The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1879-01-15

/ Ii Nih CliuS With COHuiClIhS Ciilo'
! tons.
!: LET ME hear the particulars ?''
I asked, quickly.
! Il vii tel! you ali | know" rc-
! piled the lady. The count was
found sitting in his chair with =
! poniard driven to the hi!t in his
heart. lie must have fallen asIceI:
and been attacked in that state. .
"What time did it occur %
asked tho doctor, briefly.
! about three o'clock they dis
! covered him, and then his body
was not quite cold. The countess
was ediatciy suspected OF the
; crime. She was engaged in feed
ing tie pigeons when they arrested
her. and there was blood upon her
dClH:atc hands,.
You was rather mistaken III
your Judgment that timc,' said
the doctor addressing me. Il
suppose yuu'Il admit it now ?"
"Ncver" replied. 1T strikes
me that there is some deep n!ys-
terry At the bottom Of this, and
that the countess is still innocent"
"Your legal instinct is wrong
this time, lin afraid" said the
doctors wife. The poniard with
which the decd was done belonged
to the countess, and has been al
ready identife4."
"Pooh !" | rctortcd "that is
proof positive other innocence. No
one but a fool would have left an
article behind that would have
convicted them"
Il left the doctor, and proceeded
at once to the police officials. |
found them i'll pcrplexity, some of
them believing in the innocence Of
the countess, and the rest firmly
believing ber to be guilty. l had
provided myself with u letter OF
introduction from the doctor, and
was politely received.
Stating that | was lawyer by
profession, and used to unraveling
mysteries, | offered my services In
the present case. l was accepted
without hesitation, save by one
member of the board, who was
most bitter in his hostility to the
countess.
This man alluded t" showed
such an amount Of strong dislike
TO ne that | resolved to find Ont
the cause. All | could learn, how.
ever, was his name, and the fact
that he was the father of a half
wittcd girl.
| had two interviews with the
countess, and each Of them
strengthened my belief in her ill.,
noccnce.
| endeavorel TO find the young
uoblcman whose namc had been
coupled with hers, but he had left
the country. Of course this gave
q still darker look TO the case, but
I did not despair.
One night l was proceeding
homcwarl at a late hour, when !
heard II stealthy tootstep behind
me. I turned quickly, and just in
time 20 catch my assailant by the
arm. 4 keen stilIetto was in his
hand: and my prompt action bad
saved my life. Snatching out my
revolver, | levcled it at his head,
and ordered him to move on, at
the same time keeping q firm hold
upon his collar.
The muzz!e of my weapon was
Il convincing argument, and lie
did not dare disobeS. | marched
him straight to the house of my
friend, Dir. Glover. AS I marched
my prisoner into the doctors
presence, /, for the first time,
caught a glimpse. Of the face be-
meath the slouch hat.
| started back IN aStCnlShmeht
II was no less (; person than my
strange enemy among the police
officials. | knew then that he
Was able 10 throw some light upon
the mystery.
"See herc,' l said, assuming my
ticrccst tone you are fairly cor
nered now. Confess what You
know concerning the murder Of
Count Ardottl, and you shall go
free, otherwisessI shall give You in
to custody tor yonr attempt upon
my life"
The man, frightened by my
manner, told all he knew. His