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

no one knew what amount of money an
other valuable property, remained in Nah
ame's possession. No one said she was a
murderess, but every one said it was every
strange" " in an odd tone, and no one since
the second death had visited Madame
Matteau.
| myself-perhaps because I admired
her great deal, and her daughter much
more-had always insisted that it was
merely coincidence, and that in world
in which apoplexy and heart disease were
so common, it was no such marvel that
two men should have met sudden deaths
in the same house. But my faith in this
theory was shaken when one morning it
was published over the city that another
transient boarder had been found dead in
Madame Matteau's house and that she
was arrested on suspicion Of having MUIR
dered him, his watch and chain having
been found in her possession.
Before had recovered from the shock
Of this terrible piece Of news, a message
came to me from Madame Matteau. She
desired to see me. Of course went to her
at once.
I She had been taken to prison and |
fonnd her in little grim room with a bar
red window, and an insufficient fire upon
the hearth. The logs had burnt in two
upon the andirons, and the white ashes
were scattered over the hearth Almost
in them sat Madame Matteau, in her wild
owls dress of sombre black.
She was chilly with grief and excite
ment, and had drawn her chair close to
the fire.
She shook violently from head to foot,
and her face was deadly pale as she turned
it toward me and held out her hand.
"Oh, thank Heaven, you have come p
she said. i know you can save me. Is
it not horrible? How could | kill man :?
Why should | =? Why do people come to
my house to die? To die horribly, with
black faces and starting eyes, as if some
one had choked them? Ugh and he was
pretty young man the night before. Oh,
good Heaven, how horrible !"
sat down beside her. took her hand
Madame Matteau," I said, ''be calm;
collect yourself. As your lawyer must
know all. Tell me from first to last what
happened-what was said, what was DONE
If you"
paused; her black eyes had flashed
upon me. I could not ask her whether she
had any confession to make. I saw she
had not. Unless she was the best actress
who ever lived, Madame Matteau was in
nocent of any crime.
"If you have any suspicious" l added,
''tell them al to me-"
"There is no one to suspect" sobbed
the poor woman.
I'm the house were Gabrielle, my daugh-
ter, whom you have seen, old Hannah, the
cook, Mr.. and Mrs, Beauchamp, friends of
my poor dear husband in his boyhood-the
best, the kindest people-Mr. Gray, very
old man, too feeble to leave the house, poor
deformed Miss Norman, and the librarian,
Mr. Ba8sford. None of these could or
would murder mouse. See how kind
they are they remain in my house; they
send me word that they have no doubt of
me. Oh, how can anybody ?'
"And this man who-"I began.
"Yes," said Madame Matteau, II will
tell you; he was fair, young, handsomely
dressed he asked Mr.. Bassford at the de-
pot, if he knew of any one who could &C
commodate him. Mr.. Bassford brought
him home. Ny only empty room was the
one in which those other two strangers
died. | could not bear to put him there
but Mr.. Bassford laughed at me. We had
supper afterward. He talked long while
to Gabrielle. 1t was late when he retired
late for our quiet household. Hannah
had made his fire. She came and told US
that she had done so. He said good night.
"After he had gone, we found that he
had left his watch on the table. He wore
it only with a bunch of seals, and he had
been setting it by the clock, and showing
it to us as something very handsome. /
knocked at his door to restore it to him
He had not left u but fifteen minutes be-
fore, but he must have been asleep already,
for he made no answer. So I kept it for
the night, and wore it down to breakfast
next morning. AS | came down met 9
gentleman in the hall. He enquired for
Mr.. Glenn. That was the new comer's
name. / sent Hannah to wake him. She
could not do 50, and grew alarmed. She
had key that would open the door, and
used it. The next thing | knew we were
all in the room, and the windows were wide
open, and the doctor had been sent for
and the young man who had called was
screaming that his brother had been chok-
ed to death and then there was the IN
Y Il. hos