davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
EMILE GABORIAU
BY

and by putting her through what would now be called the third degree" ob- tained from her the information he wanted with regard to the whereab bouts Of Guespin on the night of the murder.
 Yes, H ctor had sent him to her and sent him with money. Also he had brought a note instructing her to keep Guespin away from the cooks wedding.
 IL only needed a suggestion from NJ. Lecoq to the effect that Hector and Laurence were now together to get the srlsette furious against her old lover again and to tell all she knew. The problem was now to find Hector and Laurence.
 AS to the rest he said to himself. IL was aconite with which Sauvresy was poisoned. The history of the vic tims imparted by Plantat gives the key to the other events The. hatred of the par Who appeared so devoted to each other is explained.
 Tt Is also clear why Hector ruined A charming girl with splendid dowry in stead Of marrying her. Hector killed his Wife because he could not fly while she was alive and he could not stay on at Valfeuillu.
 And above all the paper for which he so madly searched after the assassi- nation was the same which Plantat read to us. The countess did not dare to have 1t about the house and had placed 1t, as Sauvresy had, in the keeping of Plantat. And Plantat loves Laurence l am sure he does"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24

While l was bringing him across the court" said the chief of the gendarmes The tried to get rid of this wallet by dropping it in flower bed. l picked it up.
 note, three Napoleons and seven francs in change.
 Yet the valet had told them that on the previous day Guespin had borrowed p francs of him so that he might go to the wedding, as he had not a sou.
 After little, when Guespin had suffi- eiently recovered himself, they recounted to him the story of the crime which had been committed and began to question him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
'The Man Must Die"

Sauvresy was stupfied stunned. He wandered away into the woods and sat down in the rain upon log to think of the ruin which had come upon him.
 Revenge he must have-but what form should his revenge take in or der to be complete-to fit the great crime which his friend and his wife had committed against him.?
 When he reached his chateau he was in a raging fever and was put to bed and the doctor called.
 Did you notice, Hector?" asked Ser tha as soon as the sick man was in his bed
 Notice what%'
 "He had look in his eyes such as never saw before. Hector, he Knows or suspects. The man must die. Then, Hector, you must marry me-
 The count looked at the woman be- fore him with terror. She had a cold gleam in her eyes, and determine tion which was all the more awesome because of it's absolute calmness.
 Listen" she said you still think of Laurence Know that 1t is impos sible. You came into my home and was happy before you came. And now, after engaging my affections, you wish to forsake me.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24

7HE finding or ihe pouN "l t"N Countess de Tremorel, lying
 stark and dead amid the water ISkMEI plants and stumps on the banks If tbe seine where that riVel-at that point a small stream-ran by the magnificent estate of Valfeuillu, created sensation in the little village of Orcival
 Two notorious poachers had found It there early on a July morning as they were out upon their unlawful business be- fore honester people were up. They were lean Bertraud and his son Philippe
 The mayor M. Courtois, accompanied bv the justice of the peace, M. Plantat' and the two Bertruds, hastened to the chateau They rang at the gate of the house in vain.
 A groom standing before the gate oi the chateau nearly opposite said; IL is no use to ring, monsieur. There IS nobody in the house but the master and mistress. All the servants went away last night by the $40 train to Paris to be present at the wedding of the COOK Mime. Denis. They were to be back by the first train this morning.
 "Then the count and d-countess remained alone in the chateau last night?
 Exactly
 This is horrible.s cried the mayor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
Saved by an Honest Man

Hector took up one of the pistols and Laurence took the other.
 This is horrible,' he cried.
 "Shootp cried the girl, "or else and she leveled the pistol at his head
 He hestated a moment and then, with a despairing cry, shot himself through the brain. Laurence put the pistol which she held to her own head. but Lecoq grabbed her in time.
 "l must die she said: T am a ruined woman. l must die for my child or otherwise l should die of shame when he asks me who his father is.
 You will reply, madame answered Lecoqu. "by showing him an honest man who is ready to give him his name-M. Plantat.
 "Laurence. my beloved cried Plan tat in broken voice, as he entered the room, "l beg you to accept me
 She burst into tears. She was saved. They hurried her off from the house into waiting cab, and sent her back to Orcival, where she and NJ Plantat were shortly married and departed at once on their wedding trip to Italy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
Love and Threats


