River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-03-29

been made in the same city-He deter
mined go there and hunt up the ma
ker. Taking with him the poniard or
which madam's initials were, ne started
for Lyons, first leaving a comrade to
watch madam's movements, Arrived in
Lyons, he inquired of dealer who the
manufacturers ofcutl-ry were. He was
given a list. The dealer then asked
him if there was any particular
line of cutlery that he desired. lie ans
wered that there was, at the same time
showing the poniard.
"Ahw said the dealer, "that was
made by NJ. Godeaux & Co, and sold
only by bis principal agent, NJ. Barton
in the Rue Madeline"
Thanking him, the detective left, and
fastened to see NJ Barton. He found
that gentleman in his private office. OF
him Vilmont asked, producing the poin-
lard:
do you deal, monsieur, in this class
Of goods?"
Eyes" he answered scrutinizing the
dagger closely, land / remember this
one very well. | sold it to lady some
three months ago. / remember the
transaction well, because her marvellous
ueauty attracted me. By the way, an
other reason that l remember it SO we'll
is because she bought two, and joking
Is asked her if she were going to Stay all
mankind, she might better penetrate
their hearts with a glance from her eyes
than with cold blade of steel. She had
her initials engraved on this one, but
the other one was plain"
Thanking the gentleman, Vilmont de-
parted and took the first train to Paris,
He in reality had only clew. OF
course madame had bought the two
poniards, and she still had one of them.
What had become of the other one?
She might have lost it, and some one
picked it up. He had now in reality OBJ
tanned clew. He would, however, put
1t TO the best use, and having magnified
his evidence, confront madame with it.
He reached Paris three days after the
murder of Monsieur Verefkin.
On his way from the depot to
the prefecture he directed the driver of
the tiacre in which he rode to drive
through the Avenue Viliiers. AS he
neared the Verefkin mansion he saw
opposite in the shadow of the leafiess
trees the comrade that he lad left there.
He drove by, and motioned for the man
to follow for piece down the avenue.
As the man cam up he said somewhat
nervously: "You have arrived Just in
time. | fear the bird is about to fly.
There has been considerable commotion
about the house for the last twelve
hours"
There was evidently no time to be
lost. He must hasten to the prefecture,
state what he had learned, obtain war
rant, and return as soon as possible
Leaving his comrade to wat h he has
tened to the prefecture. 1t was not
long before he refunded with warrant,
aud accompanied by the commissary.
they rang, and the door was immc l.
lately opened, as though the inmates
were expecting some one. Without
waiting to be announced the detective,
followed by the magistrate, assembled to
madame's buod0ir. When they reached
the room queer sight met their gaze.
Nine. We're kin stood in the middle OF
the room surrounded by trunks half
filled. The room was in chaotic confu-
sion. As they appeared at the door
madame stood as one dumb, and q
deadly pallor overspread her features.
From her ap arently lifeless hands a
letter, alf read, had dropped Quick
as a flash of lightning, Vilmont stopped
and picked it up.
Give me that letter." she shrieked
1T is mine; you have no right to read
it."
The last lines put aside any doubts as
to her commission of the crime. They
were:
81 viii meet you at the hotel you
know the one). We e now free to love
one another as of yore. You are a brave
girl. / kne you would not stop at the
sight of blood. Come to me. VICTOR"
When confronted by the evidence of
the dealer at Lyons and the damning ev-
dence of the note she was completely
unnerved and wept like a child.
It.was you, my love, that betrayed
me. Why did he write that notew she
Sobbed.
She was arrested and escorted to the
prefecture, where surrounded by the
cold, damp walls, and hoping for lenien-
cy, she made full confession.
. She was born in Florence. Her occu-
patton since early womanhood bad been
that OF an artists model. While posing
in the studio of one Victor Valiant. she
had fallen in love with the artist. He was
not long in accomplishing her ruin. She
sill loved him. One day wealthy Rus
sian visited Valiant in his study, an0, meet
ing with the beautiful model, fell madly
in love with her sweet face and volupt-
uuus form. He was repulsive to her.
Victor, who was poor, struck upon the
idea of her yielding to the Russian,
and extracting from him as much as pos
sible from his well-filled purse. She
would have given her life to please the
man she loved. The Russian proposed
to 90 to Paris. She did not desire to go,
butVictor had persuaded her to. He had
given up his profession, and lived on the
money she supplied him. If she did
lot accompany the Russian, Valiant
would have to work, and that had be-
cone distasteful to him. She accompan-
led him to Paris after she + ad demanded
that he should IN rry her.
They were married and went to Paris.
Here her concealed dislike for the
man SO much her senior increased. She
absolutely despised him. She long 10
be with Victor. By one stroke she could
rid herself of the man she loathed and
return to her lover, and bring with her
untold wealth. For this purpose she
had gone to LYONS and purchased two
poniards-to kill him with one, and have
the other in case she should be suspect
ed. She had endeavored to keep them
concealed, but the maid, Blanche, had
by accident seen one.
AS TO the commission of the crime 1t
was simple enough. Monsieur Verefkin
was very regular in his habits. She knew
the exact time he would return home on
the night of Jan. 5. Going out by the
back entrance shrouded in cloak and
hood, she waited in concealed corner
until he should pass to enter tue front
entrance to the house. AS he passed i,
she. with the dexterity of the women of
her country, plunged the poniAri into the
back of her husband. With moan he
fell. She then returned unseen. The rest
is known. She was tried, and owing to
her confession leniency was extended
her. She was sent to the galleys for
twenty years.
He Had Read the Papers.