The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-06-04

conservatory, ne departed 10 give Jne
needful instructions to Masseran and
dispatch him on his journey.
He handed him the funds feediul
Tor the circumstances, and something
over, gave him full instructions and
the valise, and told him 20 travel first
class, as that was the proper thing to
do. lie handed him his card-case, and
told him he must be Alfred Lacorte
till his return. Masseran was at the
depot in due time, and Bertrand was
on the lookout. He at..once fixed on
Masseran as his man, stood by him
while lie purchased his ticket, and
bought similar one.
| THE DEATH GRIP.
Both got into the same conpart
ment, and Bertrand, quietly slipped a
gratuity into the hands of the conduct
or, said.
"We are smokers, and would like
the compartment to ourselves
Bertrand was soon friendly with
Masseran. They were undisturbed,
and everything was more propitious
than Bertrand could have desired.
When Tourmes was reached, the coun-
try was wild and open. Masseran was
resting in one corner of the car, fast
asleep, for his compauion had piled
him cognac. Bertrand opened the
window and looked out. The road
was clear and his victim did not move
Bertrand stood for q moment over the
doomed man. Then he sezed.him by
the throat with deadly grip. Mas
seran struggled, and bis eyes opened
He clutched at the murderous hands,
but in vain. They tightened on his
throat, and the unfortunate youth was
soon insensible. Then Bertrand took
the silk kerchicf that was lying loose
on the bosom Of the man, and twisted
it around his neck AS tightly as he
could, aud knotted it. Then he lifted
the inanimate form and dropped it
through the window, For a moment
he gazed at 1t as it rolled down the
slight embankment and lay STILL Next
he wrenched open the valise, took
from it a roll of money, and threw the
valise out of the window. Then he re-
moved a false beard and threw it after
the valise.
Finally he took off his light gray
overcoat and tall hat aud flung them
also out of the window. Putting on a
travelling cap, he became another man.
clad in a dark blue overcoat and wear
ing a moustache only.
When the train reached Macon it
stopped and Bertrand alighted. He
stood around among the passengers
who had alighted for Macon is an i'm
portant junction-and when nearly all
had departed, he asked an official when
the next train was due for Orleans.
He was told that it was expected every
minute. He went to the Office and
bought ticket for Orleans 1t struck
the porters as rather singular, but they
supposed it was all right and said moth
ing. In due course the train came up,
Bertrand boarded it, and was on his
way from the scene of his crime. The
next afternoon he was in Paris.
THE CRIME DISCOVERED.
The murder was discovered soor
after daylight in the morning, and a
telegram reached Rogue informing lin
that Alfred Lacorte, whose cards show
ed that he was in his employ, had beer
murdered and thrown from the train
Rogue telegraphed that he would be
at Macon by the earliest train. Their
he went home and communicated tc
Eugene the dreadful news. She re
ceived it with comparative composure
Then Rogue started for Macon, ant
attended the inquest there. He wa
in too agitated st, &c of mind to gaze
long at the face of the dead, which
was horribly distorted.
A verdict of murder against an un
known person was returned, and Rogue
had the body inferred. Then he wen
back to Paris.
AS soon as the crime was discovered
the porters at the depot at Macon re
membered the singular action of tn,
stranger who got off one train coming
south and then went north again t
Orleans.
They remembered him sufficient,
to give description of him. Th
conductor on the train, however, de
scribed the man who had occupied tn,
compartment with the murdered you'll
as altogether different, but when late
on the false beard, the light overcoa
and the hat were discovered near th
track not far from the body, the i'm
preston was strengthened that tn
stranger who went on TO Orleans wa
the assassin.
Then things got into the newspapers
and Bertrand, supplied with money b
Rogue, started from Paris at the frs
, intimation of suspicion, and reache
+ London. He was traced to Calai
q and thence across the channel TO Lor
, don, and the job to find him fell to m
!, lot.
| had him in two days. My wifi
. was going to spend Christmas wit
= her parents in Somersetshire, and
q went to the Great Western Station t
; see her off. Here was the very man
was looking for, boarding the trail
He had shaved his moustuche an
otherwise changed his appearance, br
there was one thing he could NJ
a change, and that the porters at tt
;. Macon depot had particularly obser'
ed-namely, scar on the side of ii
:, nose.
Well, | delivered him in Paris sa
and sound, and my part of the woi
q was done. He was taken to Mace
!. and there implicated Rogue. I'll
capture of Bertrand was kept secre
and when Rogue was arrested
knew nothing of it, In the hope tn
= he might escape some of the punis
L. ment he deserved, Rogue made co
o fession from which | got some of Il
u facts which l have given to yo
3 When he learned that Bertrand was
8, prisoner, and ad told his story, Roqr
swallowed poison which be had CO
e cealed about him and died. Bertral
o went into penal servitude for life.
's Two years afterward visited Pa,
1t and heard the whole story. Lacort
I, or DrODarlV RaaUvais succ,,adal IN