The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-10-15
The Crime of '''E;;:' = !
& e. gss the Boulevard
CHAPTER /.
1oes Rernardet I've 2"

The a to whom a passerby had
given this information hurried away
in the direction pointed u Although
gasping for breath, he tried TO run, IN
order to more quickly reach the little
house 1t the end of the passage OF the
Elysee des Beaux Arts. This passage, a,
sort OF due de sac. on either side OF
which were black buildings, strange OLD
houses and dilapidated storehouses,
| opened upon a boulevard filled with iife
and movement, with people prom
enading, with the noise OF tramways'
with gayety and light.
The man wore the dress and had the
bearing OF O workman. He was very
short, very fat, n his bald head was
, barred to the warm october rain, he
was a workman. In truth, who worked
in his concierge lodge, making over
mending garments for his neighpors,
while his wife looked after the house.
swept the staifcases and complained OF
her lot. /.
Nine. Moniche found life hard and
disagreenble and regretted that II a
not given her what It promised when,
at is, and very pretty, h had expect
ed something better h to watch be-
side a tailor bent over his work In a
| concierge's lodge. Into her life q
tragedy had suddenly precipitated
/ itself, and Nine. Moniche found that
day something to brighten up her at
ternoon. Entering a m before
the apartment coupled by M. Revere,
she had .ound her ledger lying on his
back, his eyes fixed, his arms flung out,
with a cash across his throat.
M. Revere had lived alone in the
house for many years, receiving a few
mysterious persons. Mime. Moniche
looked after his apartment, entering by
using her own key whenever II was
necessary, and her ledger had given her
permission to come there at any time
to read the daily papers.
Nine. Moniche, hurried down the
stairs. .tt
I'M. Revere is dead! NJ. Revere has
been murdered! His throat has been
cut! He has been assassinated!" And
pursuing her husband out OF the door
h exclaimed: ~
THE police-go for the pollce!"
This word police" awakened in the
tailor's mind not the thought OF the
neighboring commissary, but the
thought OF the man to whom he felt
that he ought to appeal, whom he ought
TO consult. This mar was the good 1T
tie M. Bernardet, who passed for a man
OF genius of his kind at the Surete and
for whom Moniche had often repaired
coats and rehemmed trousers.
From the mansion in the Boulevard
de Clichy, where Moniche lived. to M
Bernardet's house was but a short dis
lance. and the concierge knew the way
very well, as he had often been there,
but the poor man was SO stupefted. sc
overwhelmed, by the sudden appear
ance of his wife in his room, by the
brutal revelation which came to him
as the blow OF a fist by the horrible
manner OF NJ. Rovere's death. hat hi
lost his head Mortified, GREATNESS, he
asked the first passerby where Der
nardet lived, and he ran as fast as hi
could in the direction pointed out.
Arrived at the grating, the worth,
man, a little confused, stopped short
He was very strongly moved, 1t seemed
to him that he had been cast into tn,
agony of a horrible nightmare. An as
4, sassinatien in the house,! A murder u
the Boulevard de Clichy In broad day
light, Just over his head. while he wa
quietly repairing a vest!
He stood at the house without ring
ing, M. Bernardet was. no doubt
breakfasting with his family. for II wa
Sunday. and the police officer. meetin.
Moniche the evening before. had sal,
, to him: Tomorrow is my birthday"
Moniche hesitated a moment. The
he rang the bell. He was not KEEP
: waiting. The sudden opening of TIL
. grating startled him. He pushed bacl
the door and entered. He crossed a If
/: tie court, at the end Of which was
o L pu u oullNC AlS Nv ~
and was met on the threshold by a III
tie woman, as rosy n fresh as a
{ apple, who. napkin in hand, gayly sa
{ luted him.
9 "Eh, M. Moniche!"
1t was Nine. Bernardo, a Burgundia
Q woman. about 80 years of ..ge, trir
and coquetttsh, who stepped back S
that the tailor could enter.
= What IS the matter, M. Moniche?"
& Poor Moniche rolled his frightene
Q eyes around and gasped out. IT mus
/ speak to M. Bernardet."
Nothing easter" said the littI
woman. IN. Bernardet is in the gal
den. Yes. he is taking advantage
the beautiful day. He Is taking
group
What group?".
Z You know very well photography
his passion. Come with me-"
j. And Nine. Rernardet pointed to tn
end of the corridor, where an open dot
= gave a glimpse OF the garden at Il
a rear OF the house. M. Bernardet. IL
Inspector, had posed his three daugl
ters with their mother about a sms
table. on which coffee had been serve
II had just gone in to get my ma
kin. when I heard you ring" Nm
. Bernardet said.
III Bernardet made a sign to Monicl
W not to advance. He was as plump al
"a 90 3dJrac hAo WIG Ills TllStdCHG /"
Z, red, his double chin smooth shayen al
~ rosy, his eyes had q sharp. cunniI
look. his head was round and close
cropped.
= The three daughters. clothed Xix
H. Scotch plaid. were posing in front of
Photographic apparatus which stood
q. a tripod. The eldest was about IL yea
= OF age, the youngest a child Of 5. TIL
were all three strangely alike.
OF NJ. Barnardet, in honor of his brit
day, was taking a picture of his daug
tors. The ferret who from morni
till night tracked robbers and ma
is, factors into their hiding places W
r5 taking his recreation In his damp ga
" den. The sweet idyl of this hidden !
repaid him for his u~nceasing investig
tons, for his trouble and fatigui
man hunts through Paris.
There" he said. ~clapplng the C
over the lens. THAT is all. Go a
Id. play now, my dears. am at your s,
:. vice now, Moniche."
He shut up his photograph appaI
tus, pulling out the tripod from
all deep soil in which It was imbedd
- while hts daughters joyously ran
their mother. The young girls ste