The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-10-26
THE ,
Brangwyn Mystery

The staircase was trifle dim just
there, and Alexis turned on the landing
to peer downward at the person who
accosted him. 1t was the shabby fig
ure Of the street below, but Alexis
looked at him with no recognition.
The man was not addressed for his
apparent station in life, but he was
travel stained, and his face was In
dusty sweat. He shuffled on his feet
under Alexis's gaze, and the sound he
made on the stone stair proclaimed
plainly enough that his boots were
broken.
"Halloa!" said Alexis "Who are
you? What do you want?'
Monsieur has forgotten me-" said
the other. 81 am Lepellitier."
"Lepellitier? don't know you.
What do you want?"
Il have q message from Grimaud,
monsieur"
From Grimaud?" asked Alexis.
"And when did you get your message
from Grimaud, my friend?"
To-day" said the man, after mo-
mentary but noticeable hesitation.
"Ah!" replied Alexis. Come in
side. l must see little more of you"
He opened the door and stood aside
| for his interlocutor to enter. 'You
are Lepelletier, are you? And you
bring me a message from Grimaud?"
But yes, monsieur" the man an
swered, standing before him and twist
ing his cap in both hands. Il am
Lepelletier, and l have a message
| from Grimaud."
"Tenez donc," said Alexis. 81 begin
to think l know you. You are an old
convict, n'est-ce pas?"
But yes, monsieur" said the man,
still twisting his cap in both hands.
Il am an old forcat, as you come to
| say, and / am here to represent Grim
| aud"
"And when did you get your author
| ity to represent Grimaud?"
To-day, monsieur"
"You are a liar, my friend" said
Alexis, quietly. "Grimaud was muir
dered at Manor Vantage at half-past
9 o'clock on the night of Saturday last.
They bury him tomorrow"
"Ah!" the man answered. coolly.
"They have identified him?"
YES" Alexis answered, ''he is iden-
tiled. And now, don't you think, my
friend you had better go?"
Coz" asked the man, with quiet in
science. Go where? To the police?
To the cousin of monsieur? Listen,
monsieur. / am worth your consid
GRAFTON. Neither monsieur himself
nor monsieur the cousin of monsieur
would desire to have trouble over an
| affair which has been buried for so
many years. It is true that Grimaud
has gone, but l am here to represent
him. l am discreet. l can hold my
| tongue. 1t is worth while to ask me
to hold my tongue. 1t would have
been worth Grimaud's while to have
recognized the hold l have. But he
| " ould not; and as consequence, mon
sieur, l succeeded to that unfortunate's
estate"
"You villain" said Alexis, "do you
confess"
| T confess nothing, monsieur. only
say that If Grimaud had been little
more considerate to an old COM
| rade@"
"You killed him?" said Alexis, in a
choking whisper.
"Well!" the man answered. II see
no value in denial. Yes, Monsieur
Brangwyn, killed him. And | am
here to take his place. can hold my
tongue as well as he could, and what
he knew I know l will go now for a
hundred francs, and will give you an
address to which you can send more
| tomorrow"
Alexis drew out his purse, and
| poured little stream of gold upon the
table. It was more by far than the
I man had asked for, but he did not
pause to count it.
| 60" he cried hoarsely. go! And
| IL you set value on your life never let
me see your face again."
( II will write, monsieur, tonight" he
said, and saluting in military fashion.
he went away.
heard the outer door close behind him.
Then he cast himself upon couch as
| II he were diving into water, and
| broke into q a long fit of passionate
| weeping.
"Oh. vain fool!" he cried, vain fool!
vain fool! When I saw Grimaud's face
this afternoon thought the long ago.
nv OF fear was over. No help. No
help. No rest. No peace. Never,
never. Never on this side the gravel"
~nAarEo WIN