The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-05-04
FACE Oh THE MURDERER.

FACE OF THE MURDERER
From t1e French Of MOuNst,
NJ, Theodore, Chef de surete, sat in hi
cabinet deeply perpIexed, His two Q
bows on his desk, his head on his hand
he was musing.
And was it going to last, this, whiCl
had been going on for so long while
And these assasslns, were they going +
end by beating him? Were they goin
to compel him, by adverse opinion, I
send in his resignation?
Parbleu 1t looked SO, and II they dl
it on purpose, passing the word from on
10 another TO force them to get out o
their way, Eight assassinations, on
after another! Grimes OF the worst cali
Der, with startling details, which people,
alike with horriiyiug visions the sleep O
the bureauCrat and the concierge! An,
not an assassin, iorall their skilled work
had they been able to lay their hand
upon! They had fled every man Of them
they had disappeared, vanisled-pil
like puff OF air. CELEBRITY, dispatch
their motto, and TO go without leavinI
an address behind them! Frankly, |
had begun to pass the bounds OF al
reason.
And now to top Off these eight othe
crimes there was still another one,
ninth one, a murder, like the others, &C
compllshed the evening before, undo
similar conditions, a femme gallant witt
her throat cut, 5000 francs worth o
jewels gone and-not u trace OF the US
sassin
Despite his robust philosophy, tina
had long been tho admiration and emu
lation OF his century, NJ. Theodore fell
himself drifting into melancholy relleC
ton not unmixed with anger.
Nine murders, ono after the other, mint
crimes without any author; nonsense
impossible! The Chef de Surete pulled
himself together, threw back his heat
like q war horse smiling battle and--tht
door opened.
1t was his secretary who presented
himself, bearing u card In his fingers.
"a gentleman, monsieur, who insists
upon seeing you. He deClares"-and
the secretary smiled n little at the ab.
surdity OF the claim-"he declares him.
self In a position to furnish you with
definite particulars regarding q crime
yesterday"
"Ah, tho crime OF ycsterday2" the
chef turned quickly; Chen bid him On.
ter" said he, and whlls the secretary
regained the ante.room to do his bidding
NJ. Theodore cast his eye upon the card
before him.
Frederick Bousral |" he read in q hall
voice. "Bouscall Bouscal! It seems Ia
inc that l know that name--that I've
heard IL somewhere"
He scrawled line upon scrap oil
paper, handed 1t 10 his secretary, who
returned at the moment, uBhering in the
visitor who had asked 10 see him, dis.
missed him with word, and was ready
for tho matter in hand.
NJ. Theodore raised his eyes. Before
him was a man simply but neatly
clothed, and with frank and honest
Countenance, though yelled, as by a
cloud, with sadness. The eyes were
clear and open, the mustaChe and gontee
gray and pointed; in short, there was
something in his manner, something In
his whole appearance, Of militaire "ln
retreat
"You have particulars TO give me, have
YOU not, monsieur" questioned the
chef do Surete; particulars, l believe
Of tho crime Of yesterdayW
II hope SO, monsieur" simply re.
sponded tho visitor,
"Ah, hope so! You are then not
sure2'
at rests with you, NJ. lie Chef whether
l am sure or not. All depends, in fact,
upon an operation the means OF which
you alone are able 10 furnish me-"
Explain, II you please"
Certainly, and at once, though
doubtless you may have heard II spoken
Of. NJ. 10 Chef, d certain scientific pro
cedure which permits, under certain
conditions, better even than description
could do 1t, q reconstruction OF the por
trait Of an assassin. Briefly, behold IN,
meaning. You know, OF course" hi
continued, "In the phenomenon Gale,
vision the object which VIC sec throw
or forms upon a screen In the eyebal
itself, In plain words upon the retina o
the eye, an image which remains ther
until displaced by another. II has beef
proven also that the image persists evei
after death. You recognize, Therefore
that II a person murdered has bee
struck from the front and In a ligh
sufficiently distinct for him 10 see, th
last thing upon which his eyes would b
fixed would In all probability be th
face or form Of the murderer. Natural,
the Image OF that face or figure would b
thrown upon the retina Of the eye whor
and this Is what | came 10 say--it
not only possible TO refund, but also pos
sible 10 reproduce II. All, well, NOR
sieur, In the case which occupies us
The door Of the cabinet opened anev
and the secretary Of NJ. Theodore n
entered, holding In Ills hand O roll {
papers that he laid before his chief, the
turned aud was gone again as quietly q
he had come. NJ. Theodore lifted II an
ran bis eye over the contents.
"You are named Frederick Rousca
arc you not, monsieur" no dclnande
presently, addressing his visitor.
ayes, NJ, 10 Chei, Frederick RousCal,
e. your aRe2
''Eiity.Olght years, NJ. 10 Chef"
WHutn.in'n." Mr.. Theodore rapidl
twlrlgd the sheets beside him; q
years" he murmured, as II thinkin
aloud, $50 II was not you, then, VII
was Imprisoned two years ago and col
demned for ContumaCy and tho theft
! 900 llorins7"
; A sudden flush empurpled the Coul
tenanCe OF the visitor,
mo, monsieur hO responded vii
IN effort, In a dull voice mo, II was NJ
; Lit waE--tny SON."
IAN employe Of the Credit Agricol
! was he not2 And you-you arc ignotai
OF what has become Of him9"
Absolutely, II Ia 10 months that h
mother and / have been without ne,
OF him. That chlld,M. 10 Chef, has boz
our sorrow and our shame. lie Il
broken our hearts, dlshonored o.
famO--"
Ills voice was ChOkedi hO was silst
unable, evidently, 10 20 on,
pardon me, monsieur" said the Oh
do sutete, ~ have teOpened q paint