddy Tabaret when he presented HIM
self on Monday at the Palace of Justice.
In one of the corridors he met Gevrol
and his assistant.
The chief of the detective police was
evidently in great good humor. In fact,
in such good humor, that he was positively
offensive.
Ala! ha! hap he roared out. directly
he saw the figure of the Daddy, who had
been such thorn in his side on his de-
tective expeditions. "Ha! ha! Here you
are, Old Corkscrew! In the words of
your friend Lecoq, "A wonderful mana
remarkable man! He'll draw the cork
for us in less than five minutes! Ha! ha!
ha"
He suddenly stopped in his uproarious
merriment, startled st the change in
Daddy's appearance.
He was pale and detected, looking wist-
fully before him, and shifting as usual
like dog that has lost the scent, and
has almost given up all hopes of finding
it.
"Laugh away, Gevrol!'' he said. "Chaff
me as much AS you like. I deserve it,
and when deserve thing" Chis with
piteous sigh, II always make up my mind
to bear it,"
Gevrol was astonishcd; the Daddy was,
ordinarily, such peppery old fellow.
Ave caused an innocent man to be ac-
cused, and don't know how to retract
my accusation"
Gevrol rubbed his hands with such ex-
traordinary delight. that it was wonder
he didn't rub the skin off.
ala! ha! hal" he screamed, wiping the
tears from his eyes in affected mrth.
"You're a genius-you know how to do
the thing. It's only the guilty that such
dunder-head as am can get hold of,
whilst you catch the innocent! I'm dashed
IL uOi tHllh Sou Iut dli our noses
out of joint before you've done. sir
take off my hat and bow before your su-
perior intelligence.
AS he spoke, he made bow of such
sweeping character, that it was a wonder
he didn't lose his balance, and go on all
fours.
The Daddy bent his gray head. and
clasped his thin hands together.
III don't think you're quite just. Gevrol."
he said. "Remember. though I'm an old
man in years, I'm young in the profess
sion. I've bowled you out sometimes,
and felt proud of bowling out such an
old hand as you. My success turned my
head. find out now, when it's too late,
that I'm only an apprentice, whilst you
are master in the craft. Help me with
your counsel, and you'll find me pupil
to be proud Of"
Monsieur Tabaret extended his hand
as he spoke.
Gevrol was, perhaps, about the vainest
man in creation, and this utter su admission
upon the part of Tabaret tlattered him
immensely.
~ presume" he said, in softened and
protecting tone, that you are alluding TO
the murder at Lit Jonchere."
"I AMI am! Oh, dear Monsieur Gev-
rol. thought could get on without you;
but find can't"
The sly old fox looked as contrite and