The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-11-09


had darted up the stairs, and / follow
ed. my heart beating as if il would
,tifie me.
The right hand door on the third
floor stood open.
We entered, crossed au ante cham
Der, dining-room, drawing-room, and
at last reached bed chamber.
If / eomld live a thousand years, |
should never forget the spectacle that
met my eyes. As / write, after so
many years. can see the smallest de
tails.
Two men were leaning on the man
telpiece opposite the door; a commits
sary of police, with bis scarf round his
waist, and an examining magistrate.
On the right, seated at a table, a
/ young man, the clerk, was writing.
ln the centre of the room, OH the
floor, amid pool of black, coagulated
blood, lay the body of an old man with
white hair. He was stretched on his
back, with his arms extended.
Terrified, | stood rooted to the
threshold, 30 near faintiug that to save
myself from falling, I was obliged to
lean against the door.
My profession had famiIiarized me
with death; l had long since con-
quered the terrors of the Hospital, but
this was the first time / found myself
confronted with crime.
For it was evident that an abomina
ble crime had been committed.
NY neighbor, less impressionable
than |, had entered with a firm step.
''Oh. it's you, Mechinet," said the
commissary of police. "Im very sorry
to have troubled you"
Why"
Because we sha'n't need your wits.
We know the criminal. l have given
my orders, and he must be already ar
rested"
Strange! From Monsieur Mechinet's s
gesture. one would have supposed this
assurance annoyed him. He drew out
his snuff box, took two or three of his
| imaginary pinches. and said
"Ahl the criminal is known"
And known in a very certain and
positive fashion, yes, Monsieur Ne
chinet. Th, crime having been com
mitted, tine assassin fled, believing that
his victim had expired. He was mis-
taken. Providence watched the deed.
The unfortunate man still breathed
Sommoning all his strength, he dipped
one of his fingers in the blood that was
flowing in streams from the wound
and wrote on the floor his murderer's
name, thus denouncing him to human
justice. Look"
Thus informed, | perceived what /
had not noticed at first.
On the floor, in large, ill shaped,
scarcely legible letters, was written
with blood: MONS.
''WelIl" said Monsieur Mechinet.
Thai" replied the commissary Of
police, lis the beginning of the name
of the poor old mans nephew-a
nephew of whom he was very fond,
and who is named Monistrol."
''The DEVIL" said my neighbor.
Il don't suppose" continued the
magistrate, "that the scouudrel will
try to deny it. The five letters are an
overwhelming charge against hun.
Besides, who profits by this cowardly
crime! He alone, the sole heir of the
old man, who leaves a large fortune,
they say. Theirs is more evidence; (;
the crime was committed yesterday
evenisg. Well, ye terday evening no
one visited this poor old man except
his nephew, The concierge saw him
come in about nine o'clock and go out
Il little before midnight.
That is plain said Monsieur Me
chinet, that's very plain. This Mon
istrol is fool"
Then, struggling his shoulders, he
Coz tilued.
Did he steal anything. did lie break
any article of furniture, to put people
on wrong scent in regard to the mo-
tive of the crimer'
Nothing seems to be disturbed, :"
reptile 1 the commissary of police. The
-coundrel hasn't gone away. When
he finds he is discovered, he will con-
fess.r
The comuissary of police and Mon
sieur Meehinet then retired into tho
recess of window and conversAd to-
gether in a low tone. while the magis
trate gave some instructions to his
clerk.