Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-01-04
'You forget many things"


"That may be; don't know"
"Do you know how late it was when You
went to bed2'
II do not know. Perhaps mamma could
tell you"
"When you were on the balcony what did
you see in the strect?"
"Nothing."
"Did you not see man, the very one you
were waiting for. your father3 Did you not
see him 20 into your neighbor's house? Did
you not call him, and then say: Look, there
goes Papa into the neighbor's house, and an
instant after heard pistol shot, which must
have frightened you? Now, tell me the truth,
my child"
mo, sir; and do not know what you
mean" And the courageous child looked at
her mother with an infinite tenderness.
Henriette was seated near the window, where
she could see Suzanne without being seen by
Lacroix, who was vexed and humiliated by
his lack Of success with these two weak
creatures, who were still too strong for him.
"Madame. ;" said Lacroix suddenly, II would
be obliged to you if you would leave me alono
with this child few minutes. From your
room you can hear all we say"
Henriette rose and walked feebly to her
room, where slle dropped, an inert mass, on the
first chair "Now then, dear, listen to me.
In obstinately refusing to tell me what you
saw you arc doing a great harm to your
father. Why will you not tell me all you saw
and heard? Who are you afraid of Did your
mother tell you to keep silent2 IT she did sho
was wrong. do not want to harm your
father. There are people, though, who pre-
tend that they saw him 60 night before last
into NJ. Larouette's house to kill him and take
his money. You love your father, I am sure,
and want him to come back to you. Well, II
they prove that he went there ho can never
come back, and perhaps they will send him
away to prison, and you will never see. him
again. Perhaps even they would do wores
than that. 1t depends upon you whether he
ever comes back or not. You saw the man
who killed Larouette. If it was your father
do not tell ME, but if it was somebody else, do
not be afraid to speak"
During this artfully arranged speech ths
Door little girl had tried to stife her sobs,
and now, almost bursting with restrained
grief, fear and terror, she sobbed brokenly:
II don't know what you want Of NE. can
not say what I do not know, and l know
nothing and saw nothing. What makes you
cause ME such griefT
The tears chased each other down that pale
child's face in veritable torrents, and she
stood before him without so much as trying
to wipe them away, her little hands hanging
helplessly by her side.
II am sorry I have caused you trouble,
poor little one. Go and join your mother" !"
And Suzanne triumphed in that terrible
struggle Of man of the world, a magistrate
and a commissaire Of the police against q
simple child.
aShc had learned her lesson. thought Is
much."
At this moment some one raped on tho
door leading from the hall, and two men en-
tered. They were Tristot and Pivolot, who
had come to tell NJ Lacroix that this morn
ing Roger Laroque had been arrested in hs
office, Rue Saint Maur, and examined at
once by q commissaire Of the judiciary.
Profting by the presence Of these two detec-
tives at the Villa Montalais, they proceeded
to search the premises for anything which
might seem to them useful in establishing
their evidence against Roger. This search
was not fruitless, as they found in Rogers
dressing room the clothes which Roger had
worn tho night of the crime, the gray coas
with its cape, q pair Of brown pantaloons,
which were torn; high gray hat, with u
narrow black band, dented and soiled. Iris
tot and Pivolot who had been at work since
the previous day, knew that these were ur-
doubtedly the clothes that Roger had worn
on the day of the murder. 70. .-......
"Look ut the coat, pantaloons and overcoas
and hat Do you know them" asked Lacroi1
of Henriette.
"Yes; they are my husbands"
"Did your husband tell you how this hat
was crushed and coat and pantaloons became
so soiled and torn!"
She made u negative sign.
"Have you the keys to this secretary and
the bureau2"
In q few moments every nook and corner
was searched and the papers, money, every
thing that could possibly bear upon the casa
made into package, along with the clothea
In one Of the bureau drawers NJ. Lacroix
found small silver handled revolver Of six
barrels, five of which were loaded and one
empty, and it was of size which would
carry just such O ball as the doctor had ex-
tracted from the dead mans breast. Tho
three NEIL took their departure, carrying with
them the clothes, papers and revolver.
awe shall have to return tonight toward
10 or II o'clock for an experiment which I
wish to make. Will you please wait our
comingl" said Lacroix, as they were about
tog 90.
Henriette bowed without speaking. She
had reached the limit of her forces and coulS
no longer resist.
At about II Lacroix returned, accompanied
by Tristot and Pivolot, and it was Henriette
herself who opened the door for him. She
had tried to imagine what could be their
object, but vainly. And after all, what did
it matter? It would only be ono torture more.
Neither of the detectives entered the house
with M Lacroix. They remained in the gar
den, while he mounted to the parlor, where
he said
II must ask your permission, madame, to so
into your room for few minutes only"
"What do you wish to dol"
"You shall see. 1t is an experiment"
He went into the room. Suzanne was not
In bed. She had begged SO hard of her
mother not to make her go to bed until they
should have gone.
"Oh, mother, mother!" slle had begged,
"protect me from that mani Forbid him to
talk to me; he frightens me-"
As SOON as she saw NJ. LacroM she retreated
to che back of the room, while the magistrate
went out OH the balcony. The night WAS
splendid The sky seemed covered with stalN,
which shone like so many pitying eyes upon
this corner of tho earth, where for two days
despair had made its habitation. The calm
was so great that there was not even leaf
stirring. Opposite, the cottage of Larouetta,
mournrul anu deserted since the assassins-
ton, seemed to animate itself and to liva.
Before the open window Of the victims room
a shadow moved. A candle placed on the
table suddenly lighted the scene, the theatre
Of the crime. Lacroix then came and took
Suzanne by tho hand She drew back, say
ing:
Mamma, mamma don't want to go!"
Henrettc mechanically approached tue
balcony, not imagining what NJ. Lacroix in
tended to do, but, suddenly having seen, she
understood, and drew back with cry OF
horror.
"No, you shall not do that" cried She un-
happy woman, throwing herself between Su-
zanne and NJ Lacroix. 1T would be OIL abonl-
ination, al atrocious abuse of power that is
not permitted you. 1t is enough to have tor
tured us Us you have done for the last two
days. You are in my house and in my room,
and have the right to order you to leave it,
and do. Go! go!'
She was in state of agitation bordering
on insanity, and she drew back from NJ. La
croix, hiding the child'S terrified face Ill her
robe.