The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-10-09

ABOUT elSnC lnCneS nlSn. 1nlS ne no"
placed upright on tho table at little
distance from the lamp The shadow Of
the cross fell upon the curtain. 1t was
at least foor feet high.
WAS it as large as that?" he Inquired
of Morel
mo. not half as large; but what are
you driving at?'
Never you mind" was the reply of
the detective. "Wait and see."
Cassagnc then moved the cross fur
Their from. the lamp until it reached the
very edge of the table, but the shadow
of the cross was only lessened thereby
by about foot.
1T is still far too large" said the
artist.
Cassagnc thought deeply for few mo-
ments. Il have it," he said at last.
Tho table has been moved" He
stopped down and raised one of the legs
of tho table. ut has dust under it," he
exclaimed. Il thought So" Then he
searched around and found the spots
where the legs had usually been placed.
After little search he located them,
and moved the table back into it's orig
inal position.
1T is poor detective work to move
any thing in a room where a murder has
been committed. In doing SO valuable
clews are oftentimes destroyed"
Then he again repeated his maneuv-
ers with the wooden cross and the lamp.
Commencing close to the light. he moved
no rr,Inn11u f0 univ
dow until the artist cried:
Stop, that is the exact size of the
cross saw"
"How is it for position on the cur
tain?" asked the detective.
st should be moved more to the
right"
Cassagne then moved the cross slowly
Morcl, with his eyes fixed on the NOV
ing shadow on the curtain, called:
''Halt."
Come here, M. Morel," said Cas-
sagne, land see whether you can find
any mark on this table at the foot of
the cross"
NJ. Morel bent his gaze curiously upon
tho smooth surface.
II see nothing" he replied.
because your eyes, unlike mine,
have not been sufficiently trained. I see
small slit in the table"
What of tbat?"
Once moro N. Cassagne replied to the
interrogatory Of tho artist by illustra-
ton instead of words. lie drew from
his pocket large clasp-knife and tied
a piece of wood across the handle. Then
he plunged the blade into the slit The
knife stood upright in the exact position
lately occupied by the wooden cross. Its
| shadow an exact counterpart, fell pre-.
cisely at the same angle upon the win.
dow curtain.
A sudden CLEAN of intelligence shot
across the face of the artist.
"You would imply that Mile. Croizette
was stabbed with just such knife as
that shadow representa-"
Eyes, by knife with cross-piece tc
it-some old-fashioned dagger. When
the two shadows you saw struggling on
the curtain passed from your sight the
murderer was killing his victim. He
withdrew the blade. all reeking as i,
was, and stuck it into the table. Its
shadow fell upon the curtain for few
moments ere he plucked it away and
extinguished the light. Look here! see
where the blood has dripped from the
blade!'
"What is the next step?" asked NJ
Morel.
ITO reason as usual from effect tc
cause. l have not abandoned the jeal
Gus lover theory, which NJ. Pomm ard
thinks so untenable. Mile. Croizette
was not by any means the angel she
was depicted. Look here!'
The detective went to the uprigh,
piano and moved it back from the wall,
Touching spring door flew open. l,
communicated with a passageway lead
ing into the adjoining house.
M. Morel was thunderstruck. "How
did you discover that?" he exclaimed.
II was here this morning early" said
Cassagne, ION my own account an6
made complete investigation. Poo,
men have been detailed on this case
hitherto. They should have sounded
every inch of these walls. Who lives
in that house next door?'
Certainly not the murderer of Mile
Croizette. 1t is the Able Froissart. He
is famed for his piety and learning. He
is an immaculate person in every re
spect and greatly venerated."
"Um! ah!-perhaps. Tell me, though
how long has he lived in the neighbor
hood?"
about three years." replied NJ
Morel.
"Precisely. That is exactly the sam,
length of time Mile. Croizette resided
here"
GLOW do you know that?"
Because it is my business to know
these things, Monsieur. Mile. Croiz
cite, 1 find, took up with the Abb,
Froissart after her quarrel with M
Chattien, the rich banker in the Rue d,
la Roche"
What do you propose to do?" asked
NJ. Morel. "Denounce the Able Frois
sart as the murderer of Mile. Crioz
ette?"
''Such COURSE" replied Cassagne
''would be the height Of foolishness
He would meet all such accusation
with calm denial and his reputation
would clear him. We could prove moth
ing and should only cover ourselve
with ridicule. know better wa,
than that If he is not guilty, what
propose will be simply regarded as
practical joke should it ever becom
known. If guilty it will so effectuall,
undermine his nerves, that when con
fronted with his accuser he will volun
tarily confess his crime. am hungry
Let us 60 now. will be at your room
at eleven o'clock tonight
| At the appointed hour, Cassagn'
| knScked at NJ Morol,s doom ond woo Cd