Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1902-07-03


he did for his partnerl"
"For Gods sake" ! exclaimed.
Don't think Of such thing IL will
be murder, as certainly AZ his crime
vast,
but my femonstrance was not heed
ed; was put aside respectfully, but
firmly. The crowd pressed on toward
the laboratory. They had not advanced
far In that direction, when an explosion
burst upon the air, stunned us all, and
threw the foremost 10 the ground.
Many ran away, others went forward
! with there last. II did not take long
to discover that the explosion had come
from the laboratory, from the broken
roof Of which roee strange vapors. A
little work, and removal OF debris, and
Steinhardt was discovered stretched on
the floor, discolored and blasted
wreck II was an awful sight! Here,
In his own cherished sanctuary, had
the vengeance OF God leaped forth at
him from beneath his own hands; for
q smashed iron retoTt, which he had
been manipulating, lay close by him!
His strong nerves had been shaken by
the approach OF the crowd.
~ came to tell him, said the watch
man In hushed voice, "that tn crowd
was In. He said, Go 10 tn devil, and
leave mo alonev and l was just goAe
away when tn explosion came"
My story Ia in effect finished. But
for the satisfaction OF those who would
like 20 see the loope ends OF its web
taken up and tied must add page or
two.
After legal process OF Identification
and inquest, the CHASTITY remains OF the
two partners, Lacroix and steinhardt,
the victim and his murderer, were
buried, the one with his uncle in the
family tomb, the other in the obscure
unconsecrated ground OF the church
yard. This done, the affairs OF the
firm we're wourd up.
In the necessary examination OF all
papers some letters and documents were
found In small Eafe in Steinhardt's 3
study" at Timperley Hall, which suf-
ficiently explain what still needs ex-
plenation In the Lacroix mystery--the
substantial ground of offense on which
the partners met ON that fatal night,
and the unwavering resolution OF Stein.
hardt to get Louise married TO his son.
The letter which came first In order oil
date made clear one side at least of the
quarrel. II was from Lacroix to Stein
hardt, and was dated "Paris, March
Srd, 1882" II WAS evidently In reply
10 one from steinhardt, containing q
proposal affecting Louise-what pro-
posal will readily be guessed. This
Mr., Lacroix warmly declined to enter
tain, and begged II would not again be
mentioned.
"My daughter" he wrote, sis prom
ised to her cousin, the Count De la.
croix. As for the 20, 900 pounds dam.
ages, that must be reckoned joint bus
mess loss; there can surely be no doubt
about that. 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 tc
Louise and me. 1t was stained and
blurred as with some liquid dye; II had
doubtless been taken by Steinhardt
from Lacroix's person after death. II
was addressed to "Mmlle De Lacroix -
il was written on fine "foreign" paper
with crest and motto, and contained
many gallant and polite expressions oI
the Count De Lacroix's devotion to his
lovely cousin--whom, he said, he hoped
to come and SEQ in the summer. How
was IL he had never come2-never even
been heard Off
These questions were answered by O
second letter from the count, dated in
May, 1882, and addressed to Mr.. La.
croix, and by the postscript OF letter
OF about the same date, written in Ger.
man though from Paris, and addressed
to Steinhardt. The counts letter ex.
cused him to his "dear uncle" from
paying his proposed visit; he was toe
i'll to think Of leaving France. The
letter to Steinhardt was evidently from
compatriot. It was mainly about
business affairs; its matter of interest
for us was squeezed into a corner
"You ask me about the Count De La,
croix. l learn he is still busy killing
himself with absinthe."
Lastly came the astonishing commu'
nication OF all. 1t was dated severa
months later, in the November, think
OF 1882. 1t was from Paris lawyer
who evidently had the management o.
the De Lacroix affairs. In a few words
it informed Mr.. LaCroix that the young
Count Honore was dead, and salutec
Count Paul, his successorl ("Le roi
est mort ;-vive le roi," And the con,
graduated count was dead tool With
this letter were tied up two or three
legal documents, OF which cannot at
tempt much account, though they are
now in my possession. They were a
copy of certificate of the death OF Hon
ore Marie Antoinetto, Count De La
croix, and certain papers showing o.
what the De Lacroix property consisted
chateau, estates and rents land with
them, finally, later note from the
lawyer to Steinhardt, who had evi
IDENTIFY apprised him of Mr.. Lacroix'l
Disappearance" and of the half-fact
! that in the meanwhile he was guardian
|, OF Paul's heiress.
"By George!" exclaimed Birley, wher
t we had made this discovery, "bu
Manuel was tough schemer He wal
} determined to set his lad up as
. French count, with a chateau and al
| the rest o't"
/ ventured to doubt whether LOUISE
r husband would be Count De Lacroix
though Louise certainly was the inher