The Newtown bee., 1879-11-19

| your daughter on a visit to some rela-
tive or friend few miles distant, until
all this nonsense of love and romance is
blown overp In which case, you under
stan1 me, l cancel your note instantly
and have no other claim than your word
of honor that we settle accounts when
you are completely out of your difficult
| ties"
Monsieur Duvoc arose, with honest
warmth, to his feet.
81 will perish in a prison first!" he
cried. What. sir, punish my child
compromise her reputation, for money?
Never! You may exact your note, sir,
and consign me to dungeon; but
while you oppress me, and all that is
dearer to me than myself, your accusing
conscience will at least force you to re-
spect me-"
Monsieur Duvoc bowed haughtily,
and Instantly took his departure. La
farge smiled quietly, and took huge
pinch of snuff. He did not seem to be
very much offended at what his debtor
had said. He summoned his confiden
tial clerk, Dubois. and asked him what
he had done with Monsieur Duvoc's bill
of exchange.
' took it, SIR" answered the clerk,
" that / might have it ready to present
with the other bills that become due to-
morrow"
Monsieur Lafarge requested him to
give it to him, and placed it in his ca
pacious pocket-book."
81 will take care of this myself" he
said.
But, as you are going out of tewn,
how is it to be presented for payment to-
morrow? ?" inquired the clerk.
g 1t must notbe presented at all" an
swered Lafarge. .'Duvoc is an honest
man, and am not a cruel one. Look
in that drawer, and see if you can make
up twenty Thousand francs. / must
take that sum with me to complete the
purchase of my new &C untry house."
The clerk counted out the notes, and
Lafarge placed them in his pocketbook,
and as he did so neither perceived the
keen eyes that were Watching them
through the open window.
On the morrow Monsieur Lafarge set
forth at daybreak for Artinay. AS it
was but seven miles, and he prided him.
self upon his pedestrian powers, he went
afoot; and as the road lay through the
forest of Cercottes, he took his fowling-
piece with him, in the hope that he
might bring down a pheasant in the
wood. 1t would also serve as a protec-
tion. should he meet with any thieves
by the way. But there was not much
danger of that, as, for the last two years,
the grand provost had been invested
with the power to try and hang any
thief taken in the forest, within twenty
four hours after his apprehension.
At noon that day, an officer of the
Marechausse discovered the dead body
of Monsieur Lafarge, near the inn of Ger
cottes. and arrested two persons whom
he found near the body. These persons
were Monsieur Duvoc and n half-witted
lad named Coco, who was waiter at
the inn.
The grand provost opened his court at
once, and the prisoners were brought be-
fore him. The court, for convenience,
was held in the garden of the murdered
man, and the working people were gath
cred in timid gaping wonder to view the
proceedings. Emile Duvoc and Lucien
were both present, both heart-stricken
| by this unlooked-for calamity.
The prisoners were interrogated, and
the evidence against them was very
strong. Duvoc had been discovered
with the pocket-book of the deceased in
| his possession, which contained his bill
of exchange unreceipted, and the knife
with which the crime was committed
was proved to be Coco's.
| Duvoc explained his presence in the
forest by saying that he was journeying
to Chevilly to sell his vineyard there,
that he might be enabled in part to honor
his acceptance. He had heard the re-
port of gun, rushed forward, ard
picked up the pocket-book, which had
been rifled of everything but the bill of
exchange (Which the murderer probably
knew was valueless to him) and found
Monsieur Lafarge weltering in his blood;
while STOPPING over him, and feeling his
heart to see if it had ceased to beat he was
arrested
Coco did not deny that the knife was
his, but said that he had lost it in the
forest that morning. But he knew
something unlucky was going to happen
to him, as couple of ravens had flown
croaking over the inn, as he ran out,
alarmed by the report of the gun. He
had seen Duvoc dart into the wood, and
following him, found him kneeling
over the dead body.
These statements did not avail either
of the prisoners. A motive for the
crime had been established. and the
weapon found and acknowledged, by
which the deed had been committed.
| What so natural as that Coco, Duvoc's
brothers waiter, should be a willing ac-
complice in the crime.
The grand provost ordered them to
be led to instant execution. when
strange circumstance occurred. Two
ravens flew croaking over the heads of
the spectators, and Jean Corbeau, who
stood by his brothers side in the throng,
suddenly became frantic with horror.
"Ha! there they are!'' he exclaimed
&c there they are! See-see-the wit
nesses of cur crime! They come to ac-
| cuse us of the murte er! Oh, save me!
save me from themm
.Siezc those two men!" cried Lucien,
remembering the alteration of the pre-
yious day. .'They are the murderers"
/. :. Bring those men forward, ordered
the grand provost" and he added in
amazement, " this is indeed heavens
work"
The fellow workmen seized upon the
two brothers and brought them for
ward