Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-06-30
OUR PASSENGER.

ON the Rue Rivoli. Paris
One morning / sat smoking on the
front veranda, when a tall, elegantly
dressed gentleman asked permission to
light his cigar by mine.
saw at a glance that he was q
Frenchman, although his English was
nearly perfect
Have you heard the news? he in
quired.
"No.
ais it possible? Why, all Paris is
alive with it at this moment.
What has happenedi"
The Countess de Marville-the fairest
of the fair-was found murdered in her
bed last night, her bureau broken open,
and 10000 francs missing from it Obi
it was terriblel There were marks of
fingers on her throat; the brute who
did the deed effected his entrance
through the windo w of her chamber,
near which, unfortunately, was a tall
tree. planted years ago by the distin-
guished grandfather of the countess.
Little did he imagine the terrible use
that would be made of il. +"
This is bad news. How any man
could harm a woman thus, in cold
blood, is more than l can imagine.
"Ah, monsieur, if you had ever seen
the countess you would marvel still
more. She was beautiful-beautiful as
an angel" he added, stroking his
whiskers with an unmistakable air of
vanity. II knew her we'll"
Indeed"
"Oh, yes! There are in Paris few pop
ular women unknown to me.
His manner now was decidedly con-
ceited, and / felt disgusted with him.
My coldness evidently repelled him, for
he soon left me.
Afterward l heard from others &C.
counts of the late tragedy. Among the
details of the affair was one which Pc
culiarly impressed me, and which my
first informant had not spoken of-an
oversight that surprised me, as the oc-
currence he had not mentioned was of
that kind which would be most apt tO
strike the fancy.
Upon the throat of the countess the
murderer, in throttling her, had left a
mark from a ring he wore-the impress
sion of a chariot wheel, with star in
the centerl
This" said my latest informant,
Smay lead to the discovery of the muir
derer. Jean Mosqueau is already visit.
ing the jewelers. shops, to find out from
which, and by whom, ring with the
chariot wheel device was purchased.
"Who is Jean Mosqueau?"
"Parbleu! monsieur, have you not
heard of Mosqueau, our famous detect.
i've? Although his courage is well
known, you would not, to look at his
fair, girlish face and delicate form, be-
lieve that he could fight gnatl"
A week later was aboard the steamer
bound from Calais to Dover Among
the passengers / beheld one whose face
had familiar look. was not long in
recognizing this person as the same
had seen at the Hotel Windsor, and who
had first informed me of the murder Of
the countess
lie was certainly very handsome
man, although his conceited air was a
blot upon his good looks.
He moved languidly hither and thither,
now and then turning his brown eyes
admiringly upon the pretty lady passen-
gers, while stroking his whiskers with
one white hand, upon the middle finger
of which was a superb diamond ring.
am of rather suspicious nature,
which, combined with lively imagina-
tion, has often led me into singular err
rors.
Now, strange impulse moved me to
advance and hold out my hand to man
whom had involuntarily disliked from
the first, in order that / might have a
chance to glance at his ringl Somehow,
the idea had possessed me that would
discover chariot device upon the gilt
tering baublei
The stranger did not at first recognize
me. He soon did, however, and frankly
extended his left hand, which was not
the one containing the ringI
My brain fairly reeled; the mans be-
havior was conviction of my suspi-
cions.
"The other hand, If you pleaseF' said
in low, stern voice.
"Monsieur will excuse me, IL he
please My other arm is lame with
rheumatismr
He beheld me glance toward the half
hidden ring, and / was sure saw him
start and turn pale, while. at the same
time, looking much surprised.
He, however, opened his right hand,
as il perfectly willing for me to shake
1t, IL chose. Then had a good look
at the ring, and felt ashamed of my
suspicious. The device was q common
heart, which certainly bore no resem-
blance to a chariot wheell
After little commonplace conversa-
ton, to recover my self possession,
turned away, resolving in future to
have better opinion Of my fellow
creatures
The strangers beauty seemed to at
tract the attention of many Of the ladies.
One. especially, modest looking little
thing, attired in black, kept directing
furtive glances at the handsome passen-
ger. Finally, she glided so close to him
that, in turning, he brushed against her.
An apology, smilingly received by the
little lady--a remark about the weather
on the part of the man-and the two
were soon conversing with animation.
Meanwhile the blushing cheek and
bright eyes of the fair one seemed to
betoken that she was we'll pleased with
her companion, whose air was now more
conceited than ever.