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

less and wretched, flying from place to
place to avoid the danger of meeting her
villainous husband. He had pursued his
evil career for a long time with impu-
nifty, but some time previously he had
been captured and proved guilty of the
crime of which he was accused. He had
been confined in the prison at Lyons, and
there she believed him to be until his
evil face had appeared before her that
morning.
Such was the story which Marie told
NJ Dumont, telling him also what had
passed between herself and NJ. Germenil
when he gave her the money, and how it
was to avoid telling the sad story which
she had just related that she had wished
to leave that morning before he could
see her to renew his questions.
NJ. Dumont was deeply moved by the
story she told him and assured her of
his belief in her innocence, saying that
he felt convinced now that Macaire and
his confederate had murdered NJ. Ger
menil, and that they must leave no stone
unturned to prove her innocence. He
agreed that there was no need that
Charles should know who his father was.
And he went on:
Il am sure that in keeping this knowl-
edge from him and letting his marriage
with Clementine go on | will be best
carrying out the wishes of my poor
friend. Before it takes place, however,
your innocence must be proved. Itwould
not matter so much did no one but our
selves know, but it is now indispensable
that you should be cleared. Clementine
knows nothing as yet and we will keep
the knowledge from her as long as pos
sible, in the hope that she may hear the
charge and its refutation at the same
time. | fear, however, we will be unable
to conceal what has transpired and your
relationship to Charles more than few
hours"
AS he finished speaking Charles came
into the room looking very sad, but he
quickly cheered up when NJ. Dumont
assured him he was quite satisfied of his
mothers innocence and repeated to him
what he had just said about his mar
riage to Clementine.
las to me-" he went on, you will
always be my son, my boy. You will
only be so much the better off because
you will have a mother too
But tho proofs of Maries innocence
and of the guilt of the real culprits were
soon to be made apparent.
Pierre's conscience had been reproach-
ing him for his overzeal ever since Ma
rie's arrest and the discovery that she
was really the mother of NJ. Charles
He felt that it was principally his fault
that suspicion had attached to her, and
he felt he would like, if possible, to hell
to clear her of the charge.
He was angry with himself for having
been so easily imposed on by the two
strangers who turned out to be suct
villains, and whom he now began to sus
pect of being the real murderers.
Why, yes, he remembered now tina,
they had had access for a few min
utes to the bunch of duplicate KEYS
quite long enough-and he. fool that n
was, had never suspected anything
Twas surely they who had taken tn
key Of VI. Germenil's room off the bunch
ITEMS. If he could only find it. Well
/
room which the strangers had occupie,
and there instituted thorough search
There was not corner of the room h
did not thoroughly ransack-overy fol-
of the window curtains, of the bed cur
tains, the mattresses, the pillows. II
turned up every rug and ran his ham
round the seat of every chair. He cveI
examined behind every picture, opene'
and turned ont every drawer am
press, but all in vain, and disheart
ened and disappointed he stood look
ing vaguely round him at the disor
der he had created, and scratching hi
head wondered what lie would do next
when his eye lighted on the fireplace
There had been no fire, and Yet the Goa
looked as though it had been disturbed
He did not quite take it in at first an
then as the thing formulated itself i
his mind he ran to the CRATE, eagerly It
moved one piece of coal after anothe
and presently, with an exclamation c
joy, sprang to his feet with the missin
key in his hand.
He ran down stairs and burst into tn
| IOOiIi NItlt W. DuilIOlil, Vial ltS ar
Marie We're, and hardly able to spea
with excitement cried:
IN. Charles! not bourgeois! Nine
Marie 1t is not you! l meant al
sure, enfin i have discovered the assa'
sins Here it isl fourishing the key.
With some difficulty they managed
get IL coherent explanation from hin
having heard which NJ. Dulnont sci
Charles at once in search of Roger. The
returned together Immediately, and tn
brigadier. having heard Pierres story &
to where he had found the key, declare
he would at once have Macaire an
Strop searched to see if they had any {
the stolen money upon them.
After short absence he returned
carrying the stolen notes. Charles @
seeing this proof of his mothers inn,
cence was too much overcome to spea
and turned to clasp her in his arms, bl
she had tainted The shock of this SUI
den relief from the terrible acoustic
which had been hanging over her ha