Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1906-10-19


an inviting prospect at the latter end of
October, Ell, Cousin RobertT
81 did not imagine we were going there
for pleasure"
'Pessimist! Do neither the 'Prinz Won
Preussen' nor the 'GOldner Adler well
spoken Of as Baedeker describes these
hostelFies, attract you? Then the dye
works, they are sure to be interesting"
Henry Graden," cried l with deter
minatlon, you try me too far! am as
eager as yourself that this criminal
should be brought to justice. For this
reason alone l have every right to know
the why and wherefore of an expedition
which will entail upon me- as see clear
ly, the most extraordinary discomforts."
1T seems a pity, my dear cousin, that
Nature, which endowed you with so many
admirable qualities, should have omitted
the saving grace of humor," he rejoined.
And then changing his tone to a greater
sobriety: you shall hear all that know
or conjecture. 1t will, at least, help US
on our journey.
First, as to the facts at my disposal,
For myself, had heard much of Rudolf
Marnac, but only as a Heidelberg pro-
lessor Of distinction, whose stupendous
effort, Science and Belief had set edu-
Gated Europe by the ears. From you
learned of his quarrel with Won Stock
mar, quarrel originating in the latter's
attack on the work in question, of which
Marnac was Unfortunately vain. Then
came the chain of facts that proved-to
our mind at least-that Marnac had muir
dered his colleague with a diabolical in
genuity. Could such q crime be inspired
by quarrel so trihing2 1t was almost
past belief. Further evidence was nee
essary; and this evidence the inVestiga-
tons of the police have supplied.
when 1 learned that his father, Jean
Marnac, had died in a Paris asylum, l
began to see my way. But 1t was the
statements Of his servants that cleared
up my last doubt. An eccentricity which
at one time amused them had of late
been changed to a violence that filed
them with terror. He had presented
them with copies of the book, deliberately
bound. A hOusekeeper who had served
him for twenty years was loaded with
abuse and discharged because the old
creature admitted that she could not fol-
low his arguments. He was the victim
Of 4 partial mania. Such cases are not
uncommon.
whittier had this dangerous creature
fled2 1t seemed a mystery insoluble,
He was well provided with money; on
all topics but one he was admirably sens
ible, The police admitted that he had
beaten them. But only yesterday OBJ
tanned a clue. 1t may be valueless; but
for myself think otherwise. At least It
is worth the journey am asking you to
make in my company.
"At my urgent request the police ad-
mitted me to his rooms. His papers
they had already examined, without re-
suit. found that he possessed a fine
library. am a boOk-loveF, and my first
step was to examine it. Tucked away in
a corner Of a shelf, yet within easy reach
Of his customary chair, found a VolS
ume 1t was typical Of the man that Il
should be elegantly bound. Within were
collected the hostile criticisms with which
his hook had heen loaded. The moge
severe were scribBled over with the Vlest
epithsts. Won Stockmar was personally
threatened, as was MISC a certain Mech
ersky, aSprofessor Of the Imperial Uni
versity at Petersburg. l distracted the
volume. You may like to examine it."
He drew it from the capaeious pocket
of his travelling ulster and gave 1t to me-
The cover was of the choicest morocco;
upon it, in gold, were emblazoned the
arms of the university. 1t was a triumph
Of the binders art, yet l handled it with
singular feeling of disgust.
The interior was oddly divided. The
greater part consisted of clippings from
papers and magazines, neatly gummed
upon blank pages. But here and there
were interpolated pamphlets, held in
their place by elastic bands. In contrast
with this orderly arrangement, scarcely
page but was defaced by penciled re-
marks, satirical or abusive. ran through
them hastily until came upon the arti-
Gle which bore Mechersky's name, ex-
tracted apparently from some French re-
view. Its severity seemed to have dashed
Marnac to fury. 1t was covered with
maze of pencilings. But my attention
was soon conferred on a portion of the
text which, being underlined in red, stood
out from the page with some prominence.
"The author of Science and Belief" for
thus 1t ran, seems to have lost touch
with humanity. His deductions might be
correct If men were bloodless, merciless
automatons. He regards them as might
some reptile-let us say, a toad sctentif-
ically inclined" Across this criticism.
which seemed to me unnecessarily severe,
was written in German: Infamous
scoundrel! Would that l might crush
you like a tOadp'
"A curious WISH" said, pointing to
the passage.
sand from Marnac a most dangerous
one" he answered. 81 can only hope we
shall reach Lemsdorf In time"
"LemsdOrf again! And why Lens
dorfT"
"FOr the excellent reason, Cousin Rob
ert, that Mechersky, who comes Of land
owning Polish stock, Is holiday-making at
Castle Oster, a place he has In that
neighborhood. And as sure as sit here,
where Mechersky is, there will be that
mailman, Rudolf Marnac. II he means
to murder the man, he viii have had
nigh on a month to bring it off. Heaven
grant that we're in timer
The tone in which he spoke thrilled
me with a dreadful anxiety. The danger
was inde6nsble; but fear draws its dark
est terrors from the unknown.
"One thing more" l said. How did
you discover Mechersky's whereabouts? ?"