Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-18
Concluded From Yesterday.

Concluded IRON IeSte1Udy
How and when had she got in? Had the om-
nibus stopped or even slackened, unnoticed
by me, in my strange absorption? No, no,
how could it? Yet there the stranger sat-
And what singular face it was! What
deathly pallor and painful melancholy IN
every line! What sad, wistful eyes, that
seemed full of unshed tears, and kept look
ing, looking at me, through me, into my
soul, with an intense strained gaze that
never wavered, and seemed every moment
to grow deeper in Its dumb agony of appeal
as of one struggling for the speech OF which
God had bereft her tongue.
looked away, aside, out of the doorway,
conscious that nv blood was creeping dull
and heavily, like half-frozen water, through
my veins; but strange, weird fascination
compelled me to again meet that gaze. Did
she know me? Impossible! / had certainly
never seen her before. My heart throbbed up
into my throat, my blood began to beat fast
and warm again, and as we rolled onward L
was aware Of curious subtle change in my
sensations. Every nerve, every fiber was
still strung up to a painful tension; but
there stole over me, into me, body and
spirit, C sense of steel-like strength-a
strange settling down of my faculties into
COOL steadfast power, and more than that,
sense that grew slowly to impelling convic-
tion that that fellow passenger knew what
1 did not-whosoever or whatsoever she
was, and that my movements must follow
hers, blindly. As that odd feeling deep
ened and possessed me, my eyes again went
to the woman's face-to meet a look of in
tense restfulness and content that dom
mated all other expression of anguish or
strained eagerness, as if after something un-
reached. Did she-or-it-read my soul
and find there all its tortured, trammelled
spirit sought?
It gave me almost shock to suddenly
see the stalwart, prosaic conductor at the
doorway, asking for sfares to Tottenham
Court Road" which I had named when I
got in. I noticed at once that he did not
even glance at my strange neighbor-
her head to me.
further. I'll stop you when want to get
out"
Under this curious calm that had settled
on me, 1 was not at all surprised at the
mans evident obllviousness of that passen-
ger. 1 should have been surprised if he
had ev1nced any knowledge of her
presence. and it seemed to me
quite in the order of things
when, on reaching Gray's Inn road, she
raised her white hand to me, and gllded out
on to the pavement unnoticed by the con-
ductor I paid him and stepped to the
strangers side, thrilled right through with
a weird feeling that should ordinarily un-
nerve one; vet L had never felt more strong,
cool, ready for the most desperate danger or
emergency; and as my guide-I following
lu r off INV
gloves and felt in my bosom to be sure the
revolver was ready to hand There was
grim work, I knew. She led on straight up
past the shops, still ablaze at past II in
that neighborhood on this eve, and at last
turned down a street which I knew to be
mostly filled with third-rate, shady lodging
houses, where doors are on the latch all
night, and never question is asked of
"whence, whittier or what?" This class of
houses have the commonest latch locks that
are easily fitted, and, of course, was well
provided with such appliances of noiseless
Before one of these houses my mysterious
guide stopped. Save light in the first
floor window all was darkness-either the
inmates were asleep or out. To that win
dow my guide eagerly pointed, with look
and gesture that vehemently urged instant
action, as if minutes delay were fatal; so
drew out and fitted key. She was close,
her lips moved, but there was no sound, not
3 whisper; yet into my mind, as if 1 had
heard it, came name-Louis Saumarez-
and at that moment I opened the door and
leaving the door Just ajar for her to
follow But she did not What I meant to
do or felt never could put into words. My
mind was concentrated on one great fact
that the murderer was in that lighted room,
about to escape, and that Ia woman, alone
must stop him and arrest him.
Terror. danger, were not present to me
then-I was too strung up-grimly cool. It
was 1 who was dangerous. I stole up
quietly, easily, as if I had right there,
opened the door and paused
One glance took in the mise-en-scene. A
shabby room, scantiiy furnished, a fire
nearly out, wine and food on the table, a
valise packed up, and just drinking glass
IF wine, using the left hand, was a rather
all, good-looking, but sallow-faced man.
Mon Dieul must see that other hand by
some ruse.
"Que Diable," said I, with bitter but
abandoned manner 'but you are a
'ruel enough lover to me, M.
Saumarez
He swung round, SO startled that he stag
,ered and caught at a chair with the right |
lnder the lamplight; dark scar across it; |
he fourth finger gone The assassin at
asst !
"Who the devil are you?" he demanded |
avagely, recovering himself little IT |
lever saw you before, and you are too |
iueced handsome to be forgotten. Leave |
ny room have to catch train, and my |
lame is Mercier.''
"Pardons, Monsieur" said I coolly, my
light hand on the butt of my weapon, nv
yes on his ready for his attack, 'you are
louis Saumarez and you-are-my prisoner
or murder"
1 stood near the door, he at the far end of |
he large room. At the last awful words he
matched knife from the table with fierce
'Sacre-r, and sprang toward me; but at
eeled back with yell like
wounded wild beast, and fell heavily,
PARTIALLY stunned by the blow to his
lead, on the floor, the blood coming from
lis side. 1 knew where to hit safely. I
vas turning quickly to get police help be-
ore my prisoner regained consciousness,
Then mems steps came quickly along from
'elow, up the stairs, and two constables
anne into the room, one exclaimlng:
"Hulloa! What's this-murder? Are
'ou hurt too, ma amp"
Shaken now little, 1 had leaned against
he wall, as the other man knelt beside
,aumarez.
"Non, non," said. ST fred in selfde-
murder of Madame Folcade. 1 am French
olice agent 1t is all right"
One was sergeant, and whilst
he other bound up the slight
round, 1 briefly explained matters and
ave my captive in charge. The sergeant