 As he was lying on the banks of little lake in the suburbs of Paris his pistol in his hand, thinking, now 1 can do it, D there came d voice calling his name
 1t was the voice of Sauvresy, who had observed the would-be suicide from the balcony of little restaurant nearby. And Sauvresy and De Tremorel had been old schoolmates
 Sauvresy took the count home with him to Orcival, and set himself to work to straighten out the bankrupts afafirs managing to save something for him.
 Mime. Sauvresy became infatuated with Count Hector He, on his part, fell in love with Laurence Courtos, and would have married her. a marriage which Sauy- resy had much to heart
 It would set Hector on his financial legs again. and besides the two really were in love.
 But Bertha Sauvresy declared to Hector that if he married Laurence she would expose him to her husband, and then. if Sauvresy did not kill him, she would kill him herself
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
M. LecOQ

The mayor had just rejoined the oth- CTS when the door opened and man, whose features were scarcely visible so low did he bow with his hat before his face-came in.
 "Who are you?" asked the judge. stern1y.
 T am NJ Lecoq' replied the stran- ger, "of the detective force, sent by the prefect.'
 M Lecoq had lank hair of that vague color commonly called Parisian blond. whiskers of the same shade, puffed out with bad pomatum and en- circling pallid face
 His big eyes seemed congealed with in their red borders: an open smile rested upon his thick lips, which opened to display yellow teeth. His ex- pression was one of equal self-suff- ciency. tmidity and contentment
 His dress was as dull as his person While speaking he fumbled with a bonbon box of transparent horn which contained lozenges of which he par took now and then. Its lid was orna- mented with the portrait of very hofnely, well dressed woman.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
Did He Do Right?

As Lecoq looked down upon the bouY of the count he thought.
 s.There lies a wretch whom l have killed. instead of handing him over to justice Have I done my duty? No, but my conscience will not reproach me- because I have acted rightly.
 That the Count de Tremorel had com mitted suicide everybody in Paris soon knew-it was 10 days sensation
 But the name of Laurence was not mixed up with the affair.
 ,Copvright, 1914 by Irving King.)
 Next weeks one-page classic Will De- "Henry Masterton.' by $. P. R. James
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
A Sudden Illness

The judge was busy looking over his notes. M Plantat and Dr. Gendron con versed together of the last illness oG Sauvresy.
 'I assure you" said the doctor, .the symptoms you describe are not unusual after pleurisy. There were several con sultations you say, and a celebrated Paris physician attended him and gave his prescriptions to the Corbeil apothe- cary.
 Surely your apothecary is an intelli- gent man, but you have here at Orcival man who quite outdoes him. fel- low who knows how to make money one Robelot, the bonesetter. He is very clever; in fact, l educated him.
 He used to be my laboratory boy. and l employ him now when l have a delicate operation on hand--but what is the matter my friend--are you ill?'
 The doctor had stopped short, alarmed by the agonized look which swept over AL Plantat's face.
 Tis nothing-my abominable stom- ach,'' replied the justice q must change my hours of eating"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
SuspiciOus Belongings

The man, who was now in state bor- dering on collapse, was searched They found on him handkerchief, a pruning knife, two small keys scrap of paper covered with figures and the address of the hardware establishment of 'yulcans turges. in Paris,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
"Shootv' cried the girl, "or else

knew all that they knew. He had min gled with the people outside and heard tine talk He also knew what they did not-that Guespin had a bad police rec ord in Paris.
 Well, well' said the judge con temptuously, "perhaps, since you know so much, you will now look over the scene of the crime.
 They took him to the room where the crime had been committed. Lecoq ex- amined everything carefully. He picked up the clock which had been thrown from the mantelpiece.
 "Ah," he said, 20 minutes past 3! Was the colGsttss up and dressed and taking tea at that houl?'
 He pushed the long hand to the figure which denoted half past three The clock struck Il. w
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
The Only Way

