The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-08-25

Naluf OF LuuU francs. On opening the
poCketbook picked up by Charles Yalnr in
the kitchen Of Jean sezrain, Henri Valur
discovered this receipt. AS he was exam
lining the paper, a shadow dafkened the
dor Of the kitchen. Valur turned his head
and recognized Jean sezrain. The next
instant he received a stunning blow on thu
head and all become blank.
When these facts had been disclosed to
the doctor, Valur and his children were ad-
vised TO say nothing that would induce
Jean Sezrain to think that there was any
change in Yalur's condition. Sezrain
failed TO visit the Valur's dwelling that
day, as he usually did, and next morning
when he called the children said their
father was sleeping, and must not be dis.
turbed. That afternoon Jean Sezrain was
arrested for the assault on Valur. He re.
tanned his composure, and went 10 Jail
without murmur. When he learned all
the facts, he steadily denied that he was
either the assail9nt Of Henri Valur or the
murderer Of his father. The mans life
was traced back, but he managed to
mystify the authorities, II not to throw
them of the track altogether.
Finally, notorious criminal, known ss
the "Red Hand" who was serving lie
sentence at the galleys, was shot while al
tempting to escape, and Just before his
death made confession OF his crimes.
Among other otfenses he acknowledged
that he was the companion ofthe man who
murdered the elder Valur, at Havre,
twenty yean before. They escaped in q
boat and landed on the coast OF Normandy,
AT er roaming about for long time his
associate deserted him in the hight,
and he heard no more OF him. AS
the man had but few days 10 live he was
confronted with Jean Sfzrain, whom he
identified as Jean Douloc. Stzrain broke
down and admitted that he was the man.
He said that for years he spent life OF
great misery, and finally resolved to find
the son Of the murdered man and make all
the reparation in his power. Having as.
certained Henri Valur's whereabouts, he
purchased the adjoining land and became
on intimate terms with the Valur family.
Life and liberty were still sweet to him,
and his former resolution to make restitu-
lion failed. Then he Determined to leave
all his properly at his death TO Valufs
children, and this gave his conscience
some ease. i
He preserved the Acknowledgement OF
money borrowed from the elder Valur,
saying 10 himself in the first instance that,
when he made restitution, the recovery OF
the valuable paper would 60 far to help
him in making his peace and securing the
pardon oil the son. After he bad resolved
TO make no admission or confession, but
simply to make the children his heirs, he |
still kept the paper, for the father might
die and then he could include the acknowl.
edgment in his estate, and so the children
might recover it and the money, and .sus.
picion Of his guilt lever be raised to cloud
his memory. After he had made this final
resolution he found himself watching
Charles and Marie with increasing interest
and feeling OF affection toward them
sprang up when he saw that they returned
than ever to keep the great secret Of his
life.
The morning on which he set out for
Bourganeuf was warm, and he put on
coat which he had not worn since the
summer before. He carefully bestowed in |
his pocket the pocketbook, having first as |
sured himself, as he did daily, that the |
document was safe within its folds. After
he had gone some way on the path toward |
Bourganeuf he missed the book and an ex.
animation showed that 1t must have
slipped through hole in the pocket. Then
he remembered that, as he was about leav-
ing the house, something struck his feet,
and on seeing his small pet dog around
he supposed it was the animal. Now,
however, terror seized him, aud he |
said to himself: 1t was the book; and
when Charlie goes to make my fire he
will find it, and the truth will be out, and
l shall be ruined u He FASTENED back to
his house and looked in vain for the miss.
ing book. Then he went to Yalur's house
and rs lie entered saw Valnr examining the
contents OF the book. In moment OF un-
controlled rage he struck the blow, pos.
se2sed himself Of the book and its contents,
and FASTENED on the road to tournament.
After awhile he returned toward his dwell.
ing and met Charles.
Jean Stzrain restored to Valur the prop
erty Of which he had robbed his father. He
was tried for the double crime and sent to |
the galleys for life. 0aly last month he
died ut the age Of OIL