The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-12-04

'Wny.'
Jacques Dantin seemed to hesitate.
II do not know-chance. In Paris one
has Intimate friends: one does not see
! them for some months. and suddenly
one sees them again and II meets
, them more frequently"
Have you ever had any reasons for
the Interruptions in your relations with
NJ. RoTere when you ceased to see him
as you say"
None whatever"
WAS there between you any sort Of
rivalry. any motive for coldness?"
Amy motive, any rivalry? h do
you mean?"
II do not Know" said the great man;
Il ask you. / am questioning you"
The registrars pen ran rapidly and
noiselessly over the paper with the
speed of a bird on the wing.
These words. II am questioning YOU"
seemed to make an unexpected dts
agreeable impression on Dantin. and he
frowned.
when did you visit Revere the last
time?"
THE last time?"
Yes. Strive to remember"
Two or three days before the MUIR
der"
1T was not two or three days; it
was two days exactly before the as
s~assination."
You are right. I beg your pardon"
The examining magistrate waited a
moment, looking the man full In the
face. 1t seemed to him that a slight
nush passed over his hitherto pale face.
DO you suspect any one as the muir
derer of Rovere?" asked NJ. Ginory aft
er a moments reflection.
NO one" said Dantin. II have tried
to think of some one"
Had Revere any enemies?"
II do not know of any
The magistrate swung around by a
detour habitual with him to jacques
Dantin's last visit to the murdered man
and begged him to be precise and asked
him IL anything had especially struck
him during that last interview with his
friend.
THE idea of suicide having been i'm
mediately dropped on the simple exam
nation of the wound. no doubt exists
as to the cause of death. Revere was
ass%assinated. BY whom? In your last
interview was there any ak between
you of any uneasiness which he felt i'm
with any especial affair? Had he-some-
times one has presentiments-any pre-
sentiment OF an impending evil. that he
was running any %danger?"
NO" Dantin replied. "Rovere made
no allusion to me OF any peril which he
feared. 1 have asked myself who could
nave II interest in his death. One
might have done the deed for plumber"
That seems very probable to me-
said the magistrate. but the examina-
ton a In the apartment proves that
not a thing had been touched. Theft
was not the motive"
"Then?" asked Dantin.
The sanguine fact of the magistrate,
that robust visage. with its massive
Jaws, lighted up with a sort of i~ron!cal
expression.
Then we are here to search for the
u A n ma IN G1.1 "tA,y E
made tn a hooking tone, the registrar.
who knew every varying shade of tone
In his chiefs voice, raised his head. for
in this o he detected a menace.
VIII you tell me all that passed in
that last interview?"
Nothing whatever which could I'm
any way put Justice on the track of the
criminal
But yet can you. or rather 1 should
say ough you, no to relate to me all
that was said or done? The slightest
circumstance might enlighten u.s.
spoke to me of private af-
fairs" Dantin replied. but quickly add
ed, They were insignificant things
What are insignificant tnings?"
"Remembrances-family Matters"
Family things are not insignificant,
above all in a case like this. Had Ro-
we're any family? No relative assisted
ut the ~Obsequies."
SoSSuCS DdIlllIl seemed 1fOuDIo0. IN
nerved rather. and this time 1t was
plainly visible. He replied in a shor,
tone. which was almost brusQue:
lie talked of the past"
What past?" asked the Judge quick.
~.
"of his youth-of moral debts"
M. Ginory turned around in his chair
leaned ack and said in a caustic tone:
Truly. monsieur. you certainly ought
to complete your information and no,
make an enigma of your deposition.
do not understand this useless reticence
and moral debts, to use your words
They are only to gain time. What
then. was NJ. Rovere's past?"
Dantin hesitated a m~oment-not YER,
long. Then he firmly said. That. Nj
lie juEe. is a secret confded to me b,
my friend, and as 1t has nothing to dc
with this matter 1 ask you to refrain
from questioning me about it."
! =! beg your pardon" the magistrat.
replied. There is not. there cannot be
q secret for an examining magistrate
. In Rovere's interests, whose memor,
!, ought to lave public vindication-yes
, IN his interests. and I ought to say also
In your own-it Is necessary that yo,
should state explicitly what you have
Just alluded to. You tell me that there
Is e secret. I wish to know it,"
1T is the confidence Of a dead per
son. monsieur" Dantin replied IL
vibrating tones
E There are no condolences when jus
E tice is in the balance"
But 1t is also the secret OF a Twin,
E person." said Jacques Dantin.
rs 1t yourself of whom you speak?'
He gazed keenly at the face, now tor
tured and contracted.
Dantin replied, mo. I do not spcal
of myself. but of another"
4 THAT other-who is hep"
1T is impossible to tell you"
Impossible"
1 II viii repeat to you my first ques
tion-why??"
Because ! have sworn on my homo
Y TO reveal 1t to no one"
"Ah, ah!" said Ginory mockingly
1T was a vow? That is perfect"
Yes. NJ. lie Juge: it was a VOW"
"A vow made to whom?"
T Revere"
1 Who is nc longer here to releas
you from 1t. I understand"
And" asked Dantip. with a vehe
mence which made the registrars thil
hand tremble as 1t few over the papel
what do you understands"
Pardon" said NJ. Ginory. "Yo,
are not here to put questions. but t
answer those which are asked you.
Is certain that a vow which binds tn
= holder Of a secret is a means of de