Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1912-12-06

used to stand on the mantel-iece- and
according to the neighbors, weighed
more than forty pounds, had disap-
peared. On the marble slab the thin
coating of dust showed the spot where
1t had stood.
On the other hand, Madame Bazire's
gold watch was still hanging on a nail
near her bed. If the murderer had
gone there bent on robbery. why did
ne leave the watch, and carry Off the
cumbrous and less valuable time
piece?
Moreover, the poor lady, who had
but small annuity, was known to
have little money in the house. for
she had put off a few payments for
the following day, when she intended
to collect her quarterly payment from
the bank. And when l inquired at
that establishment / learned that
Madame Bazire had not called there.
was puzzled, and sounded the
neighbors one after the other. They,
however, had but little to say, with
the exception of Madame L., a
most talkative old creature, whose
long-winded stories began to get on
my nerves. had no cause whatever
for suspicion, yet could not help in
curing from the police commissary
in her district who she was.
"Oh." he said laughingly, she is all
right. Her husband is employed in a
big establishment, and they are very
well off,"
In the quarter, too, Madame L.
bore good reputation.
For all that, the woman seemed to
haunt me, and paid her another visit
10 ask for further information. This
time she gave me the description of
a mysterious parsonage. who, she
said, often came to see Madame Ba-
zire, a poorly dressed man, easily rec
ognizable by huge bag hanging from
his shoulders by strap.
1t took me several days to hunt up
this individual. traced him to the
Notre Dame des VICTORIES church,
waited till he came out, and asked
him to conduct me to his house With
out uttering a word, he took me to
BatignolIes, to a queer-looking room,
where he and his brother lived
l confess that, although consid-
cred myself case-hardened as regards
surprises, ! stared with establishment
when I beheld that room, while a
pungent smell nearly choked me. In
the corner the brother was bending
ctr anolxiY0 q Y1iCnr-
able stew, their evening meal. But
the strange odor emanated from hun
dreds of pairs of old boots and shoes,
piled up everywhere, dirty and Gov
cred with mildew.
Quietly, with an almost touching
simplicity, these two men informed
me that they knew Madame Bazire
very well indeed-a charitable, kind
lady. who helped them in the good
work they were doing. One OF them
had been to see her on the morning
before the murder, and not on the day
itself, as Madame L. had asserted.
And then these two quaint fellows
told me the extraordinary life they
led. The elder brother was messenger
in big shop and both, fanatically re
ligious. not only lived on that humble
salary, but managed to put little
money aside, with which they bought
old boots and shoes. and sold them al
fairs. The profits they derived from
these transactions they gave to a
charitable institution In aid OF aban-
doned children. Their only joy in lie
was to pray, and to assist those poor
er than themselves!
A subsequent inquiry showed that
these men had nothing to do with the
crime. and am not ashamed to own
that. despite my anxiety to trace the
culprit, / was glad these two quaint
nhtlanthropists were innocent.
next discovered that Madame Ba.
zire had niece, whom she mad not
seen for long time because that
young person did not go regularly 70
mass. This niece was engaged TO q
youth. kind of butcher, who solo
borse-fiesh in the Paris streets. His
reputation was anything but good.
have always been averse to ar
resting a person on mere Suspicion
But here. without any clue to WORK
upon. / departed from my principle,
end ordered one of my men to Dring
the man to my office.
He looked so scared. and contra
atcted himself so much. that had ne
been arraigned there and then before
q Jury. they would unhesitatingly nave
found him guilty. Moreover, ne mao
4 very unclean record, and two CIT
cumstances looked most suspicious:
First. he, who the day before the mul-
der did not possess cent, now nau'
when searched. two gold pieces IN nls
pocket. And, second. he was carry
ing q little parcel containing linen
and some fancy material, IN eVery
way similar to the bundles found q
Madame Bazire's.
A. first he would not explain
whence came the money and the par
rel and finally said that IN the tran.
car he had met one OF his former
srraathearts-cook in swell house
- L.. <esrsk