The Dickinson press., 1894-11-10

6lON u0u VAu AAVAA gA0 A0OUA 0VVkye
from the broken roof Of which rose
moval Of debris, and 8teinhardt was
discovered stretched on the floor, q dis.
colored and blasted wreck!It wal an
awful sight! Here In his own cherished
sanctuary, had the vengeance of God
leaped forth at him from beneath his
hands; for a smashed iron retort, which
he had been manipulating lay close by
him! His strong nerves had been shak-
en- by the approach Of the crowd.
II came to tell him." said the watch
man In a hushed voice. that tn crowd
was in. He said. Go to tn devil. and
leave me alone!' and I was just gone
away when the explosion came"
My story is in effect finished. But
for the satisfaction of those who
would like to see the loose ends Of its
web taken up and tied l must add a
page or two.
After legal process Of Identification
and inquest, the ghastly remains Of
the two partners. Lacroix and Stein
hardt, the VICTIM and his murderer.
the family tomb. the other IN the OBJ
6CuEo u4V0A0SSk0SE% 0AVuA~ VI SA0
churchyard. This done. the affairs Of
the firm were wound up.
In the necessary examination Of all
papers some letters and documents
were found in a small safe In Stein.
hardt's "study" at Timperley Hail.
which sufficiently explain what still
needs explanation In the Lacroix mys-
tery-the substantial ground Of offence
on which the partners met on that TO-
tai night. and the unwavering resolu-
ton of Steinhardt to get Louise mar.
ried to his son. The letter which came
first In order OF date made clear n
side at least Of the quarrel. 1t wal
from I.acroix to Steinhardt. and was
dated "T'aris. March 8, 1882" 1t vas
was evidently in reply to one from
Steinhardt, containing a proposal at.
fecting I.ouise-what proposal will
readily be guessed. This Mr.. Lacroix
warmly declined to entertain, and beg.
ged it would not be again mentioned.
MY daughter" he wrote us promis-
ed to her cousin, the Count De Lacr0tx.
As for the 100000 damages, that must
be rcckoned q joint business loss; there
a surely be no doubt about that. I
hope we have done for the future with
playing tricks with that patent"
The next letter, of date several days
later, was Of great interest at least
to Louise and me. It al stained and
blurred us with some liquid dye; 1t had
douptlsss been taken Ivy Steinhardt
from Lacroix's papsop after death. II
was addressed to Mile. De LacrQixy'
it was written on fine foreign" paper
with crest and motto, and contained
many polite and gallant expressions Of
| the Count De Lacroix's devotion to
his lovely cousin, whom he said, he
hoped 10 come and dee In the summer.
How was it he had never come?-never
even been heard Of?
These questions were answered ~
a second letter from the count, dated
in May. 1882, and addressed to Mr..
Lacroix, and by the postscript Of q let
ter of about the same date, written
in German, though from Paris. and
addressed to Steinhardt. The counts
letter excused him TO his dear uncle
from paying his promised visit; he
was too III To think Of leaving France.
The letter to steinhardt was evil
IDENTIFY from q compatriot. It was
mainly about business aftaifS,
its matter of interest to W.
was squeezed into a corner: You ask
me about the Count Lacroix. I learn
he is still basy killing himself with alb
sinthe."
Lastly, came the mos. Astounding
communication of all. 1t was dated
several months later, in the N0vem-
Der, I thiRk, Of 1882. 1t was from q
Paris lawyer. who apparently had the
management Of the Count De lScroix
affairs. In q few words It informed
Mr.. Lacroix that the young count
Honore was dead, and saluted Count
Paul, his successor! Gle roi est mart:
yive le roi.") And the congratulated
Count was dead, too! With this letter
were tied up two d. three legal docu'
mert., Of which I cannot attempt
much account. though they are now in
my possession. They WsSe = copy OF
cerufcnte of the death Of Hopa,Ee
Marie A%ntoinette, Count De I.acr0f1.
ard certain papers showing OF what
the Dc Lacroix property consisted
chateau. estates and rents-and Will
them, finally, lases ps9te from the
lawyer TO Steinhardt, who lad evil
IDENTIFY apprisad him of LacrOix:g ais
appearance and of the half fact tina
In the meantime ~ was guardian o.
Paul's heiress.
by Georga% exclaimed Bk1ey. Ehpr
we had made the liscOy cry, but MAp
uel was q tough schemer! He was DE
termined to set his lad up % q FrensI
Count, with o chateau and all the res
o't!
yentured to doubt whether Louise
husbAHd would be CoSht p2 L4crol1
though Louise certainly was h ID
heritrix Of the chateaa sQd the rest.
DO YOU mean to tell ms theR, tn
lass is not a countess" he exclaimed.
That I could not declare, though
. was certain no handsomer OF sweet
er eouatess could be found In tn
True for you, my lad" said be
"and you're in the luck OF It."
!. 1t may be absurd to say TINT for
time this discovery Of Louise's ranl
and wealth, filed me with melanchol
and misgiving. I was proud Of he
greatness, but 1 feared I had no RICH
. to seek to share it. Who was I? !
poor; commonplace curate. whose opl