The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-10-25

enter the back gate Of the house with
an italian fruit vender.
"Oh. Mr.. Mason" he said, n ter
rible thing has happened! The Mar
Quis Maxaccra Is lost!"
Then. hurriedly. g~esticulating with
his hands and shoulders. he poured
forth the whole story: How a wax
impression OF the lock on the Forty
eighth street house had been taken
for the Marquis Maxaccra after the
picture OF the Virgin had been
brought away. and Q key made; how
with this key the marquis had admit.
ted himself to the presence Of Tol.
man Perkins In his library. seized him
from behind as he sat reading by his
table. and visited upon him this ghast-
ly ordeal Of r%etributive justice; how
Tolman Perkins, contrary to every hui
man possibility. by reason OF a blood
clot forming In the wound. had lived
long enough to tell who had killed
him. The Italian ~janitor at the hos.
pital had made a copy OF his dying
statement: the Marquis Mazaccra was
instantly notified. and by the direction
Of that authority on the East side. OF
whom I have spoken, had come in
stantly. disguised thus, to Randolph
Mason. He was there by the door.
Let me see this statement" said
Mason.
Pietro handed him q piece Of wrap
ping paper containing these lines In
pencil:
1T was that Italian. the Marquis
Mazaccra, who did It. When ] get
well I will kill him."
"You will at once" said Mason to
the marquis, abandon this absurd dis
guise, and Immediately return to your
usual life at the Dresden, conducting
yourself there as though nothing I'M
usual had happened. Refuse to be in
terviewed. IL you are fortunate
enough to be arrested. decline to
make any statement whatever and
send Immediately for me-"
Sir" he said, Il never in my life
have been accustomed to take direc-
tions from any man; but since I have
come to you for directions, / shall i'm
plicitly obey them"
Then he picked up his basket from
the floor and went out Of the room,
followed by Pietro.
From the great newspapers OF
America nothing a be hidden; nei-
Their a flight IN the wings OF the morn
ing nor a dwelling in the uttermost
parts OF the sea provides adequate
cover. On Monday morning the whole
story OF Tolman Perkins killing was
laid In detail before the world under
headlines inquiring who the Marquis
Mazaccra was.
Friday, Saturday. a week passed,
and the Marquis Mazaccra was not
yet taken into custody.
The people. waxing vitriolic. began
now to speculate; conjecture to wag
its double-pointed tongue.
In the mean time the district attor-
ney remained as silent as the unmo-
Tested, singing marquis. However. ten
days after the death of Tolman Per.
kins. the district attorney did act. He
caused the valet to be arrested.
When ! told Randolph Mason Of this
his eyes narrowed and his under jaw
moved r~esolutely forward.
Parks" he said, 81 am coming TO
have an interest in this district attor-
ney. Let us visit him."
Then he summoned the marquis
from the Dresden. and three OF us went
in q carriage to the Criminal Court
building. We were brought almost i'm
mediately into the presence Of the
district attorney.
Sir" said Randolph Mason, per
NIT me to present to you the Marquis
Mazaccra."
For q moment there was an express
sion Of the keenest inquiry in the
steady syes Of the lawyer. then he
arose and bowed courteously.
May I inquire" he said, why I
am thus strikingly honoredT'
saw instantly that no fears cud-
geled this unusual man.
You have caused an innocent man
to be arrested for the killing OF Toll
man Perkins," said Macon; I'VE came
to say that"
How do you know that he is inno-
cent?" said the lawyer.
II know it." replied Mason. "in pre-.
cisely the same name that you,
yourself. know It, and with the same
conviction"
II would prefer" said the district
attorney. ITO hear the Marquis Mazac-
era upon that point"
with pleasure" replied the Italian.
"The valet did not kill Tolman Per.
kins."
who did kill him? }" said the law.
yer instantly.
Pardon me-" replied the marquis:
"is not that query a t.iHe beside the
point?"
Suppose" said the district attor-
ney, slowly. 81 should cause you to be
detained as a witness in this matter!"
"Sir," said Mason. 1T would be an
act Of the purest idiocy. He would
decline to answer. On the ground that
such an answer would tend to incrimi-
nate him, and 90 be Immediately dis
charged. You must. my SSrlr sir, be
content with the word Of lie marquis