The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-22
CHAPTER V.
THE ACCUSATION.

BY this time the gendarmes had gone
In their investigation as far as the infor-
nation allowed them and were pretty
well at fault regarding any proof of the
death being the result of a murder. Po-
lice, however, all the world over never
confess that they are wrong, and the
very fact that they are unable to make
headway in an investigation is to them
an additional reason for the continuance
of their suspicion.
Being now quite at fault and almost
anxious for an excuse for leaving the
matter for the present without having
to acknowledge the ignominy Of defeat,
they seized with alacrity the divertisse-
ment created by the charge of Beau.
mont.
The sergeant pulled himself together,
got fresh paper and ink, and after snub-
bing his subordinates severely had Beau
mont placed before him and began the
investigation.
Your name"
"Charles Beaumont"
"Occupationy"
"Farmer."
Eager"
"sixty-two years on the eth Of last
March"
Married or singlew
Married"
"Name of wife?"
"Marie."
"Her age?"
Here the farmer began to feel that an
investigation was by no means pleas
ant proceeding for he found the eye Of
his wife fixed on him with glance that
was half anxious and half threatening.
Good Nine. Beaumont had-liko the rest
of her sex--a rooted objection to tell her
age. The farmer hesitated little and
began TO stanmer, being in nowise as
sisted in his difficulty by hearing his
wife say in an audible voice:
"The brave officer, who is gentle
man, will not, am sure, affront wo-
man. Tell him the truth, Charlesr'
Her husband was just about TO blurt
out with mans usual stupidity her real
age-5l-~when the gallant sergeant cut
in
"Thirty-threel Thank you, heard
quite well, and if Imay say so a remark
ably well preserved woman of her yearsp
Needless to say that by this conduct he
earned the gratitude of every woman in
the place, although, to tell the truth, the
efficacy of the first part of the speech
was spoiled to the minds of many by the
latter part.
This little incident seemed TO make
tnings go more easily to all except poor
Beaumont, who, being now more at ease
ON his own account with his inquisitor,
had time to think again of his terrible
loss. The inquiry went on, and the poor
man told the story Of how he had gone
out in the night and had hidden his own
money in his own land as his father had
done before him, he having got the idea
of it's being the only safe way to keep
money from the exactions of the seigneur
and the tax farmer under the old regime
and from the patriots under the new.
Then he went on to say that he went
10 the place that very hour, even while
the investigation on the remains of poor
Pierre was proceeding; that he had dug
in the very same place, turning over the
very same earth; that he had found the
very same piece Of canvas in which the
money had been tied up. But, 10! it was
empty. and the money had gone. HI
continued that he made the charge oI
robbery, and that whoever had stoler
his money would have to pay the penal
ty of the law.
The sergeant sworc with many oath'
Of the strongest and most uncompromis
ing character thHt justice shorid wreai
her utmost vengeance on the wrong
doer. He was especially forcible, fol
with this real charge to investigate h
felt that he could recover the prestig'
which so far no had lost in the murder
case. SO he suggested that he should u
to Beaumont's house 30 make further In
Quiries on tho spot and eyamins u.