Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1908-01-10
q r a n v III e

-'' uieBulseu, owing to his smoothly
snaven face, he appeared to be younger.
lie was rather above the middle height.
ana though somewhat narrow across the
shoulders, the great depth Of his chest
MADE ample amends for this deficiency.
MS hair was cut very short to permit of
ms more readily wearing the various wigs
by which he frequently concealed his iden-
tity' Ills mouth was well cut, the lips
thin and somewhat pursed together, as
is otten the habit with men who pass
much time in thinking. His nose was
large and very prominent His hands
and feet small and rather delicate His
voice singularly soft and gentle his man
ner that OF man entirely at ease, and Of
one who thoroughly understands his busi-
ness
He sat quite Still in the easy chair to
which DR.. Mason had motioned him on
his arrival. 1t was not until the latter
had given him the outlines of the case
that he spoke at oil, and then he said:
We will begin by promising certain
state of facts. Madame Roupel has been
murdered. Who did it? Public opinion
says your friend Van Lith. always mis-
trust public opinion. The prefect Of po-
lice is not at all sure but Monsieur Cha
bot had hand in it. / sometimes mis-
trust the prefect of police"
You mean to imply that both may be
wrong" inquired the doctor.
Yes, and il am right, 1t leaves us
confronting two alternatives"
And they are?
Either that the unfortunate woman
committed suicide while of unsound
mind. or that the crime Is the act Of
third party to us at present unknown
Il can dispose Of the first Of those sup
positions Immediately" said the doctor.
Madame Roupell's mind was as sound
as yours or mine is at the present mo-
ment."
Let US proceed to an examination Of
the body. l have provided myself with
written permit to break the SEALS" said
the detective. Lead the way, please"
They entered the chamber of death.
Nothing had been disturbed since the visit
Of the prefect. Alfred Cassagne took
rapid survey Of the room. He advanced
to the bedside, and commenced a 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 window e1-
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 gout.
do you see anything peculiar about
it" asked Cassagne. do you not no
tice an entire absence Of natural crys-
tallization?"
The doctors face turned pale as q
sheet his lips twitched nervously.
SioWb uOlc uOlIlDlc anu
more mysterious than ever. 1t is impos-
sible to mistake your meaning. This
wound was inflicted after DEATH" he eI-
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 person Is in
a comatose condition"
ut 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 a wound crystalline or not?"
1T Is possible that 1t might crystalline
somewhat, II the person wounded, while
in a comatose condition, was young and
healthy. In the case Of an old and fee
BILE 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"
"In 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?"
1--WE will find it." said Cassagne. "Give
me your help here"
1--WE had better look for a confusion
of some sort. Insensbility could be pro-
duced by sharp blow on the back of the
head, or under the ear" remarked DR..
Mason.
81 am not Of that opinion" replied
Cassagne. II have already looked there
There is no swelling Of any kind on the
back Of the head, and as she is dressed In
demi-toilette, 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 small one, indeed,
to escape the examination Of so good a
surgeon as Monsieur Croizet"