Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-12-20
CHAPTER XIV.
A DEED OF BLOOD.

DEED OF BLOOD.
 It was now nearly midnight, and deep silence reigned in and about the auberge 1 of Les Bons Amis-a silence unbroken saved by the hoarse croaking of the bull frogs ill the marsh away beyond the cornfields.
 It was q world in miniatures very l microcosm-that peaceful village inn, for within its walls this summer night every phase of human life was repre- scented. Faith, hope and charity dwelled l there with joy and love, while beside them were shame and despair, with greed and theft and stealthy footed mur- der.
 The moon was high in the heavens, her wan face pale with the scenes of misery and crime on which she had looked that night and of which sine was to witness yet another.
 Within the house every one was asleep save Remond and his confederate They had spent some time in oiling and clean ing the key, which had apparently not been used for some time, and now were quite ready for their villainous enter prise. They had decided to wait till half past II, and as the sound of the church clock chiming the appointed hour rang out clearly across the stiffness of the summer night they silently arose and left the room. There was no need to speak-cven had not every word been a | danger They knew what they intended doing, and words were superluous. It had been decided that Remond should unlock the door, us that required steady hand and cool nerves-the least jar in the lock might lose them all-and so these two i'll omened figures glided along the corridor with noiselesS footsteps, look ing like two foul birds of prey in the oc- casional glimpses of moonlight which fell across them from the small easement windows.
 As they passed the door of the room where Mario was. they paused and lis tened anXiously It was important she should be :: .. They were soon reas- sured by her regular breathing and per- feet stiffness. The poor hunted creature had for q time escaped from her troubles in the blessed forgetfulncss of sleep
 They had not long to delay at M Ger meniIs door. They quickly satisfied themselves that he was asleep and then went to work at once. Bertrand took from his pocket q very small dark lan- tern, such as is used by burglars, and turned the light so that it fell directly on the keyhole while Renond ascertain cd by gently inserting straw into the aperture that the key had been removed from the lock- Poor VI. GermeniI had. in fact, got out of bed to do this which he had first forgotten. with that mistaken idea which so many people have that it is r,,1- beside his black pocketbook. one corner of wAich peepcl from under his pillow. Poor. i'll fated. kind hearted NJ. Germe- nil, those dread shears will soon be closed!
 Well, the lock being empty, Remond skillfully and uoiSelesSlv inserted the key he carried. A moments pause, and the strong, steady, practiced hand of the robber turned it. Another moments s pause. and turning the handle he gently pushed open the door, and the coveted booty was at length within their reach.
 RemOnd now, with the same noiseless- ness and skill. took the key out of the | lock and shut the door again and locked l it 50 that if by chance any one should pass there would be no sign of disturb ance. He was an old hand at this, and his was no SlOvenly work.
 As had been already arranged, Ser trand remained beside the door to listen for any movement and ready to come to Remond's help if the need should arise. What need was it they contemplated, and how was it to be met:
 The light from the easement fell full on the sleeping man. Hc had pulled back the ChintZ curtains so as to leave it entirely Unshaded, as he liked to be awakened by the first gleam of morning sunlight. He was not dwcller in the town whose nervous, overwrought brain required unbroken darkness to soothe 1t to rest. He had gone to sleep full of kindly, happy thoughts, rejoicing over his daughters happiness and the realiza- ton of his own and his old friends long cherished wish as to tho marriage of their children, a~l planning what he would do for the poor wayfarer who had ! so strongly excited lis interest and com 1 passion. As he lay there he looked the very picture of all honest, healthy, hap l py man, q strange contrast to the villain. 1 ous countenance of the man who now bent over him.
 Remond had approached the bed at the side farthcSt from tine window, but his 1 keen eyes soon perceived tho corner of the l pocketbook he was in search of project ing q little from under the pillow at the side opposite to where he stood. He at once perceived that he had g somewhat difficult job before him. He dared not risk stretching across the sleeping man
 who lay with his face toward the win dow, in order 10 reach 1T. for the bed Wa; wide, and ill such q strained attitude as he would have to assume he could not rely on the steadiness uf his hand. The only alternative was to go around to the other side of the bed. where it would bt within easy reach, in which case thert
 would be the danger of shadow in con
 sequence of his having to pass between
 the sleeping man and the uncurtaineG
 window, and he knew by experience
 how little sometimes awakened a sleep
 CT. Any attempt at closing the curtains
 was of course quite out of the question
 It would be much too long and risky
 process. All this passed rapidly througl
 his mind, and he promptly decided [,
 try the other side of the bed.
 It was large, old fashioned 4-pos
 bed, and getting softly down on hi
 hands and knees he crawled noiselessl,
 round like some noxious reptile. By thi
 device he avoided the danger of throw
 ing his shadow on the sleeper. When h.
 got opposite the place where the pocket
 book lay, he cautiously put himself il
 such position as to be able to spring a
 once to his feet if necessary, then raiset
 his head till his eyes were on a level witt
 the surface of the bed. And slowly
 gently, cautiously, very cautiously, tha
 hand with its rauaciOlIs fingers CreDt owe
 the coverlet till it touched the prey
 sought-frst touched, then grasped, thel
 gently, gently, drew back again.
 But what was that? What unheard 0
 sound disturbed the sleeper? Was it per