San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-05-27

certain scientific procedure when permius
under certain conditions, better even than
description could do it, a reconstruction of
the portrait of an assassin. Briefly, behold
my meaning. You know, of course" he con-
tinued, that in the phenomenon called
vision the object which we see throws or
forG, y upon screen in the eyeball itself, in
plaiHwords, upon the retina Of tho eye, an
image which remains there until displaced
by another 1t has been proved also that
this image persists even after death. You
recognize, therefore, that if a person muir
dered has been struck from the front, and in
a light sufficiently distinct for him to see, the
last thing upon which his eyes would be fixed
would in all probability be the face or form
of the murderer. Naturally the image of
that face or figure would be thrown upon
the retina of the eye where-and this is what
camo to say-it is not only possible to re-
find it, but also possible to reproduce it.
All, well, monsieur, in the case which Occu-
pies us"-
The door of the cabinet opened anew, and
the secretary of N. Theodore re-entered
holding in his hand roll Of papers that he
laid before his chief, then turned and was
gone again as quietly as he had come. NJ.
Theodore lifted it and ran his eye over the
contents.
You are named Frederick Bouscal, are
you not, mOnsieur" he demanded presently,
addressing his visitor.
YES, NJ lie Chef, Frederick Bouscal"
- your ageF
"Fifty-eght years, NJ. lie Chef"
"Hum-m-m." NJ. Theodore rapidly twirled
the sheets beside him; twenty seven years.
he murmured, as if thinking aloud. 80; it
was not you, then, who was imprisoned two
years ago, and condemned fer contumacy
and the theft of thousand forinsH'
A sudden flush empurpled the countenance
of the visitor.
mo, monsieur" he responded with effort,
in a dull voice; no, it was not lit was
my SON."
IAN employe of the Credit Agricole, was
he notH And-you are ignorant of what has
become of himY'
Absolutely. 1t is fifteen months that his
mother and | have been without news of
him. That child, NJ lie Chef, that child has
been our sorrow and our shame. He has
broken our hearts, dishonored our "ame-''
His voice was choked; he was silent, IN
able evidently to go on.
Pardon me, monsieur" said the chef de
surete, 81 have reopened painful wound,
butt listen to you-you were sayingp
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 assassin's portrait should be entirely pos
sible. The victim was struck in the face;
the direction of the blow, the form of the
wound, indicates it plainly. More than this,
it must have been light enough to see the
murderer, and with sufficient clearness to
have stamped his likeness upon the retinal
screen, for the papers assert that even in
death her eyes were fixed in a wide and
frightened stare Thus, monsieur, we find
ourselves in the presence of half certainty;
it is probable, if not sure, that the eye of the
corpse lying now upon the slab of the
morgue contains the exact reproduction of
the features of the one you seek With your
permission, will draw it from them"
''Draw it; but howe"
By photography-it is my business, NJ
lie Chef And this matter, this subject
speak of, have studied it long and almost
with passion, for hold it to be, in case of
success, one of the most useful and beautiful
applications of modern science. l know it
can be done; l have myself experimental,
and in one instance have reproduced the Inca
ments of the physician 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, IRA
dated with the light of legitimate pride.
N. Theodore regarded him, visibly moved
himself by this ardent conviction.
And you concluded" he questioned after
a moments thought.
II conclude-but authorize me to attempt
the experiment on the woman assassinated
yesterday and will tell you what conclude.
If l succeed it will be for us-my wife and
me-a little glory, and also a little money-a
ray of hope in our misery; if l fail-well, nc
matter-we are used to misfortune A de-
ception more or less, need not be counted.
In any event, NJ. lie Chef, you lose nothing in
the adventure but the chance of an unhoped
for success
Then, so be it, monsieur" agreed the chef
de surete Take your instruments to the
morgue tomorrow morning at ten o'clock
will see that the clerk is instructed. Later