Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1889-06-28

| "uiOu VIC SEC luFOWS OF IOfmS upon
screen in the eyeball itself-in plain
words. upon the retina of the eye--an
image which remains there until dis
placed by another. 1t has been prov
cd also that this image persists ever
after death. You recognize, therefore,
that II person murdered has been
struck from The front, and in light
/ sufficiently distinct for him to see, the
last thing upon which his eyes would
| be liked would in all probability he the
face or form of the murderer. Natur-
ally. the image of that face or figure
would be thrown upon the retina of
| the eye where aud this is what
came to say-it is not only possible to
retind it, but also possible to repro
duce it. Ah. well. monsieur, in the
case which occupies US"
The door Of the cabinet opened
anew. and the secretary of NJ. Theo-
dore re-entered. holding in his hand =
roll of papers that he laid before the
chief. then turned and was gone again
as quietly as he had come. NJ Theo-
dore lifted II aud ran his eyes over the
contents.
'.You are named Frederick Bouscal.
presently. addressing his visitor.
Yes. NJ. 10 Chef, Frederick Bous-
CAL
Jour age?"
"Fifty-eight years. M. lie Chef"
..Hum-m-m." nj. Theodore rapidly
twirled the sheets beside him; .27
yearsr he murmurcd. as IL thinking
aloud. 80 it was not you then, who
was imprisoned two years ago. and
condemned for contumacy and ihe theft
of q thousand florins?n
A sudden flush empurpled the coun-
tenance of the visitor.
mo; monsieur" he responded with
effort. in dull voice; mo. it was not
1T was-my son."
IAN employe of the Credit Agricole.
was he not? And--you are ignorant
OF what has become of him?"
Absolutely. 1t is fifteen months
that his mother and have been with
out news of him. That child. M. le
Chef, that child has been our sorrow
and our shame. He has broken our
hearts. dishonored our name-"
His voice was choked. he was silent,
unable. evidently, to 60 on.
Pardon me, monsieur" said the
chef de surete. II have reopened .
painful wound. butt listen To you
you were sayiug?"
The man passed his hand across his
brow and eyes to clear his vision, then
resumed:
II was saying. NJ. lie Chef, that in
the case which occupies us now the
reconstruction of the assassiu's por-
trait should he entirely possible. The
victim was struck in the face. the d.
rection of the blow aud the form Of
the wounu tnuica.cs ~ piatsIIt. ssv.e
than this. IL must have been light
enough 10 see the murderer, and with
sufficient elearness to nave stamped
his likeness upon the retinal screen.
for the papers assert that even in
death her eyes were fixed in wide
and frightened stare Thus. monsieur,
we lind ourselves in the presence of a
half-certaiuty; it is probable, if not
sure, that the eye of the corpse lying
now upon the slab ut the morgue con-
tains the exact production of the fea-
lures of the one YOU seek. With your
permission will draw it from them"
Draw il; but how?'
by yphotography-iti is my business.
M. 10 Chef. Aud this matter. this
subject speak Of. ! have studied it
long aud almost with passion. for
hold il to be, In case Of success. one Of
the most useful and beautiful applica-
tious of modern science. | know it
can be done. have myself experi-
mented. aud in one instance have re-
produced The lineaments of the physi-
clan who had leaned above the bed of
the dying"
The man spoke with animation and
while speaking his voice vibrated, his
eyes burned. his whole countenance
was illumined, irradiated with the
light OF q legitimate pride. NJ. Theo-
dore regarded him, visibly moved him.
self by this ardent conviction.
Aud you conclude'" he questioned,
after n moments thought.
II conclude-but authorize me to
attempt the experiment on the woman
assassinated yesterday and will tell
you what conclude. Ii succeed it
will be for us-my wife and me-a lit
tie glory. aud also a little money!
ray Of hope in our misery; if l fail
we'll, no matter-we are used to mis-
fortune. A deception. more or less.
need not be counted. In any event,
Nj. le Chef. you lose nothing in the ad-
venture but the chance of uu unhoped
for success"
''Then, SO be it, monsieur" agreed
the chef de surcte. Take Your in
strument to the morgue tomorrow
morning at 10 o'clock. | will see that
tine clerk is instructed. Later on l
shall myself be there. | have the
honor. monsieur. to wish you good
morning
In the obscure nook at the morgue
whtre he had inclosed himself in ac-
cordance with the arrangement made
at the office Of the Surete Frederick
Bouscal, his body bent, his face drawn,
watched anxiously the result of his
last washing. the plate was there be-
fore him in its bath fqnicksilver, into
which he had dropped it awhile ago
with such fear aud infinite precau-
tions.
Sensi,ivizcd? Vitalizcd? At least
it should be, and if the conditions of
the crime were such as he supposed
them. and the victim befnre dying nad
really seen her murdcrer's face. the
portrait of the assassin would be there
under the bed Of gclatine en- traine
to melt away.
His throat closed as by grip of |
iron. the operator held himself inn
movable. hearing only with painful
distinctness the gurgle of The water as
il dripped upon the faces of the dead
in the adjoining chamber: the plunge
Df his blood as it throbbed and ham
mered through tie arteries of his
heart.
And at last the moment came-the
moment that was to reveal to him all
'r nothing. He rose, that poor, tren,-
bling photographer. rose. say, took
It carefully by its dripping edges, that
plate upon which his fate was hang
ng, half closed his eyes. held it to the
single ray of light that filtered through
Ihe yeliowed pane-to stagger back
with groan of anguish, to let it