Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-01-05
TIE WATERBURY EVENING DEMOCRAT, THURsDAY LAM 1888

ne sank down, down, bending h;sgreat shoul- ders under the weight of the burden he ac- cepted.
 ssI cannot, cannot! I am lost, lostr'
 M Lienard made gesture of irnpatience. Then tho expert arose and handed him, with. out word, scrap of paper whereon he had written few words and six or seven bank notes of 1000 francs each attached with a pin. II. Lienard turned toward Larocuc.
 So then" ," he said, .'you refuse to speakr 'I refuse,n answered he hoarsely.
 "Your cashier just now gave us series of numbers of notes which were received from the country, and which were paid to Larou- cite the 2Sth of July. After that payment your cashier says nothing but gold remained in your safe. How do you account for the fact that the most of the numbered notes are found to-day in your safe?"
 ''Impossible!" said Roger, astonished.
 'tLook for yourself. These notes were paid to Larouette. He was murdered and robbed. The notes you say you paid him were found again in your hands. Now. according to you, one of the persons from whom you won last night, or the person who paid you yesterday, must have killed and robbed Larouette."
 'What follyl"
 'sYou persistT'
 "I told the truth"
 ''I would gladly believe you, but at least complete your story. You see to what danger you expose yourself in refusing"
 q am responsible"
 "What reason is so powerful as to cause you to place your liberty, your very life in danger?"
 "Do not insist" said Roger.
 ''Let it be SO. The court of Versailles will perhaps be more fortunate than l. But one other question. When you were playing at the club were all the players known to you7"
 "The most of them, at least by sight. l seldom go to the club and never play. If played last night it was with the hope that some happy chance might enable me to win, and so escape bankruptcy, dishonor and per- haps suicide"
 Ricordot gave little attention to this dia- logue. He now rose, and handed to NJ. Lienard another package of notes, pointing to the corners which were all stained with ink. M. Lienard was an old magistrate, and nothing surprised him. His face did not change as he opened tho door and called: I'M Guerrier, will you step here 0 moment7"
 Jean did so.
 Please tell your employer what you told us short time ago regarding the ink spots Il
 He repeated what we already know and then he was dismissed
 "You hear that statement"
 Laroque inclined his head. He felt his heart sink with fear, and foreseeing some new and horrible explanation:
 q hear and see," said Laroque, land l think with you that that is very extra ordinary"
 "Not so strange As to me, explain it easily. Tho situation is clear Your business was going badly, and you had great difficulty to get the sum necessary to pay Larouette. You begged him to wait. He refused. You saw before you inevitable ruin, and one means only remained to you, and that was to take back the money you paid Larouette- rob him; and in case he resisted kill him"
 "What you say is infamous" said Roger, brokenly. "I am almost ashamed to have to affirm to you that am innocent"
 "Those are but phrases; I prefer clear refutation."
 Every well; then be it SO, since must"
 He was about to speak, but paused again, and threw himself into O chair, burying his face in his hands in silence.
 Speak, Laroque," said the magistrate, gently and persuasively.