The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-05-06
CHAPTER XIV.

Hacbeye greeted JOhnsons rap viii
q nervous "COme in" and exchanged 3
wan smile for Johnny friendly saluta.
tion He had been writing and the ia
bic was strcwn with piles Of closely
written manuscript Johnny's eyes fel
upon the pages, ana rivoted there. Thai
they were the work of Hacheyo's per
wus evident and
The writing was absolutely unlike
that In the letters found addressed q
Cerisse Wayne,
Writing a booker asked Johnny as
he sat down with an effort to be com
posed
mo, merely some instructions as "a
what 1 want done with my estate, IN
case anything happens 10 me-" answ r.
ed Hacklcye TITS on account OF the
children, YOU know"
Don't let me bother you," politely
suggested Johnny, III l Interrupt I'll
60"
"On the contrary I'm glad to have
you" replied Hackeye, I've had a
mournful morning spending 1t among
reliquarics. Would you like to see
some of my mementoes?"
He pulled out a deep drawer from
the side of the table and began lifting
out treasure after treasure Folded IN
softest parchment was long caressing
curl of rust red hair only too evident
ly cut from the head Of his dead wife
Then there were pictures Of her from
babyhood to maturity. And letters
love notes-all in the same handwrit-
ing. There were odd gloves, delicate
ly perfumed, with the strange odor
that had permeated the Desterle home
that wretched morning of tragedy and
woe, cobwehby lace handkerchiefs' and
a bunch Of faded flowers.
Here is her wedding bonnet mus
ed Hackeye. See here is a program
Of an exhibition day in the convent
where she played and sang. She had a
voice like melted crystal ! worshlpped
her, made an idol Of her, ana l paid
the penalty. l hope that death has
brought her peace-life never could
have done so. My wife, by beloved
wlfel"
"IIackeye," said Johnny, placing his
hand on the bowed head, you didn't
kill her. 1 know it. Help us to find
the man who did,
HacHcye looked up. you're the first
one who's had any faith in me- he an
swered, except Francis, lie AIalheu-
reux as you cali him, her brother you
know. Francis and I have tried to save
her name"
why questioned Johnny striking
while the iron was hot, why does lie
Malheureux ever walk among men
thus veiled and concealed?'
Hacklcye shot Johnny a gasp Of ter
ror las you would not injure the gen.
tlest soul that ever walked" he plead
ed, try, never try to probe that mys-
terry For your own peace of mind
leave lie MalheureuX alone"
u spied on you last night" confess
ed Johnny Il followed you into that
closet there where you have all those
images Of your wife. want to apollo
gize for doing it."
you needn't" returned Hackleye.
worship her loveliness any time you
wish, as I do always"
DO you know Harcourt" abruptly
questioned the American.
NO, I've never met him." answered
Hackleye. Il never knew who the man
was that had stolen my wife's heart
from me. Cerisse' was clever and she
covered her path well. l do know,
though, that towards the end she seem
ed to grow tired of him. He waxed
insanely jealous of her towards the
end I think she was planning to leave
him at the last
"Who do you think killed her?"
queried johnny "or do you know?"
Il did not lease that house at "a
Briarsweet place-the one where the
passage way was found you know"
why, saw you, saw you go through !
the passage way myself the morning |
after the murder" cried Johnny.
Yes, l know you did" admitted !
Hackleye. That was my second visit |
there. I was in there the morning that |
they found the body. l had followed |
lie Malheureux there up through the |
hole in the wall Mrs. Desterle saw me
there when she burst in the door lie |
Mauheureux and l had gone up to see |
Cerisse. lie MalheureuX had been there
before, He had traced her out and told |
me where she was. / went expecting
to find the living woman-I found, dead |
clay. When the policeman and Mrs.
Desterle's husband were carrying her
back to her bedroom, I walked down
the stairs and away from the house.
When | reached my lodgings, whore |
was stopping under an assumed name.
I discovered l had lost one Of my gar
tiers. l went back that night and fore
ed an entrance to the Flanders house,
and climbed back into the bedroom
through the hole in the wall. / looked
for the garter but couldn't find it, l
wanted it for sentiments sake, and lot
because | was afraid Of any incrimina-
ton that might result from it, as fog
years ! have been practically unknown
in civilized countries. And" with
whimsical smile, Il was frightened
away and in my haste to leave the
Flanders house. l lose the mate to it
out of my pocket"
"And l found it right by the door to
the house that Hamley Hackleye was
supposed to have leased" said John
n.y. WAS the Man-Aperilla in the
room when you and LIE MaIheureux
were?" came Johnny's final question.
Il know of no such animal" said
Hackleye. And now, Mr. johnson, /
am tired The strain Of months is tell
Ing on me, do you mind If beg to be
excused?'
CHAPTER XIV
There was no DELAY in the trial Jus