Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-08-24
[CoNT1NUED.]
CHAPTER XVII.
CIIECKMATED.


her, All eyes We're fixed on her-the
baleful chances of the two evil looking
strangers, the grave, severe look of NJ.
pumont, and the hard, penetrating, jul
ticial gaze of the gendarme. She felt
sAe was in some terrible danger
"In the name of heaven she cried in
}ren bling tones, "of what am / accused?
What does all this mean
ut means replied the brigadier,
bthat a terrible crime has been COM
mitted."
She half rose to her feet, grasping the
table beside her for support, as she gazed
1t him with speechless horror.
Yes. wrctched woman," said NJ. Du-
mont. 1.-THE unfortunate NJ. Germenil has
been foullv murdered this night! Speak,
then. and prove to us if you can that
you are not guilty of this wicked deed
She lifted her hands to her head with
b gesture as though she could not quite
grasp the meaning of what he said, re-
peating his words in low. horror stricken
tones.
M. Germcnil has been murdered"
Then after pause she seemed to realize
the position she was in. My God' she
FRIED in piercing tones, "do hear Alright?
You accuse Inc of numbering him, my
benefactor? Before that God whose
wrath falls thus heavily upon me l
swear TO you | am innocent"
Her looks and tones We're so full of
truth and genuine feeling that the listen
prs hesitated, and their conviction of her
guilt began to wayer. Perceiving this
=, -.
posed to the effect that he was sure it
was all right, and that madame would
have 10 difficulty in showing where the
money came from which Pierre had seen
IN her possession that morning, and that
point settled there would be no longer
any reason for suspocting her.
Marie eagerly explained that the mon
ey had been given to her by NJ. Germe-
nil the previous evening.
THE unfortunate gentleman probably
knew madame Ieviously and took an
interest in her. which would account for
his giving her IA purse OF gold" said Re
mond
rs that so:" demanded the brigadier.
But Marie was obliged to admit that
lhe had never seen NJ. Germcnil till her
arrival at Les Bons Amis the previous
afternoon,
She felt the web closing around her
and struggled helplessly to escape.
1T lisa likely story" said the brigadier,
"that any one would give so much
money to an utter stranger, as you admit
yourself to have been to NJ. Germenil.
Let me sec he added, examining the
purse which had been taken from Marie S
pocket. "One two -three-fOur-tiv
pieces Of gold, and purse to carry them
IN addition. a likely story indeed
Still" said Remond with we'll as
sumed sympathy, "we must not forget
that madame has not contradicted her
self and that she accounted for the pos
session of this money in precisely the
same way when Pierre found her this
morning"--
Yes" said Pierre, interrupting him,
when found her trying to escape from
The house before any one was up. That
did not look very like an honest woman.
why" said N. DWmont, did you thus
seek to fly from a house where you had
been so kindly treated:'
Yes said Pierre, land after promis-
as W. N'tIlliCIl W ~ Ilitl utcIl ~ hllltl
to you, that you would not go away till
he had seen you again"
Marie remained silent. She could not
answer these questions without disclos-
ing all which she had sought to conceal
by flight. She looked around her de-
spairingly, and seeing an expression of
pity on Charles face she appealed to
him not TO condemn her without some
further proof.
Il know" she said. "that appearances
are against me, but indeed-indeed | an,
.nnOccnt.'
Charles had listened in silence to what
had passed, but though appearances We're
SO much against her he did not feel at
all convinced of her guilt and now said
SO boldly, reminding those present that
as yet there was nothing proved, and
nat mere suspicion, however strong
could not condemn.
BE sure" he said, addressing Marie
that justice will be done. There must
be thorough investigation of this af
fair My father and | will see to that"
Remond began to think that matters
were not going quite as he wished them
ma observed that himself and his friend
were also interested in the matter being
satisfactorily cleared up, and that there
was one point which ces messieurs haL
overlooked and which might help tc
elucidate the mystery. Perhaps hi,
good friend NJ. Pierre would tell them il
any OF tho rooms adjoining the one ir
which the murdered man had slept haG
been occupied that night. The number
of the lamentcd gentleman's room was
le understood, No. 49,
An unlucky number, he added, iva,
No. 49,"
Yes, said Pierre, "she"-pointing t.
Marie-"she slept i'll No. g."
Then" continued Remond. las sucl
deed could not possibly have been com
mitted without some little noise, ma
Same doubtless heard something-som,
little disturbanco-of which she will tel