The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-09-12
TALE OF CRIME.


And not an assassin, for all their skillful
work, had they been able to lay their
hands upon. They had fed, every man
of them. They had disappeared, van
ished-piff, like puff of air. CELEBRITY,
dispatch, their motto, and to go without
leaving an address behind theml Frank
ly, it had begun to pass the bounds Of
all reason.
"And now to top off these eight other
crimes there was still another, ninth
one-a murder like the others, accom-
plished the evening before under similar
conditions"
I The chef de surete pulled himself to-
gether, threw back his head like war
horse shifting battle, and-the door
opened.
1t was his secretary who presented
himself, bearing card in his fingers.
i "a gentleman, monsieur, who insists
upon seeing you. He declares" and the
secretary smiled little at the absurdity
of the idea--"he declares himself In a
position to furnish youwith definite par
ticulars regarding the crime Of yester-
day."
"Ah, the crime of yesterday" The
chief turned quickly. 'Then bid him
ENTER" said he, and while the secretary
regained the anteroom to do his bidding
M. Theodore cast his eye upon the card
before him.
Frederick Bouscal, " he read in half
voice. "Bouscal, Bouscal. 1t seems to
me that l know that name-that I've
heard it somewhere"
He scrawled line upon scrap of pa
per and handed it to the secretary, who
returned it, at the moment ushering in
the visitor who had asked to see him,
dismissed him with word and was
ready for the matter in hand.
M. Theodore raised his eyes. Before
him was man simply but neatly cloth
ed, and with frank and honest counte-
nance, though yelled as by cloud with
sadness.
"You have particulars togive me, have
you not2" questioned the chef de surete.
Particulars of the crime of yesterday"
81 hope so, monsieur" simply respond
ed the visitor.
"Ah, hope SOL You are not sure, thenf"
at rests with you, M. lie Chef, whether
/ am or not. All depends, in fact, upon
an operation, the means Of which you
alone are able to furnish me-"
Explain, if you please"
Certainly, and at once, though doubt
less you have heard 1t spoken of, M. le
Chef-a certain scientific procedure
which permits, under certain conditions
better even than description can do it, a
reproduction of the portrait of an assas-
sin. Briefly, behold my meaning. You
know, of course" he continued, that
In the phenomenon called vision the OBJ
bect which we see throws, or forms, upon
a screen in the eyeball itself-in plain
words, upon the retina of the eye-an
Image which remains there until dis
played by another. It has been proved
also that this image continues even after
death"
The door of the cabinet opened anew,
and the secretary of NJ. Theodore re-en-
tered, holding in his hand roll of pa
pers. which he laid before his chief, then
*urned and was gone again as quickly as
he had come. NJ Theodore lifted it up
and ran his eye over the contents.
you are named Frederick Bouscal,
are you not, monsieur?" he demanded
presently, addressing his visitor.
Eyes, M. le Chef, Frederick Bous-
cal"-
seYour ageY'
Fifty eight years, M. lie Chef"
"Hum-m-mw M. Theodore rapidly
twirled the sheets beside him. Twenty
seven years." he murmured, as if think
ing aloud. $50 it was you then who
was imprisoned two years ago and con-
demned for contumacy and the theft Of
1000 florinsP"
A sudden flush empurpled the coun-
tenance of the visitor.
mo, monsieur" he responded, with an
effort, in dull voice. mo, it was not !
lit was-my sonl"
can employee Of the Credit Agricole,
was he notP And-you are ignorant Of
what has become of him."
Absolutely. 1t is is months that his
mother and | have been without news of
him"
Pardon me, monsieur" said the chef
de surete. II have reopened a painful
wound, but listen to you-you were
saying
The man passed his hand across his
brow and eyes to clear his vision, then
resumed:
II was saying, M. lie Chef, that in the
case which occupies us now the repro
duction of the assassin's portrait should
be entirely possible. 1t is probable, II
not sure, that the eye Of the corpse now
lying upon the slab of the morgue con-
tains the exact reproduction of the fea-
lures of the one you seek. With your
permission viii draw 1t from them"
DRAW it. but how9'
"By PHOTOGRAPHER is my business,
M. le Chef. And this matter, this sub
ject speak of, l have studied 1t long
and almost with passion, for hold 1t to
be, in case of success, one of the most
useful and beautiful applications of
modern science. know it can be done.
have myself experimental, and In one
instance have reproduced the lineaments
Of the physician who had leaned above
the bed of the dying"
The man spoke with animation, and
while speaking his voice vibrated, his
eyes burned, his whole countenance was
Illuminated, irradiated with the light Of
legitimate pride.
"Then so be it. monsieur" agreed the
chef de surete. Take your instruments
to the morgue tomorrow morning at 10
o'clock. will see that the clerk is In
structed. Later on l shall myself be
there. / have the honor, monsieur, to
wish you good morning"
In the obscure nook at the morgue
where he had inclosed himself, In 40
cordance with the arrangements made
at the office of the surete, Frederick
Bouscal, his body bent, his face drawn,
watched anxiously the result Of his last
washing. The plate was there before
him In its bath of quicksilver, into which
he had dropped 1t awhile ago with such
fear and infinite precaution.
Sensitizeds VitalizedH At least It
should be, and If the conditions Of the
crime were such as he supposed them,
and the victim before dying had rsAlis