Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1908-04-17
u r a n v | | e

not disguised, owing to his smoothly |
snaven lace, he appeared to be younger.
lie was rather above the middle height.
and though somewhat narrow across the
shoulders, the great depth of his chest
made ample amends for this deficiency.
His hair was cut very short to permit of
MS more readily wearing the various wigs
by which he frequently concealed his iden-
tity. His mouth was we'll cut, the lips
thin and somewhat pursed together, as
is often 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 a man entirely at ease, and of
one who thoroughly understands his bust
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:
I'VE 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. project of po-
lice is not at all sure but Monsieur Cha
bot had hand in it. l sometimes mis-
trust the project of police"
"You mean to imply that both may be
wrong" inquired the doctor.
Eyes, and if 1 am right, it 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 a
third party to Us at present unknown
81 can dispose of the first of those sup
positions Immediately" said the doctor.
as yours or mine is at the present mo-
ment."
Let US proceed to an examination OF
the body. have provided myself with a
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 project. Alfred Cassagne took q
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 bandage'
from the wound in the head; he turned
the body over so that the light from tn
window fell full upon the face of the deaf
woman, revealing in the strong sunligh
each line and shadow already showing
in their marked change of the lineament
the inevitable approach of decay. Takin
out his penknife, Cassagne carefully re
moved one of the clots of blood which ha
, accumulated near the entrance OF tn
r wound. and walking to the window eS
1 amined it through a small magnlfyln
{. glass which he took from his pocket
{ Presently he said:
Doctor, look at that blood "
: DR.. Mason took the magnifying glas
: and the penknife and gazed steadfastl
upon the little red govt.
t do you see anything peculiar abor
it?" asked Cassagne. DO you not NJ
e tice an entire absence Of natural cry
Utilization"
: The doctors face turned pale as
d sheet his lips twitched nervously.
: "This crime grows more horrible an
d more mysterious than ever. 1t is impo
, sisle to mistake your. meaning. III
wound was inflicted after death" he e.
claimed. 1.-THE blood is certainly wh'
we call in the profession dead blood
a "And is that not often the case whe
d q wound is inflicted when a person is
N a comatose condition."
If at might be-" replied the physical
1t "I have known the phenomenon of tot
Of suspension of the circulation in comato
re bodies"
rs "And in such case, would blood ho"''
it from a wound crystalline or not!
I'd at is possible that it might crystaiil
m somewhat. il the person wounded, WI
to II, n comatose condition, was young al
r. healthy. In the case Of an old and Il
so hIa woman. like Madame Roupell,
Mt should consider it extremely doubtful.
he tha nresent instance, by means OF t
glass. one can plainly discern that
he crystallization has taken place.
a an fact, that this wound was innict
he after the wound which produced eltt
ad death or insensibillty?" said the det
zee tive.
NC "Exactly So" replied the physicit
he "The question now is, where is Il
III wound?"
use 1--WE will find it," said Cassagne "G
,oo me your help here
lse 1--WE had better look for contusl
81 of some sort. Insensibility could be p
ny duced BY sharp blow on the back OF
Try head, or under the ear" remarked
ier Mason.
90 "I am not of that opinion" repl
80 cossaone. st have already looked the
&C., Co.. There is no swelling of any kind on