Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-21

visitor earnestly. a slight paieness crepi
over her face as she exclaimed:
''Mon Dieul How do you know that?"
"If madam will have patience while I re
late long story, said Mr.. Mixer, 81 car
give her strange information"
81 shall be happy" said madam. "Prsy
60 on, monsieur"
'fIf YOU attended the inquest this morn.
ing" said Mr.. Mixer, ''you will remember
that Mrs. Davis testified that her marriage
was love match, made against her parents
consent, and that she knew little of her hus.
bands antecedents. She knew nothing oi
any person named Marie This was prob
ably true, for her husband doubtless con.
tealed from her the history of his relations
with Marie Ledoux"
"Agaln Marie LedouxI" interrupted
Nine. Auvergne. Gin heavens name, who
was Marie Ledoux?"
''The mistress Of John Davis," replied
Mr.. Mixer. 1.-THE woman whom, when a
young girl, he betrayed, and with whom he
lived for years prior to his marriage at Bor-
deaux; the woman whom he at last cruelty
abandoned and Ieft, in poverty and alone,
when he fed to this country to seek new
fortune 10 replace the one he had dissipated
abroad. The deserted woman treasured mp
her wrong. With all the love her heart had
held for him changed to hate, she managed
to follow him, resolved upon the only re-
venge with which spurned and rejected
Frenchwoman can be satisfed-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 Greenwood
street.
A low, inarticulate sound passed from
the parted lips of Nine. AuVergne, as she
listened with an expression of intense in
terest to this recital. Her face became q
shade paler as Mr.. Mixer proceeded.
"When John Davis returned home on the
night of the 14th of this month, continued
the detective, "he was felled to the earth at
his own door by single blow from an un-
seen hand. The snow which covered the
ground revealed no trace of the assassin,
Why? 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 clinging
to the lattice. That person was a woman,
as have said-Marie Ledoux."
Nine. Auvergne's eyes were fastened upon
her visitor with q look of intense eagerncss,
but she made no comment. Mr.. Mixer pro-
ceeded;
"You are doubtless curious to know how
I have become acquainted with these de-
tails he said, "none of which appeared
upon the inquest. Part of them are deduc-
tions from my own observation of the scene
OF the homicide; the rest have learned
since have been in this room"
Nine. Auvergne's face was very pale; but
her hands lay motionless in 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.
Cunningly as the crime bad been planned to
escape detection. and perfectly as it had
been executed, Marie Ledoux had forgotten
the green paint. The piazzas of No. 5 had
recently 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 her clothing, of
course, the paint 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 notice"
There was a quick, almost imperceptibIe
movement of the white hands, and the toe
of Nine. Auvergne's kid boot protruded for
an instant, ever so slightly, from beneath
her dress. As 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. Mme Auvergne sprang to her
feet in paroxysm of terror.
"What are those?" she cried, "and Why
do you bring them here? Take them awayi
Take them awayP'
"These, said Mr.. Mixer. ''are for Marie
Ledoux-when 1 find her,"
She stood before him with her black eyes
glittering and her bosom heaving, regard
ing 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 sleepless nights, and am very
nervous.
She turned away, and unlocking a small
cabinet near the door took from it a small
vial, which she placed to her lips. "a
explained with a smile. "I am subject to
hysteria."
She placed the vial on the table near at
hand and resumed her seat.
''This tale is interesting" she said, with
another smile. "But how does it concern
me? What have you discovered in this room
relating to Marie Ledoux?"
The detective made no reply, but taking
from his pocket packet of letters tied with
a faded ribbon held them up silently before
her.
Nine. 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. I had the JUS
Z l. - L
his death. was Marie Ledoux-wronged
and abandoned by this man, but, as heaven
is my witness, was his welded wiiep'
She tottered unsteadily. and held to her
chair for support with one hand, the other
still pressed upon her heart.
81 thought" she said, more slowly, "that
I had provided against all means OF detec-
ton. 1t seems that-that 1 have failed.
Butt have had my revengeP'
Her eyes frightened at the same time that
an nexpression of physical pain contracted
her beautiful features. She sank weakly in
her chair, as Mr.. Mixer sprsng forward to
assist her.
''Remember," he said, ''that 1 did not
come here to extort confession from
woman. If / mistake not, you have good
ground for establishing what the lawyers
call an alibi."
sIt is useless" she said, painfully, 'and
too late. The woman that-that was seen
in my chamber that night-was-was my
maidr
The head of Marie Ledoux sank back in
her chair, and a conYulsion seized her
frame. The detective placed his arm be-
meath ber, and endeavored to raise her up
right, but she lay in his arms like mass of
lifeless clay. Placing her gently back, Mr..
Mixer held up the vial which stood upon
the table. 1t was half-flled with a color
less liquid, and as he removed the cork a
pungent odor of bitter almonds pervaded
the room. Mr.. Mixer turned the vial in his
hand. The words upon the label were
''hydrocianic acidI''-Bdllou's Monthly.