Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-08-22
G r a n v i | 1 e

Nothing had been disturbed since the visit
Of the project. Alfred Cassagne took
rapid survey Of the room. He advanced
to the bedside, and commenced minute
inspection Of the body of the murdered
woman.
He carefully removed the bandages
from the wound in the head; he turned
the body over so that the light from the
window fell full upon the face of the dead
woman. revealing in the strong sunlight
each line and shadow already showing
in their marked change of the lineaments
the inevitable approach Of decay. Taking
out his penknife, Cassagne carefully re-
moved one of the clots OF blood which had
accumulated near the entrance of the
wound. and walking to the windoE ex-
amined it through a small magnifying
glass which he took from his pocket.
Presently he said
Doctor look at that blood ~
DR.. Mason took the magnifying glass
and the penknife and gazed steadfastly
upon the little red govt.
do you see anything peculiar about
it's" asked Cassagne. DO you not no
tice an entire absence of natural crys-
tallization|'
The doctors face turned pale as a
sheet; his lips twitched nervously.
This crime grows more horrible and
more mysterious than ever. 1t is impos-
sible to mistake your meaning. This
wound was inflicted after DEATH" he ex
claimed. THE blood is certainly what
we call in the profession dead blood "
And is that not often the case where
a wound is inflicted when a person is in
a comatose condition."
1T might be-" replied the physician.
II have known the phenomenon of total
suspension of the circulation in comatose
bodies"
And in such case, would blood flowing
from wound crystalline or not?"
1T is possible that it might crystalline
somewhat if the person wounded, while
in a comatose condition, was young and
healthy. In the case of an old and fee
bic woman, like Madame Roupell, l
should consider it extremely doubtful. In
the present instance, by means of the
glass. one can plainly discern that no
capitalization has taken place"
I'm fact, that this wound was inflicted
after the wound which produced either
death or insensibility?" said the detec-
tive.
Exactly So" replied the physician.
THE question now is, where is that
wound?"
I'VE will find it, said Cassagne. Give
me your help here"
I'VE had better look for a confusion
of some sort. Insensibility could be pro-
duced by sharp blow on the back of the
head. or under the ear remarked DR.
Mason.
Il am not of that opinion" replied
Cassagpe. Il have already looked there
There is no swelling of any kind on the
back of the head and as she Is dressed in
demi-toiette, it is easy to see that no
injury has been inflicted to the upper
part of the spinal cord"
For what kind of wound shall we
search? 1t must be a small one. indeed,
to escape the examination of so good a
surgeon as Monsieur Crozet."
unfortunately Monsieur Croizet," re-
piled Cassagne, with curious smile. SIS
a surgeon only. He is not a detective
He is good at generalizations he fails
in particulars. The wound we must look
for, since you sound Monsieur Croizets
praises so highly, must be no larger than
a pencil point. Have You never heard of
the Venetian stiletto?"
mo, l cannot say that l have" an
swered DR.. Mason.
1T is an instrument made IF tough
ened glass, no thic'-er than a knitting
needle. When plunged into a victim, it
can be broken short off in the flesh which
closes around it, so that it is hard to tell
how death supervenes. Many such deaths
have undoubtedly been charged to apo
plexy, and other causes"
us it possible?" calculated the physi-
clan.
Not only possible but more than prob
able Let US instantly begin our search
for such a weapon. There will not be
drop of blood visible. Death generally
ensues from internal hemorrhage, unless
the stiletto reaches the heart, when, of
course, the victim dies instantly. Turn
her 'er on her face" said the detective
"She may have been wounded in the
back"
This was done. and they carefully ex-
amined that portion of the body. For the
first time Dr. Mason's blind faith in the
skill of the man he had employed began
to show signs of wavering. He little
knew CassagnC's marvellous resources
The doctor had left the body and was
standing over by the window, again ex-
amining the blood on the penknife through
| the magnifying glass. A slight exclama-
| ton from the bed caused him to glance
| in that direction.
he could hardly repress a cry of sur
| prise He held his breath almost, so anx-
| iously did he await the result of an ex-
| pertinent that Casagne had put in opera
| ton. With his eyes closed and with his
| head raised very much after the style of
/ a blind man reading from a raised-letter
| book, the detective was moving his fingers,
| soft and delicate as a young girls, over
the cold, stiff body of the murdered Won
| an. DR.. Mason knew in an instant that
| he was about to depend upon his sense
| of touch to find the tiny wound that his
eyes had failed to detect.
For over minute the two men remain
ed in their relative positions. Then the
voice of Cassagne was heard. breaking
the silence. which had grown almost pain
| full in its intensity:
Il am right. Madame Roupell was
| stabbed in the back"
CHAPTER VIII.
DR.. Mason. in his agitation, dropped
the penknfe and the magnifying glass
and rushed to the bedside.
.sTbe-a il the wOundE p ne calculated