Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-01-16
u. EMILE GAB0RIAU.

Il could say nothing at first, was
looked terrible. But she who was
generally afraid of me when / was in
Q passion, burst out laughing, and
said, What fool you are. Listen,
before turning sour like bowl OF
milk. The count is the only one who
wants this change made; and he is
the one that's to pay for it. His mis-
4 ees, this little ones mother, doesn't
" I it at all; she merely pretended
to consent. SO as not to quarrel with
her lover, and because she has got
. plan of her own. She took me aside,
during my visit in her room, and, at
ter having made me swear secrecy on
. erucif!x, she told me that she couldn't
Bear the idea Of separating herself
from her babe forever, and Of bring
ing up another's child. She added
that If l would agree not to change
the children, and not to tell the count
Rhe would give me ten thousand
francs down, and guarantee me an
annuity equal to the one the count
had promised me. She declared, also,
that she could easily find out whether
/ kept my word, as she had made q
mark OF recognition on her little one.
She didn't show me the mark; and
] have examined him carefully, but
can't find It, Do you understand now?
] merely take care of this little fellow
here; tell the count that l have
changed the children; we receive from
both sides, and Jacques will be rich.
Now, kiss your little wife, who has
more sense than you. you old dear
That, sir, is word for word what
Gaudine said to me"
what Claudine proposed to me.
vas villianous. She, proved to me
that we were wronging no one, that
W were making little Jacques for
time, and was silenced. At evening
We arrived at some village. and wac
20 you think we saw? That scamp
Germain. with nurse carrying .
child dressed exactly like the one we
had that l was startled A suspicion
crossed my mind. How could I be
aare that Claudine had not invented
the second story to pacify me? l re-
solved not to lose sight Of the little
bastard. swearing that they shouldn't
change It; so kept him all the even
ing on my knees. and to be all the
more sure. tied my handkerchief
about his waist. All, the plan was
well laid! After supper, some one spoke
u retiring, and then 1t turned out
hat there were only two double-bed-
ded rooms In the house. The inn
keeper said that the two nurses might
sleep in one room, and German and
myself in the other. AS for me, l
upset that arrangement, pretending to
be too jealous TO leave my wife 9
minute. They were obliged to give
way to me. The other nurse went up
70 bed first Claudine and l followed
soon afterward. My wife undressed
and got into bed with our son and the
little bastard. ] did not undress. I'M
der the pretext that snoald be in
the way OF the children, | installed
myself in chair near the bed, de-
termined not to shut my eyes. and to
keep close watch. Toward midnight.
/ heard Claudine moving. | held my
breath. She was getting out of bed.
Was she going to change the children?
Now, know that she was not; then,
felt sure that she was. was beside
myself, and, seizing her By the arm,
! commenced to beat her roughly. CIV
1ng free vent to all that had on my
heart. swore like fiend: raised
. frightful disturbance. The other
nurse cried out as though she were
being murdered. At this uproar. Ger
main rushed In with lighted candle.
The sight of him finished me. Not
knowing what was doing. 1 drew
from my pocket long Spanish knife.
and, seizing the cursed bastard, l
thrust the blade through his arm.
crying, This way, at least. he can't
Be changed without my knowing 1t;
he is marked for life!'"
Lerouge could scarcely utter an
Other word. He painted; but the mag
istrates stern glance harassed him.
and urged him on.
"The little fellows wound" he re-
stunned, was terrible. II bled dread,
fully. and he might have died: but
didn't think OF that was only troub-
he'd about the future, about what
might happen afterward. l declared
that | would write out all that had
occurred. and that every one should
gisn it. This was DONE"
And have you kept this paper?'
asked NJ. Daburon.
'Yes, sir, and as the detective to
whom | confessed all advised me to
bring 1t with me. went TO take 1t
from the place where always kept
1t, and have II here
GIVE 1t to me-"
lerouge took from his coat-pocket
m cid parchment pocket-bcok and
withdrew fri 1t paper yellow by
age and carefully sealed.
~ x.B n az