Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-11-29


was Marie Ledouxi"
THE mistress of John Davis" replied Mr..
Mixer. The woman whom when young
girl he betrayed, and with whom he lived
for years prior to his marriage at Bordeaux;
the woman whom he at last cruelty abandon
ed, and left, in poverty and alone, when he
fed to this country to seek n new fortune to
replace the one he had dissipated abroad.
The deserted woman treasured up herlwrongs
With all the love her heart had held for him
changed to hate, she managed to follow him.
resolved upon the only revenge with which
a spurned and rejected Frenchwoman can be
satisfied his death. For years she traced him
from place to place, and at last found him
here in this village of St Leger, here in Good
wood street"
low, inarticulate sound passed from the
partpl lips of Madame Auvergne, as she lis
tened with an expression of intense interest
to this recital. Her face became a shade
peler as Mr.. Mixer proceeded.
"When John Davis returned home on the
night of the lith of this month"; continued
the dctective. "he was fcled to the earth at
his own door by a single blow from an un-
seen hand The snow which covered the
ground revealed no trace of the assassin
Whyi Because the blow came from above
The person who killed John Davis was con-
cealed behind the railing Of the second story
of the veranda, and delivered the fatal stroke
while leaning over and cIinSin5 to the lattice
That person was a woman, as | have said
Marie LedOuX."
Madame Auvergno's eyes were fastened
upon her visitor with a look Of intense eager
ness, but she made no comment. Mr. Mixer
prOceedcd
"Iou are doubtless curious to know how |
have become acquainted with these details"
he said, ''nour If which appeared upon the
inquest Part of them are deductions from
my own observation Of the scene Of the hom-
eide; the rest ! have learned since | have
been i'll this room
Madame Auvergue's face was very pale but
her hand, lay motoplass III her lap, and her
eyebrows were raised with AN expression Of
surprise at Mr.. Mixers statement.
There was one thing" he continued
"upon which this woman had not counted.
Cunungly as the crime had been planned to
escape detection AM perfectly as it had been
executed, Marie Leioux had forgotten the
green paint. Tie piazza of No. ) had re-
Gently been painted, and the paint was fresh
The murderer had not thought of that as
She climbed along the lattice in making her
escape. From Ler clothing, of course, the
painting could be removed, or, better still
the clothing could be destroyed; but when
this was done there remained upon her boot
green mark which wholly escaped her no.
ticen
There was a quick, almost imperceptible
movement Of the white hands, and the toe
of Madame Auvergue's kid boot protruded
for an instant, ever so slightly, from beneath
her dress A. it was drawn back its owner
was trembling.
Mr.. Mixer drew from his pocket pair of
bright steel handouts, and laid them upon
the table Madame Auversne sprang to her
feet in a paroXysm of terror.
"What are thusei' she cried, and why do
you bring them here Take them away
Take them away
These" said Mr. Mixer, ARE for Marie
Ledoux-when / find her
She stood before him with her black ewes
clustering and her bosom heaving. regarding
him earnestly for several moments. At last
she pressed her hands to her temples and said
more calmly;
Monsieur will pardon me. | have had
several ,lteple-s nights and ! am very nerv-
Gus
She turned away. and, unlocking small
cabinet near the door, took from it a small
vial, which She placed TO her lips a rem
edy which my physician has oriered.7 she
explained, with smile. II am subject TO
hvstaria
She placed The vial on the table near at
hand and y,,lm,l ner seat
This tale is inteY.stiug." she said with an
other smile. But how does it concern ne!
What have you discovered in this room re
latlng to Marie LcdOuXt
The detective made no reply, but. taking
from his pocket a packet of letters. tied with
a faded ribbon, held them up silently before
her.
Madame Auvergne's hand Went quickly to
| her heart, and her lips turned pale as ashes
With wild cry she sprang to her feet.
You do not know all she said "You
See before You not the mistress Of John Davis,
but his lawful wife. | had the justice Of
heaven with me in tracking him to his death.
| was Marie Ledoux, wronged and abandoned
by this man; but, as heaven is my witness, |
wa, his welded wife,
She tottered unsteadily. and held TO her
chair for support with ono hand, the other
still pressed upon her heart.
Il thought she said more slowly 'that |
! had provided against all means of detection.
1t seems that--that | have failed. Butt
have had my revenge
Her eyes Frightened at the same time that
au Expression OF physical pam contracted her
beautiful features. She sank weakly in her
chair, as Mr.. Mixer sprang forward to assist
her.
Remember" he said, ''that did not come
here to extort a confession from a woman If
| mistake not, you have good grounds for es
tablishing what the lawyers call an aiibin
1T is useless she said, painfully land too
late. The woman that-that was seen-in
my chamber that night was-was my maidm
The head Of Marie LedouX sank back In her
chair, and CONFUSION seized her frame The
detective placed his arm beneath her, and en-
deavored toraise her upright, but She lay in
his arms like II mass of lifeess clay. Placing
her gently back, Mr. Mixer held up the vial
which stood upon the table. IL was half filled
with colurless liquid, and as he removed the
cork pungent odor Of bitter almonds per-
vaded the room. Mr.. Mixer turned the vial
in his hand. The words upon the label were
"Hydrocyanic Acld!"-Frank II. Angler i'll
Ballou's Monthly.