The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-03-20
AN EYEWITNESS.

1N LILLE WllNiuUI
"Well," said the Judge, "this is the
room where but two days ago the horri-
BILE murder was committed. Justice in
this case has travelled quickly. Arnaude
Duaot," he continued, turning to a
young man Of some twenty.six years,
who stood before him pale and clothed
in deepest mourning, "do you still per.
sist in denying the assassination Of your
unCleP"
"I do, sir.p
"Yef'-and here the official steno-
grapher bent forward to his notes while
bis pencil commenced It's rapid travel
"yeL it is known that the late Monsieur
Daaot bad not single personal enemy.
You were among the few, the very few,
with whom he was on terms ofintimacy.
1t is said that his affection for you was
| more like that Of father for son. Not
withdrawing his great wealth he spent
but little; careful steward Of the goods
with phich he was endowed. From an
inspection Of his methodically kept &C.
counts it appears that you drew fire.
quenty upon his purse. We find, on the
Iate OF the 10th Of February, this note:
To my nephew, 1000 francs for pay
ment OF q gambling debt contracted by
him. On the Sth OF March occurs: To
my nephew, $50 francs for payment OF a
gambling debt On the 10th OF Septem-
Der we read: 1850 francs for payment
Of gambling debt And so on.
II have IN my possession a men,
orandum OF the total years expenditure
for similar items. Prior to this, in order
to establish you in Paris, he had at dit.
lerent times 1.-THE dates are specified) ad-
vanced the sum Of 5000 francs. His
generosity, at least, bears witness to
your intelligence; ample means were
provided you to insure your easy and
certain progress In the world, but evil
passions, gambling and other vices led
you to dissipate them all. Your uncle
was an old man, close upon his seven
tieth year, yet unexceptionally vigorous
and robust, experiencing the benefit OF
an honest, healthy life AS for you,
man Of indolent habits and luxurious
tastes, hopelessly involved in debt, with
20 energy for work, 1t was but natural
that you should eagerly look forward to
his DEATH"
0In short" interrupted Armande
DuAot, with smile, "as his last hour
did not sound, I have with thrust Of
my thumb moved forward the hands OF
the clock"
The judge, for one moment, looked at
him through the half closed lids Of his
small gray eyes. m
thrust in this case is but figure OF
speech. The reality is this: That you
have etraneled him with your ten
fingers, strangled him with both your
hands. Nay, had you possessed a third
hand you would undoubtedly have used
II, To make more certain your cruel pur-
pose. Perhaps you would wish me to
discuss your plea OF an alibi. For the
present we will leave 1t. It's shallow.
ness is only too apparent, and l have
other means OF proving your guilt. You
alone had an interest, direct, immedi-
ate and patent interest In your urcle's
death; you we're his sole heir, you who,
but lust before the crime, giving as
security YOU word Of honor, gambled
for ten thousand francs and-mark me,
Armande Duhot-lost theml"
Duflot slightly st,ugged his shoulders,
and with the same little disdainful smile
again interrupted the judge.
SAIL that you have 80 far said, cir, is
based simply upon presumptious. Let
IA reason for one moment. My uncle,
YOU say, and l acknowledge its truth,
was close upon an age when life is, to
say the least, precarlous. At seventy
wears TO the average man the grave Ia
well in view. Do you suppose me capa-
BILE (since you have been good enough
TO credit me with some little intelligenCe)
OF having, even for q moment, contem.
plated a crime which NJ. Dudot's age
rendered useless and absurd? You have
reminded me Of debt which | had un-
fortunately contracted. Gould not, by
your own showing, have confidently re-
| lied upon my unCIe's exceptional kind.
mess and never failing generosity to have
relieved me from that difficulty, even as
no had relieved me from so many pre-
vious ones7" -,
zone moment" said the Judge. ~
will turn your argument against your
aelf, Yes, you certainly did hope that
I'M Duhot would once more lend q help
ing hand and drag you from the scrape
into which you had got yourself. am
we'll aware Of the unwrttten law which
exacts men OF honor'-of that honor
which even you can boast of-the pay
ment OF a gambling debt within twenty.
four hours. You came here to find your
uncle; you played the role OF the peni-
tent, OF the true repentant; you prom
ised him that II he would settle this debt
for you, more urgent than any OF itG
many predecessors, you would renounce
the gambling table forever. NJ. Duaoi
refused, and absolutely. Then the
thought flashed across your mind that
he alone stood between you and inner
iitancs Of all his wealth and the eoase'
ouent safety OF your good name. From
this resulted what yop with delicate
IRONY have called o 'thrnstofthe thumb."
WStay, sirI" cried Duaot impauently
"these are mere suppositions, vague
ideas. You are simply building up q
aensational romance"
SIndeedP" replied the Judge, making
, "a he spoke, a Sign toward the end O
the chamber; "there is another aiSe
who has q word to say, whose testimony
viii be worth taking. You will OWE
thatI have done my best to introduce
him with tus eHegt,"
A folding door was heard TO open and
10 close again, and the sound Of somt
! WelVhty OBJ ect being wheeled along thu
floor. Duhot following with his eye
the direction Of the judges outstretcheC
finVer beheld the body Of his uncle lynn
bsck in the huge arm chair he had beer
J wont to use IN lie.
Il was ghSstly sight; the head hat
fallen back; the lower jaw had sunk
and from the open mouth the swollen
blackened tongue protected. The gil
Tened hands tenacioualy clutched eithe
: arm Of the chair, and beneath the fold
Of cloak could be seen the rigorou
outlines OF the legs, extended to thei
fullest length. Duaot gaEed axedly q
the dead body, and in q quiet, almos
= gentle voice said: my poor uncle