'Wl6e Hector was absent Lecoq went to the apartments which the count had hired and saw Laurence alone.
 He told her all the story of Count Hec tor and begged, for the sake of her father and mother. and for the sake of noble man who loved her, to break off her connection With the count.
 The officers of the law already guarded the house. Hector, this time. must com init suicide.
 Then the detective hid himself in an adjoining room, where he had already stationed M. Plantat. Hector came in and seeing the agitation of Laurence called out: What is the matter?"
 All is lsnown, she returned: "it was you who killed your wife"
 'It was for love of you" replied the coward
 'Really-and was it for love of me that you saw your friend Sauvresy poi sored? Save -he name of Tremorel. Here ara twe pistols. Take one and I vill take the other
 I can fly,'' he weakly faltered
 Ely? Look out of the window--the sephs two children were girls. as also law"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
Some Wear

From the Philadelphia Ledger.
 Owens--Why, don't you try my tailor. old man?
 Eowens-Does he use good material?
 Owens-I should say he does. Why, had suit that lasted almost up to the time paid for it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
To Save Her Name

Leeoq, "by showing him an honest in Paris. 5t,+
 Have you found Hector and Lau- rence?' he asked.
 Yes, 1 have just located them By making a thorough inquiry at all of the furniture shops I found a place where a man who answered the description Of the count had recently bought an entire outfit for a flat which he had taken. l investiga ted further It was the count Laurence is with him Plantat seemed greatly disturbed
 When I first saw you he said 'l saw beneath your disguise the great de- tectve l felt that you were reading me. l was frank with you-to cer- tain extent. I gave you the clews from the manuscript which, as I saw you sus- pected, was handed back to me by Der tlaa.
 But there Is another matter-Laurence must not have her name dragged in the nire, no matter what has happened Can I trust you? Yes. yes. as I sec you suspect. God help mel love her
 Lecoq thought a moment and then said: Yes, it can be arranged -
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
Lying Glasses

They arrived at the house and the doc tor went to make an autopsy of the body of the countess. The detective and M. Plantat went into the dining room. Lecoq took up the wine glasses which had been left on the table and looked at them carefully.
 'No one has drunk from these glasses, he said.
 He rang, and the valet, Francois, ap- peared. In answer to questions he said that wine was brought up as it was want ed. The empty bottles were placed in a cupboard, the wine in them being taken off to the servants quarters.
 Look in the cupboard and see how many empty bottles there are there"
 There is not one
 How many should there be?'
 Five or six.
 You may retires
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
Killed by a Single Blow

Now went on Lecoq, smell of this glass"
 Vinegar" cried NJ. Plantat.
 ''Yes-smell of this bottle.
 "Vinegar.'
 "A few drops remain in it; taste.
 Vinegar
 Yes; among the bottles put away in the closet was one that contained vim egar. The others were empty. The murderer or murderers. did rot know this; and filled the glasses from the only bottle that had liquid in it, think ing that it was wine.
 The judge. it should be said, was not present at this talk. He had gone to give orders about formal arraignment of the prisoners, and then hurrlede back to Corbeil, The case seemed clear to him.
 ''M Plantat" said Lecoq, ''the piece of cloth found in the hand of the coun- tess was placed there arter death. Al though her body bore the marks Of many blows made by a blunt instrument, and wounds made by knife or dagger, yet only one of the stabs was the fla tai one She was killed by single blow I am convinced of this from the hasty examination l was able to make. We shall see"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
Manufactured Evidence

The judge shrugged his shoulders. Well. said he. now that you are here pened.
 But they fqunu that NJ. Lecoq already
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
Would Reach Out From the Grave

