The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-08-16
AN INNKEEPER'S
DEFECTIVE WORK.
After the Desperate ASSasSinS Of the
Widow BOrniChe.
A Thrilling Sensation at French Country
Inn-Two Suspicious Men and Their
Conduct-The Hostess Fright.
Special to THE SUNDAY GAEL.

It was little village inn.
Stationed like an advanced sentinel on the
side of the great highway, at the edge of the
forest, it had truly an inviting aspect, this
little inn. with its bough of holy oak placed
above the main door, its waxed oaken
tables, its we'll secured pewter pitchers, as
bright as new coins, and its high fireplace,
with smoky mantelpiece.
No drinkers were in the tap-room. 1t was
the middle of the week and all the people of
the district were in the fields. Even the inn
keeper himself had been absent since early
in the morning.
Alone, the hostess, squatted upon the
hearthstone, was delicately plunging, with
that species of respect which peasants have
for meat, slice of pork into the pot sus-
pended by the pothook over the fire.
"ThereH murmured she. with satisfac-
ton. :" l think that pork will make excellent
soupi"
She arose and, for several minutes, walked
idly around the room, with hanging arms.
Suppose ] read my paper while waiting
for the pot TO boil.''
She first closed the shutters to protect
herself from the scorching August sun, the
rays of which came in through the window.
Then she installed herself comfortably upon
chair. unfoded the journal, Immediately
hunted up the heading. Fats divers" and
read aloud in the style Of schoolgirls
THE BoRNICHE MURDER.
"a horrible crime has filled the commune
of SOuanYllle with CONSERVATION. An old
woman of 10, the Widow Borniche, who
lived alone in an isolated house, has been
asSaSsinated in her bed by blows from a
hammer. The assassins set upon their vic
lin with unheard-of fury No less than
~ tua oil marital Tod
Oh the body of the unfortunate woman.
After having assured themselves that she
had ceased to breathe, the scoundrels robbed
the house and then made their escape"
The hostess clasped her hands and ex-
claimed: Mon Dieu, what an abomina-
tion"' Then she continued:
1.-The police are on the track of the authors
of this frightful deed. Their exact descrip-
ton has been obtained and sent in every di-
rection."
should bo! All ! the wreiches! Afterward
she went on with her reading:
The assassinS are two in number. One
is tall, slender and dark. with full black
beard; the other is thick-set, with light
mustnche and blue eyes"
"Ho, madam the inn-keeperp' at this in
slant cried voice behind the reader.
She turned and grew pale.
Standing in the doorway so as to bar il
were two young men-one tall, slender and
dark, with a full black beard, the other
thick SET with light mustache aud blue
eyes.
The terrified hostess felt her limbs give
way beneath her.
Say. madam, the inn-keeper, have you
any. sweet cider?" asked the short blonde
IL" stammered she.
well, serve us quieklyp' commanded ths
tall, dark man, casting upon a chair his
coat and traveling-bag, which had been
slung at his back
The hostess, subjugated. hurried down
into the cellar. When she returned she
heard the tall man say to the short onei
SUSPICIOUS TALK.
I'VE can't speak freely here"
"Of course not" answered the other;
but the good woman certainly has cham.
Der she can give u.s." Then, addressing the
hostess; Serve us in chamber where
we shall be alone"
She oheyed without daring TO reply. She
conducted them 10 room which opened
upon the garden, placed on the table the
pitcher of cider and two glasses and fled.
Above all, see that nobody disturbs I'
shouted the tall dark man after her.
Once back in the tap-room she felt her
courage return. She was ashamed of her
foolish terror. What folly she had been
guilty of Because two travellers had en-
tered her inn to Stake their thirst she had
taken them for the murderers of the Widow
Borniche. We're there but one dark man
could not have been more stupid! And,
completely treasured, she resumed reading
her journal.
Light mustache and blue eyes," con-
tinued she. One OF them carries travel
ing-bag siung at his back and wears a
brown coat with chestnut-colored velvet
collar"
Instantly all her fears were revived The
travellng-oag was there upon chair, beside
the coat-and the coat was brown.
Tran linn fro to
and picked up the garment
Horror! the collar was chestnut-colored.
WHAT WERE THEY DOING?
Vainly she strove to reason with herself,
inventing q thousand suggestions, each
more plausible than its predecessor, to ex-
plain this extraordinary coincidence. She
could not take her frightened glance from
the door of the chamber ia which the short
blonde and the tall dark man had shut them
selves up. What were they doing there?
What new crime were they plotting?
Finally her anxiety got the better of her.
She advanced with noiseless tread, and
holding her breath, glued her ear to the key
hole.
Almost Immediately she recoiled, with
haggard eyes and livid face.
Raising her arms toward heaven she
quilted the inn and ran in the direction of
the village, exclaining:
CAB, the wretches the wretches"'
Monsieur the Mayor had just breakfasted.
Thrown back in an armchair, his ewes
half-closed and his hands crossed upon his
ample stomach, which in en- gala days the
municipal sash encircled with so much
majesty, he was rocking his head as lie
listened to his daughter Prudence, who.
seated at the piano, was discoursing har-
monious strains with the laudable intention
of accelerating the paternal digestion.
Standing beside the chief magistrate at
the commune, Ramageot, the garde- cham
petre, was making his daily report.
THE HOSTESS ARRIVES.
Ramageot, as stiff as a stake had Just re-
piled for the twenty-Seyenth time, "Yes.
Monsieur the Mayor" to the question of his
superior. when the mistress of the inn, with
disheveled hair and upset face burst into
the salon.
"M'sieu the Mayor-ohl M'sieu the
Mayor-the assassins-oufW
They made her sit down and Gained her.
Then she related what she had seen, what
she had heard: it was horribleI
The Mayor listened to her without in
terrupting her; then he said, in tone of
annoyance:
"Such stories are very disagreeable after
breakfast: What say you, Ramageot?"
Yes, Monsieur the Mayor" answered
Ramageot.
Are you quite certain of what you assert,
my good womanp pursued the municipal
magistrate. "In such cases it is proper TO
reflect long; one should be careful not to
act with precipitation. What say you. Ram
ageotP"
"Yes, Monsieur the Mayor"
NEVERTHELESS, one must do his duty. Let
US go, Ramageot."
Eyes, Monsieur the Mayor"
They all three started for the inn, the
Mayor, the garde-champetre and the
hostess.
On the road the good woman could not re-
strain herself from narrating the adventure.
so that, on reaching the inn. from three they
had become fifty. Pitchforks scythes and
clubs shook above the heads in menacing
agitation.
THE MAYOR TAKES HIS MEASURES.
Before entering, the Mayor turned to his
escort, and. with the consummats sagacity
of great general:
Surround the housed" ordered he. pru-
IDENTIFY
Then he entered.
fret bo