The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-05-28
Your unhappy friend.
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hAseiAt ~ GS@liiS aiiC pdiiCl ~ las NJ
"Henceforth Iwill devote my life to pro
your innocence to the world. God gra-
it may not yet be too Late
Late though it was, Bernard ut once I
paired to the prefect's house, and aft
some difficulty procured admission. I'll
Eprefect fortunately happened to be an o.
friend of Bernard's father, and it was b,
cause of this that the young man was al
mittcd at so late an hour.
But, my friend,'' said the old MAJ
after patiently listening to all he had
say, "belicve me, it is 4 useless task; thel
is no doubt that the young woman is gui
ty, feither as principal or as accomplict
Still, as you so earnestly wish it, you sha
be permitted to search the apartments G
the murdered lady. And now goodnight,
he added, with smile, "and let me hea
the result of your Investigation
Early the next morning, Bernard, ac
cOmpanied BY a gendarme, repaired to th
baroness house. Every thing lay exactl.
as it had been left on the fatal morning
for the house had been and was still in tn
custody of the police. Not a drawer no
a cupboard escaped Bernard's notice
There was no violence visible on the win
dows, as if forcible admission had beef
gained from the outside. Nothing, in fact
presented itself which gave the slightes
clue to the mystery.
The search had now occupied seyera
hours, and Bernard felt that it was useless
to remain there any longer. With Il SAT
and heavy heart, therefore, he proceeded
to leave the apartment. But in passing
out into the entry, which was quite dask
his foot struck against something which,
on taking up, he found it to be Il hat
Thinking it belonged to the baron, he was
about to hang it up with the others on the
peg from which he supposed it to have
fallen.
t'I'hat hat, monsieur, if you please: do
not remember to have seen it before. 1t
is strange" remarked the gcndarme, as
he compared the hat i'll question with the
others that hung up in the entry; lit is
larger, and of a different shape from
them !" 4-.
'Let me have it, my good friend; |
will show it to the prisoner. If it should
chance to belong to that secret lover of the
murdered lady.' thought Bernard to HIM
self, as he hurriedly drove to the prison.
Ernestine was anxiously expecting to
see her friend, for he had promised to
visit her that day again, and she wished to
learn from his own lips whether he still
believed in her innocence.
''Do you know this hat, Ernestine -
said Bernard, on entering the cell.
''That hat-good heavens. it is the very
hat which the baron had on the night he
left Paris" said Ernestine, in an excited
manner.
Impossible. We compared it with the
other hats, and this is much larger. | be-
lieve it belonged to the baroness's s lover
'tN0--no-a thousand times no. 1t is
the baron's; he bought it the very day he
left. 1t was too large for him, and he
asked me to put some wadding under the
lining for him. See if it be not there"
''But, Ernestine, it must be fancy on
your part; this hat never belonged to the
baron. But-stay-you are right said
Bernard, as, on turning up the lining, the
wadding fell out, and with it Il piece OF
paper which had been used to add to its
thickness. 1t was bill written by the
landlord Of an hotel at Strasblrg, made
outin the baron's name, fora weeks board
and lodging. It was dated April Just
fourteen days after his departure from
Paris
Erncstinc and Bernard looked it each
other for a few moments in silence, as
strange thoughts passed through the
minds of each.
That it was the baron's hat was now
how did it come there? Had
he returned to Paris secretly before the
murder? Was he the murderer?
Ernestinc turned deadly pale
.:Do you suppose that the baron she
gasped.
SIS the murderer" asked Bernard, |
the sentcne. Eyes, do. But
l will go to the prefect.' .
Fer the first time since her condemna-
ton faint hope was kindled in Ernes-
tines heart The sight of Bernard, her
old friend in happier days, had indeed ex-
cited wish to live in her young breast.
How thankful am did not say any
thing at the trial. The good God will
protect met"
Bernard nov left the prison and hasten
ed to the houses of the prefect.
t.Well! and what did you find?" asked
the old man, smiling sadly at his young
friend, who rushed into the room without
waiting to be announced.
'SBe good enough to examine this hat, -
said Bernard, as he handed it to him, and
recounted to him the manner in which he
had found it, and what Ernestine had sub
told him.
'sHer husband The the murderer! Yes,
it is plaill--and we have been accusing an
innocent girln' calculated the prefect,
examining the hat; ..but leave
me now; l must think it over. But let
me enjoin secrecy on you, and depend on
me-"
Early the next morning Bernard was
again sent for to the projects house.
Il have carefully gone over the whole
evidence since | saw you, he said, ..and
it certainly seems that there is d very
strong suspicion against the baron.
have caused inquiries to be made, and
have ascertained that the baron was a con-
tirned gambler, and that his journey to
st. Petersburg was probably only Il ruse
to avoid arrest 1t is a terrible ease and
we must proceed very cautiously. The
baron stands very high i'll the public es-
TEEN. and it seems incredible that lleI
could have committed this horrible crime.
Still that hat and the bill Of the landlord
made out Ill his own name prove at least
that he must have returned to Paris. Why
should he return: What Was tile motive
However, / have despatched al agent of
the secret police to Strasburg, to track his
steps from that place. When heisl. any
thing | will send for you.
On arriving at strasburg the police agent
1T once repaired to the AIaison Rouge.
The landlord perfectly remembered the