Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1886-05-13
Helena, Montana, Thursday, May 13, 1886.
and professed himself most willing to give me
the information required

and professed himself most willing to give me
the information required.
"Both daggers, /" he said, after examining
my tracings, shave an identical inscription In
the japanese character on one side Of their
blades. This inscription establishes the curl
GUS fact that they are from the hand of the
same maker; it is to the effect that this steel
comes from the anvil of the smith Tokotaru
in Yeddo.' On the other side Of the blade Of
each is representation Of the kiku, or chrys-
anthemum flower, which is the crest of the
Mikado of Japan. They must, therefore,
have had at one time royal owner. The
single word beside the flower on the blade of
the De st. Florent dagger means 'Evanes-
| cence;' that on the blade of the other weapon
means Illusion These are sacred words of
the Buddhist creed. From the shape Of the
characters, should suppose these weapons
to he several centuries old"
| I thanked NJ. Beauvais, and noted down
what he had told me-
"You are the second visitor he said,
''whom I have had on this same business
Evidently these daggers are to be feature
Of the case"
Here also, then, there had been some one
before me!-some one working on the same
| lines as myself
"Might I ask if Monsieur is acquainted
with the name of his other visitor! l have a
reason for wishing to know"
Certainly. 1t was NJ. Blery, the we'll
known detective officer, who came TO me no
later than last night and submitted to me
! tracings exactly like these. / told him what
l have told you now."
What could this an-Blery! / had
heard the name somewhere; in connection
with some case, thought. A "well-known
detective ofiicer.n This was worth looking
| into.
Monsieur will pardon the singularity of
the question" said, 'but this NJ. Blery-is
he little man, sharp-featured, who wears a
gray coatF
"You describe NJ Blery," said the great
Orientalist with a smile. Good evening, M.
| Marsal, and good issue to your labors for
! your friend! By the way, your friend had a
book of mine-an English book"
''Ah. pardon, Monsieur l had forgotten
about the book-forgotten even that it came
from you Since that night when you gave
it to Girard, my mind has been SO occu-
pied"
II understand, Monsieur" said NJ. Beau
vais, kindly, II understand. At your con-
venience return the book-at your con-
venience. Good-eveningr'
That night sent letter to M. Blery, Rue
Jerusalem, asking him to meet with me on
the morrow, either at the prefecture of po-
lice or at the Rue Dauphine, in connection
with the affair of the Passage de Mazarin.
CHAPTER <.
Before ten o'clock next morning NJ. Blery
had appeared. He was little man, very
stability dressed, with napless felt hat and
a gray overcoat, the sleeves of which were
made too short, yet revealed no linen. His
features were thin and sharp; his eyes were
keen and restless; his mouth was habitually
pursed as though secrets must ooze cut if he
opened it.
He came up to me quickly, bowed and cast
q glance around him which seemed to take in
myself, the room and all its contents in a sec
ond of time.
"M. Marsal-Ahl Then 1 have The honor
to salute the gentleman who assaulted my
friend Ply, is it not soF'
confessed to this with a smile, but pleaded
that the assault had been involuntary-th |
aad not known it was the friend of Monsieur.
''No matter" said NJ. Blery; "and what,
then, does Monsieur think Of the exploit OF
my friend Py?-the achievement that has
| covered MN WIN SlOTy
''You mean the arrest of NJ. Girard!'
"Certainlyl that is what / mean"
"Since Monsieur asks me, / think that his
friend Py made serious mistake on that oc-
casion. have some hope that Monsieur may
be of the same opinionF'
"You have, then, been following the case,
NJ. Blery"
81 have made inquiries" said the detective,
still very slowly, and giving me curious,
cunning look as he spoke-"yes, have made
inquiries have even reached certain
point in the case, but can go no further"
"For want of evidenceF'
sNo, Monsieur, not at all. For want OF
money"
"Ah! That is ala Well, if money is wanted
It will be forthcoming. And if M. Girard's
| innocence were established this would become
q valuable docoment, is it not soT'
The detectives eyes twinkled as he read the
paper signed by Raoul, offering reward OF
twenty thousand francs for the detection OF
the criminal. He did not ask where the
money was to come from.
''It is well, he said, handing me back the
paper; 81 trust Monsieur and his friend as
men of honor. Let us be frank. Let us play
an open game, cards on the tableH'-M. Be
ry's manner changed completely after he had
| seen the document.
'sThat is what I desire, said.
eGood Now, the way is cleared, let us
come to business. hear Of Monsieur at the
prefecture Of police, where he examines and
takes tracings Of the two daggers. Where,
may 1 be permitted to ask, does Monsieur
hear Of mef
First from the janitor Mouton, at No. 13
Passage de Mazarin; next from NJ Beauvais,
of the Rue dAnjou."
NJ. Blery looked at me again, and for about
minute said nothing. Then:
"Monsieur has made certain discoveriesv
"Yes, have"
"And has DO &c. gone over the evidence
taken before Moaz.cur the judgef'
Eyes"