Hector listened to her in aStonlsnment at her audacity. It was she who had thrown herself into his arms and had held him in her meshes.
 Also he was terrified and swore many protestations of love to her-all false. He hated her fiercely, weakly, impotently- and feared her greatly
 Bertha saw in Robelot an agent to her liking. From him she procured sub tic poison which left no marks behind it and administered it to her husband.
 Sauvresy, pretending to be asleep, saw her place the poison in his medicine and said no word He knew that his wife was killing him, but had no wish to live.
 Then, one day, when he felt the end ap- RIQaching he sent for Bertha and Hec- tor. and, as they stood by the side of his bed, he told them that he knew all and that they must obey him; he would reach out from the grave and control their destinies
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
Watching Each Other

A servant of the mayor came rushing 10 them and said that NJ. Courtois was want ed at home immediately His wire was very i'll.
 What is the matter?' cried the mayor, seizing the servant.
 "I do not know. It was letter that the postman brought. It was from Mile Laurence"
 The mayor hastened away. Poor man, his daughter has been away on visit, said the judge, perhaps she Is dead
 If it were only that muttered M. Plantat.
 They went back to the house All through the investigation M. Plantat and the detective had been watching each other.
 Not word that was said by either-nor a word that was said by any of the of- ficials or servants, but the one would cast his eyes at the other to read, if possible, if any effect had been produced upon him.
 It was his manner-a few little remarks which Plantat had let drop, that put Lecoq upon his scent. It was the evident readiness with which the detective read mysteries that put NJ. Plantat upon his guard.
 He holds the key to the mystery, thought Lecoq.
 He already has discovered much-will discover more. His Is no 0'dinary mind, thought N. Plantat. He Is playing part with the mayor and the judge"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
Glasses for Five

They went into the other room and everywhere was the same disorder. A hand of furious maniacs, or criminals had passed the night in that house. Desks and bureaus broken open furni- ture coverings hacked as if with a sword-even in the guest chambers.
 Hatchets or hammers had been used in the wreclling. In the upper story they found hatchet lying beside trunk which had been assaulted but not opened.
 q see it as if 1 had been here said the mayor ''The osier assassins were looking for the money. One of them came up here. and che others having found what they were looking for and calling for him. he dropped the hatchet and hurried down..
 In the dining roo mthey found the re- mains of supper on the table. Eight empty wine bottles and five giasses. After their fendish work the assassins had evidently felt the necessity of re- freshing themselves.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24

init suicide. Several times he tried to nerve himself up to the act, but failel to do so.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
His Greatest Revenge

He had, he said, secretly kept record of Bertha's poison operations and, in short, of the whole story of the guilt of the two people who stood before him. That packet had been placed in the hands of a man whom they could not bribe.
 If they were not married at the eX- piration of a year from his death that packet was to be placed in the hands of the authorities.
 Also, he said, "I will tell you that every time Bertha gave me d suspicious potion l retained little of it in my mouth, and afterward elected it into d bottle which l kept under my pillow That evidence is along with the manu- script.
 AS to my symptoms when the doctor began to suspect l described other symp- toms than those I really had
 And now call the servants. It is the greatest revenge l can give to you to make you bind yourselves to each other"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
A Letter From Laurence

The doctor. coming in from his grue- some task, confirmed what Lccoq had said-the countess had been killed by a single stab delivered below the left Shoulder, blade and reaching to her heart. The other mutila tions had been made af- ter death
 "The assassin came upon her from be- hind while she was drinking tea in her 1oom sometime between 10 and II o'clock last night said Lecoq.
 It was evening before Plantat the doctor and the detective left the cha teau They took theil' way to the house of the mayor. where they found things in much distress and confusion
 A letter from Laurence posted in Paris had been received by Mime. Courtois in which the unfortunate girl said that she would be dead by the time her parents should receive the missiye.
 "A wretcn villain has deceived my child and destroyed her. cried the mayor. ''Ah, if I knew-if I knewl'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
Her Power tO Hold Him

