Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-04-02

II my coat OuQJy enough L ndLneu
you as executor. knew that you had
loved the mother, though, as God is my
Judge, did not know 1t when I mar
ried her. But am ready If you are.
"Thus we stood up and fred at each
other. The startling news just received
made my aim bad. for instead of hitting
him In the heart, as could easily have
done, ny bullet struck him in the head
He fell, and l rushed toward him, 10
discover whethes n, was badly hurt.
he was bleeding profusely, and hasti-
ly bandaged up the wound and SO stop
ped the flow Of blood then went on
TO the next mining camp beyond. We
returned with a litter. and took him
back There was man among us who
claimed that he had studied medicine,
and be attended my cousin. He removed
the bullet. and found that the wound
was not very deep, but the skull was
fractured. He was Ill for two months,
and then slowly recovered his health.
But his reason was entirely gone. / took
him to New Orleans and placed him in
an asylum, and there he has been ever
since.
"Very good, Mr.. Mitchell" said Mr..
Barnes. But what proof have you that
you are not the father and the lunatic
the innocent cousin, as so many believe"
why, in the first place, though we
had the same name, we are totally un-
like in feature. think Mr.. Neuilly
will admit that he would not have REQ
ognized me, and he knew the guilty
man. However, we will take that up
later I have no fear of not proving my
identity. Too many people in New Or
leans know me. To continue my tale, I
determined to get possession Of the
child. Ilmew that the Montalbon would
resist and that would find 1t difficult
10 prove my story. More than all, l
knew that could not obtain legal pos
session Of her without disclosing the Sc
cret Of her birth, which l wished to
avoid for her own sake as well as for
her mothers. therefore stole her open
ly In the streets. Detectives were sent
out to search for me, but perhaps Mr..
Barnes will testify that / am not much
afraid of detectives. Perhaps. too, he
will understand better now why know
something about detective methods. /
led them dance for two years, until in
disgust they abandoned the search.
Then went abroad, for must tell you
that as long as / was bounded / re-
mained close at band. enjoyed the ex-
oitement. It made me forget, or at least
it gave me occupation
"I remained In Europe until my re
cent return to New York. 1t was not
very long after that when 1 received
the letter from Montalbon and the
photograph which ! showed to you. I
recognized the picture, though. Of course.
/ should not have known the signature,
which was Rose Mitchell / did not fear
tho woman, but expected some enjoy
ment at her discontinue when I should
tell her to do her worst. was not pre-
pared for what occurred. When she met
me, she began by saying:
81 have not the least idea Of at
tempting 10 blackmail you. though per
haps could do that But have that to
sell which l think you would be glad
10 buy l asked what it was, and she
told me:
A certificate Of marriage between
your cousin and the child's mother, q
certificate Of marriage between him and
myself. antedating that, and another
certificate Of marriage between myself
and another man who was alive at the
time that inveigled your cousin into
marrying me.
"Great heavep" exclaimed Mr..
Neuilly. IF she had those papers. they
would prove that her marriage to your
cousin was illegal. and that would
make tho marriage to Roses mother
perfectly regular.
Exactly 30. paid the woman f10,
900, or the equivalent Of that sum. for
those documents We're they not worth
itf'
Indeed, indeed they are l would
have given twice the sum-
"Now let mo show you tho audacity
Of tho woman. She told mo that in case
/ should refuse to pay her price ahe in
tended to claim me as her husband, ex
hibiting her certificate and leaving me
TO prove II could that she had married
my cousin and not myself. This, you
sec, would have been most unpleasant,
and M tho papers wcre well worth the
price, IN clearing the name Of my cousin
aud his wife and child, paid over tho
money"
II must again ask you" said Mr..
Barnes. "for proof that you are not tho
woman's husband.
docs not the fact that she sold me
those papers indicate thatp'
mot nt all, " replied tho detective.
Surprising you to be really her hus-
band wishing to be married to Miss
Ronsen, you would readily pay the
woman her price for tho paper which
proved that your marriage to her had
been fraudulent You might have found
II difficult 10 prove the existence Of her
first husband without knowing his name,
eYon though sbe had given you the hint
that there was such person.
Il declare, Mr. Barnes. yoa nre
doubling Thomas But will give you
ono moro bit Of evidence" Ho went 10
his desk and returned with some papers.
Here II "a confession which eIacted
from the woman at the time that made
tho bargain with her. You SEQ, 1t con
firms my story. But even that you
might think manufactured Here pcr-
haps Is better proof. This" handing it
TO Mr.. Neuilly, "is tho certificate Of tho
marriage between my cousin and tho
Montnlhon Az III sometimes done, you
500. the woman has pasted the likenesses
Of herself and my cousin upon the pa-
"a,
not that the man who was known 20
your"
"You are quito right. Mr.. Mitchell l
recognize tho face perfectly. This is tho
man have all along supposed TO DO IA
consummate villain. Now l must con-
fess that he was moro Binned againBt
than SHINING His ono crime was drink
ing, and the ENHANCEMENT which
wrecked his wifo's life and his own was
but wicl4od plot Of which he was in
uocent / am glad that II iB 80, M 1t
leaves tho dear little girl without the
danger Of hereditary taint" "
Come, Mr. Barnes. said Mr.. Mitch
81, What have you to say nowf"
Mr.. Barnes reply was calculated to
startle his hearers but seemed to have
little effect he said
"Mr. Mitchell, who do you think
killed Rose MitchelY'
IL don Z think am bound to answer,
replied Mr.. Mitchell quickly.
IL wish you Vood afternoon. said