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

bending over, rub bed his hand lightly on
the green lattice railing of Jhe piazza. The
paint was not yet hard and some of it came
off upon his fingers.
"When was that paint put on?" he in
quired.
''On tie day before the murder. Davis
spoke about it as we walked from the sta
tion."
"Who are the occupants of the other
houses on this side?"
Austin named them. All old and we'll
known residents, who had lived in the same
street for wears. No. There was one excep-
tion-Mme. Auvergne, French teacher,
vino had hired No. 9 short time since.
sBut of course no suspicion could rest upon
her-a woman.
"Of course not, ;" said Mr.. Mixer.
Besides" said Austin, laughing, "she
can prove an slibi. saw her writing in
her chamber at the very hour when it is
supposed that this murder took place
iAhr' observed Mr.. Mixer.
''Can be of any further service?" asked
Austin, not well pleased at this monosylla-
bic conversation on the part of his COM
panion. ''I am afraid my dinner is getting
cold"
''Not at present, 1 think, " replied the de-
tective. 81 am very much obliged to you.
Good-day, sir" Mr.. Mixer nodded pleas
autly; and thus dismissed, Austin turned,
crossed the street anu entered his own dwell
ing.
No sooner had Austin disappeared from
view than Mr.. Mixer left the ward of No.
and proceeded directly to No. g. A ring at
the bell brought to the door darkroom
plexioned maid, and an inquiry for Nine.
Auvergne ELECTED the information that
madam was out Would monsieur step into
the parlor and wait? Madam was expected
to return soon. Mr.. Mixer walked into the
parlor and took seat. Then the parIor
door was closed and he was left alone.
The closing OF the door was the signal for
Mr.. Mixers keen gray eye to spring into
immediate activity. No Deputy Sheriff
lust put into possession" ever inventoried
the contents of a room more rapidly or
thoroughly than did this active eye of Mr..
Mixer. The apartment was rather sumptu-
ouslv furnished, but neither carpets, pic
lures nor bric-a-brac held the attention of
the detective long. One article only, at the
farther end of the room, excited in Mr..
Mixer any interest whatever. This. was
lady's writing case, lying open upon a small
table in the corner. Pens, ink and paper
were streWn about it in some confusion, as
though its owner had been called away sud-
denly, and had forgotten its condition.
Mr.. Mixer, sauntering around the room
with his hands behind him, halted before
this table. An ebony paper knife, inlaid
with pearl, lay across some papers. Mr..
Mixer took it up and turned it over critic
ally.
The initials f'M. L. from J. d. inlaid
upon the back. caused slight elevation of
Mr.. Mixers eyebrows. Lifting the lid of
the desk, he looked within. Broken pens,
odds and ends of sealing wax, few house
hold recipes, some sheets of notepaper and a
small bundle of old letters, tied with faded
ribbon..met his gaze. 1t was a woman's
writing case, with the usual contents
Footsteps sounded through the hall, and
Mr.. Mixer had only time to close the lid
and slide back to his seat before the door
opened and a dark-complexioned maid en-
tered the room. With searching glance at
the visitor she proceeded to the table, swept
the papers from it, locked the desk, and
taking it under her arm, again left the
parlor.
No sooner had the door closed than Mr..
Mixer INDUCED in some extraordinary pro-
ceedings. Rising from his seat he made a
low bow to an imaginary vis-a-vis. Then,
taking from his pocket, one after the other,
a series of documents, he read them rapidly.
holding the paper in position to be in
stantly concealed should he be interrupted
and keeping one eye almost ceaselessly upon
the door,
His solitary amusement was interrupted
bv the entrance OF Nine. Auvergne, and Mr.
Mixer. rising, beheld before him a rayish-
inGly beautiful woman, not over 30 years of
age, who advanced gracefully to the center
of the room and greeted him with the slight
est possible gesture Of inquiry.
81 believe" said Mr.. Mixer, bowing,
''that am addressing Nine. Auvergne.'
ttTt is true - lenlied the lad in a nleasant
voice. "Can be of service to you 90
''I have called" said Mr.. Mixer, ''to
make a few, perhaps unimportant, inquiries
In connection with that dreadful affair at
No. do not know that you can render
me any assistance, but as You are, 1 believe,
the only native of France in this village.
you may aid me in finding one of your
countrywomen.
Nine. Auvergne waved her visitor to a
seat, and, seating herself deliberately, took
time to reply.
SIS it" she asked, that this poor man
Wasa friend of yours?"
''He was, madam" said Mr.. Mixer un-
blushingly.
Aud how can 1 be Of beneft?" asked
Madam. ''Mon Dieul the whole affair was
too horriblel What can 1 tell you?"
do YOU know woman named Marie Le-
doux?''
Il do MOI" said Mme. Auvergne
"Thiuk a moment" said Mr.. Mixer.
1t is useless, she said, tapping her foot
impatiently upon the carpet. Il never be-
fore heard Of such per IN.
The petulaut motion of Madam's foot ct
tracted the attention OF Mr.. Mixers yiei-
liant gray eve. No sooner had his gaze
iallen upon the neat kid boot than he
seemed rsPt in admiration. Nine. Au-