The servants were called and in their presence Sauvresy made Bertha and Hec- tor swear to marry al the expiration of a year That was the gist of NJ. Plantat' s story.
 II was needless to say into whose hands the manuscript of Sauyresy had been given. But what he had read was only copy. The original he had given into the hands of Bertha on the day she married Hector.
 Such had been Sauvresy's commands The possession of 1t was the power she had to hold Hector to her Lecoa saw many things after the reading of the manuscript.
 Then 1t was in search of this docu- ment that the frantic search was made after the murder of the countess'' he said.
 The Count de Tremorel committed the crime and had arranged toe have suspicion thrown upon the gardener. Guespin. l must go to Paris and find ont where Guespin was on the night Of the murder-who was with him. One or the counts emissares, | suspect yes, yes, 1t must have been Jenny..
 There was sudden noise outside the open window of the room, and in an instant Lecoq had sprung out onto the lawn.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
Beyond Their Power

There was a short. fierce struggle and tlen' when the others came to his as- sistance, there was the bone-setter. Robelot, wicked-looking sword lying on the ground before him. and he him self panting in the grasp of NJ Lecoq.
 They took the man into the house and locked him up in little closet off the parlor. Dawn was beginning to break now, and the three men were worn out.
 But Dr. Gendron said that he would have the body of Sauvresy exhumed at once. He-and he thought he alone knew of a means to get reaction for the presence of that peculiar form Of poison, which had killed Sauvresy, even after the body had been "a year or more in the ground.
 As to Lecoq. he would go at once to Paris. Laurence, he said, was not dead and neither was Hector-the two had joined each other, in all probability
 They heard a strange noise Tn the closet where they had placed Robelot- They opened the door--but it was too late. The man had strangled himself with, a couple of handkerchiefs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
Could Be But One


 Suddenly he checked himself ray of intelligence seemed to illumine the abyss of despair into which he had fallen.
 "No." he went on. "a young girl with a million dowry is not abandoned un- less for some good reason. The infa- nous wretch was not free-he was mar ried. He could only be the Count de Tremorel.
 The profound silence which fell upon his hearers showed that they shared his suspicious.
 M Plautat sighed heavily. Lecoq. hear ing noise in the hall. looked around to see Robelot, the bonesetter and dealer in herbs.
 He was a small, insignificant looking man, but really Of great strength. Plan tat addressed him, asking what he was doing there. He had come to see if Mme. Courtois had any command for Tim.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24

Most Things Explained In Paris M LecoQ easily found Jenny
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
A Revelation


 "So you buy land. I hear said Plan tat.
 "A very little" humbly replied the bonesetter.
 "Oh. no: it Is nouch that you have bought of late. And you are bright fel- low. full of experience. Dr. Gendron says you are an expert chemist
 Robelot shuddered
 '.Robelot.'' went on Plantat "the body of Sauvresy is to be exhumed. It is sus- pected that he did not die from natural causes. Lecod watched the man closely, and read him like book
 Plantat insisted that Dr. Gendron and Lecoq come to his house for the night. Once there he took them into the parlor and said that the time had come when he must make revelation.
 He took from a tin box a manuscript and read what was. in brief, the follow ing story:
 When Hector de Tremorel had run through his fortune he determined to com-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
Not Brutes But RascaIs

An" he said, that is the truth We have not here brutes, but rascals who looked beyond the point of their knife. They intended to deceive us to the hour.
 Tt was for their interest to make it appear that the crime was committed after the last train had left for Paris. Guespin, leaving his companions in the city, might have returned here in time to have committed the crime seized the money and returned to Paris by the last train.
 Apprentices, brigandsl they give a push to the hands, but do .not know enough to put the striking part in har- mony with them.
 ''The bed is r.nnpled Yes; but no body has slept in it. The pillows are disordered, but look at the bolster. There is TO depression in it such as would be made by head lying on the pillow above
 Then look at the second mattress and .see-it is perfectly even. If the count had been murdered in this bed there would have been some blood upon the sheets-there is none. His clothes which he had taken off would be lying about somewhere. They are not