The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-11-16
CONTINUED.
CHAPTER XIV.
A DEED OF BLOOD.

It was now nearly midnight, and deep
silence reigned in and about the auberge
Of Les Bons Amis-a silence unbroken
saved by the hoarse croaking of the bull
frogs in the marsh away beyond the
cornfelds.
It was a world in miniature very
microcosm-that peaceful village inn,
for within it's walls this summer night
every phase of human life was repre-
sented. Faith, hope and charity dwelled
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 mad looked that
night and of which she was to witness
yet another.
Within the house every one was asleep
save Remond and mis- confederate. They
had spent some time in o!ling and clean
ing the KEY, which had apparently not
been used for SOME time. aua :ow were
quite ready foT their vi',asssous enter
prise. They had decided to wait till half
past II, and as the sound of the church
clock Ginning the appointed hopr rang
out clearly across the stillness os ths
summer night they silently arose and
left the room. I'hess was "a, need to
speak-even had not every word been
danger. They knew What ts'ev intended
doing, and words wssF sCrsr:s,1ous. It
had been decided that Ram9n6 should
unlock the door, as that required steady
hand and cool iserves-the least jar in the
lock might lose them s,l-end 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, tlze small easement
windows.
As they passed the dcc- 6: the -ocm
where Mario was. they paused and lis.
tened anxiously. It was important shs
should be asleep. They were soon -ea<-
sured by her regular breathing and per-
feet stiffness. The poor hunted creature
had for time escaped from her troubles
in the blessed forgetfulness Of sleep.
They had not long to delay at M. Ger
menil's door. They quickly satisfied
themselves that he was asleep and then
went to work at once. Bertrand took
from his pocket very small dark Ian
tern, such as is used by burglars, and
turned the light SO that it fell direc lily
On the keyhole, while Remond ascertain
ed by gently inserting straw into the
aperture that the key had been removed
from the lock. Poor NJ. Germenil 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
safer to take the key>put, and it now lay
beside his black pocketbook, one corner
of which peeped from under his pillow.
Poor. i'll fated, kind hearted M. Germe-
nil, those dread shears will soon be
closed!
Well, the lock being empty, Remond
skillfully and noiselessly inserted the key
he carried. A moments pause, and the
strong, steady, practiced hand of the
robber turned it. Another moments
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