The Osceola times., 1879-07-05
"You have grown rich, then 7" asked
Monsieur A, with a smile.

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Monsieur A., with smile.
"No, but l make some money by my
books" replied the communist, coloring
$50 much the BETTER" continued the
official in the same vein OF banter then,
suddenly changing his tone: 81 say,
RJblsrd, tell me the truth what became
OF Y----'s papers, for they were never
found |"
How can I tell f' replied Roblard
with scowl. 81 suppose you, too, will
accuse me OF having taken them. Do l
look like a robberf'.
"No; but now I come to think Of
it, you have been leading q pretty
expensive life in your exile" rejoined
Monsieur A., pointedly. You
have travelled all over America and the
continent; you have been subscribing TO
so.called patriotic funds. We have even
had to stop gift Of money which you
had sent TO some politicsl convicts in
New Caledonia. AL that Is pretty we'll
for an author, eh?"
POSSIBLY. But authors are not beg
gars in these days" answered Roblard,
evasively. He was irritated, and Mon>
sieur Add not think fit to pursue
the subject. He lett the room, and
having rung for the detective about
whom he had spoken to Roblard-
a sleepy.looking, middle>aged man.
named Trouillot-- that worthy his
instructions. He wound up by whis.
pering: "My own belief Is that M. Rob
lard is mad, 30 that you will have to
keep your eyes about you"
very good, SIR" answered Trouillot
laconically.
Roblard and Trouillot left the projects
ure together in cab and the commun.
list appeared to be in rather high spirits
during their drive to an hotel. A load
seemed to have lifted from his mind, and
he talked with excitement about the
changes he had noticed In Paris, saying
how glad he was to get back again. At
the hotel he bespoke two bedrooms,
next each other, and having a door Of
communication then he ordered dinner
By this time his spirits had somewhat
allen, and he watched his companion
through the corners OF his eyes o. II he
did not quite like the look of him.
Trouillot was one of those men who
cannot talk, and whose faces do not say
much in their favor. He kept on saying
Yes, sir" stolidly and during dinner
ate and drank largely.
Nothing OF consequence happened
during the evening. Roblard was tired
with his journey from Geneva, and after
the pair had discussed cup OF coffee
and cigar in the smoking room be sug-
gested bed. Both men repaired 10 their
sleeping chsmbers, and Roblard began
by requesting that Tfouillot would leave
the door of communication between the
two apartments open. Trouillot con-
sented, but he was rather dismayed when
he saw the communist prepare for his
nights rest by laying on his night table
six-chambered revolver and large
clssp-kniie. He vowed to himself that
he would sleep as gepdarmes are said to
do--with one eye open; but this resolu>
tion was soon oblitersted by drowsiness,
the effects of the good dinner he had
eaten. Ten minutes after getting be-
tween sheets Trouillot was sound asleep,
and snoring like trombone.
He awoke in the middle of the night,
ana recollected where he was but q
peculiar odor was filling his nostrils. He
sat up and rubbed his eyes. The room
was pitch dark. He struck match and
the first thing he saw after lighting his
candle was q handkerchief (lying on his
pillow which had evidently been STEPPED
in chloroform. The pungent smell OF
that poison still lingere about 1t.
This discovery at once drew Trouillot
out OF bed; and he strobe trouserless
into the next room, holding his candle
at arms length At frat he could see
nothing unusual but suddenly his eyes
met sight which made him stand stock
still in the middle of the department.
Deep in the alcove, and half hidden by
its curtains, hung the lifeless body OF
Roblsrd, who was suspended BY the neck
To the curtain rod by means Of the bell
rope. He was quite dead and the sur
prising part of the matter WAS that the
passage stood sjar::
A few hours later, when a summary
inquest had been held in the Procureul
de la Republiqut. that functionary said
4" 1t is obviously the suicide Of cunning
madmsn."
al suppose So" concurred Monsieur
A, who had been called in. = Yet
those conspirators are queer fellows
they can not even die plainly like othel
men,"
The same evening, Vuilleux, the jour
nalist, reading the Psrsisn kilograms II
a Geneva newspaper, remarked to .
circle Of affrighted communists. "Didn't
tell you Roblard's days were mum
bered He was bound to end in tha
fashien."