Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-03-21


coniectuI and certainty.
He mounted to the attic, and knocked
confidently.
"Entrez," said a voice within, and he
opened the door and stood in the apart
ment. Beside rusty stove that gave
out reluctant heat sat the bent figure
Of an old man, with struggling gray hair
and the piercing black eyes into which
Harry had looked not twenty minutes
before. An oil-lamp was on the table
near the stove, and by its light the old
man was reading letters and papers that
were yellowed with age.
There was an easel turned to the win
dows in the rear that would let in the
morning light Some antiquated weap-
ons, long unused foils, and bits of dust
covered canvas were strewn along the
sides of the room. Against the western
wall, in the shadow, was a curtained bed.
"Well, sirg said the old man with that
strong accent noticeable in one who ac-
quires a new language only in advanced
years. "What is your businessy"
In reply Harry mechanically threw
back the lapel Of his coat, disclosing his
star. Bordello started slightly and look
came into his eyes which decided one Of
the reporters quick perception what
course to pursue. can officerw the old
man gasped, struggling to his feet.
"No; newspaper reporter"
Bordello approached him. HAL" he
exclaimed, Il know you. You assaulted
me tonight. May l inquire what is your
pleasure now?'
Certainly; have question to ask
you"
ut is probably impertinent; but ask it."
"Why did you kill Lazarus Stein?"
The old man shrank back and sank I'M
steadily into his chair. He cleared his
brow with his hand and steadily resumed
his search of the youths face. The re-
connoitre lasted a few seconds, and
neither WINGED. The audacity Of youth
and the cunning of age measured one an
other.
"Sir," said the old man calmly and
courteously, ''if you have nothing more
to say to me | must asky to withdraw.
1t is, hope not necessary to remind
you that your presence here is an intrus-
ion"
Il am aware of that but it is a ne
cessary one. And / have something
more to say. VIII you permit me to sit
down."
Bordello motioned him to a chair.
you are the guardian, sir, l believe,
of Miss Duverne. VIII you look at this
picture and tell me if you find any re-
semblance?
The effect was magical. Bordello
grasped the trinket with an inarticulate
cry and held it to the light. cat last!
at lastw he gasped. "After all these
years" He kissed repeatedly the face
upon the ivory. Then turning to the
visitor he commanded rather than in
0uired, "Tell me how you came by this.
II found it in the room of Lazarus
Stein this afternoon
"Impossible!"
"Whv?"
Bordello saw he had gone to far. "Do
you know, he said, "that you have COM
mited larceny and are liable to imprison-
ment:'
81 am perfectly aware of that, but the
end in this case justities the means. Be-
sides, you cannot afford TO betray me-
1t was the search for that locket that
took you to the dead mans house to-
night and, if | am not mistaken, that
took you there last night, when YOU went
to kill him. Now, may | trouble you to
return it?'
The old man was working at the clasp
]
no use" said Harry; A" there's nothing in
it; I've tried it"
1t was, indeed, apparently empty, but,
pressing a spring, contained in the inter-
Tor, the artist revealed a secret compart-
ment, from which he took a closely-fold-
ed piece of yellowish paper. The wrin-
killed. face was lighted up with Joy; he
casped the piece Of parchment TO his
lraagt Apl4 must lavya tbia wit IN NM -
he exclaimed, lit concerns one who is
dear to me- and it cannot possibly have
any relation to this case
perhaps it may concern me as deeply
as it does YOU" was the reply.
"What do you mean"
81 mean that l am in love with your
ward, Estelle Duverne; that the features
on that loCket are those of her mother.
In a double capacity ask, What relation
does this dead jew bear TO you and herr
How did he come into possession of the
locket2 What is the nature of the paper
it contains"
IF you love her said the old mar,
kindly, ''you will hardly let your zeal
expose both her and me to danger, and,
perhaps, ruin her prospects. | have
much to do and much to think of to-
night. Come to me tomorrow evening
1t this hour, and l will have an explana-
ton for you. The verdict Of the Coro-
ner's Jury will determine whether Laz-
arus Stein died natural death or was
murdered. Until then there is nothing
to be done.
Harry saw that this was reasonable,
and prepared to go. "May l hope" he
asked, with some indifference, "that l
will have your consent to pay attention
to your ward!'
"You seem to have progressed very
W ell thus far without it, But l am old,
She mas kind friends, but she needs a
strong arm to lean upon, and if she
chooses you, why should object? Good
bye until tomorrow.
The next morning Monday the Argus
contained a column account of the mys-
terious death of Lazarus Stein, but the
mystery was not emphasized, and it is
needless to say that no mention of the
locbet was made. The other papers in
Chicago treated the matter as rather
commonplace, for had not the detectives
decided that the jew had died of exhaus-
ton and old age?
CHAPTER ".
That morning the Deputy Coroner held