Montgomery County sentinel., 1915-06-25

The
STRANGER !
He Formed a Plan Which He
Carried Out Successfully.
By r. A. mitchell

Martin Walker was grape grower
In the north Of France. Though he
lived 200 years ago. his vineyard has
remained vineyard ever since.
Martins daughter, Marie, was a love.
ly girl Of nineteen. In the autumn after
the grapes had been gathered and put
through the wine press her father al,
ways gave a fete, inviting his neigh
bors, and Marie, dressed in the cos
tune of the period, was regarded as
the prettiest of all the girls who danced
in the great room over the wine eel.
lars.
One autumn young man from Paris
attended dance given by Maries
father, saw her and fell violently in
love with her. Marie was pleased to
make a conquest Of one from the
city, but. being bit coquettish, only
half encouraged him. However, she at
last reminded him that French girl
did not dispose of her hand; that rested
with her parents. The young man.
taking this for consent, went to Val
kier and asked for Marie's hand.
Il don't know you, monsieur" said
Martin, 'or anything about you. What
IL your occupationT'
Jules GARNER. the person in question:
had not cared to give his real nnme
and he did not now care to give his
occupation. Nor did he wish to admit
that he preferred to withhold either.
The stranger prevaricated. He said
he was an artist and so he was, for
he was man Of great versatility, but
this was not his profession. He possess
cd u gift that had made him celebrated
in Paris, though 1t was not Of such q
nature as would extend his renown 10
the provinces. The old man then ask
ed him If he had any fortune, and Jules
admitted that he had not more than
10000 francs $4,000, which was a
beggarly sum to put up for the daugh-
ter Of prosperous wine grower. So
the suitor was rejected He said good
by to Marie, who was loath to part
with him. for she had been more Inn
pitobth BIG uuu ANuilhtus
But she could not give herself to him
without her fathers consent, and her
father had declined his proposition.
Not long after Jules departure the
wine grower was riding on a road
leading through some wooded property
clearing to add to his vineyard when
he heard n shout for help in n thicket
DismOunting he went to where tho
sound had come from and found man
who had been stabbed to the heart
On looking closer at the body he saw
that the murdered man was Francois
Marcelle, former workman In his
vineyard, with whom he had had an
alteration and whom he had dis.
charged.
II occurred to Martin that II caught
over the body OF Marcelle, with whom
he had quarreled, he would be sus-
pected Of the murder. He hurried back
to his horse and was mounting him
when he heard a voice almost beside
him say;
"What IL your hurry, my friendi
Walt u bit. have something to say To
you. heard a cry for help a moment
ago, and now | find you coming from
where heard It in hot haste. Have
you had fight with any oner'
Martin was so impressed with the
danger he was In that he stammered In
his account Of what had occurred The
man proposed that they go together
and have a look at the body. Martin
reluctantly consented. Indeed, had he
been guilty Of the murder he could not
have demeaned himself In a manner
better fitted to indicate his guilt He
was pale trembling, and his teeth rat.
tied with terror.
During the day the body was re-
moved, and at nightfall gendarmes
came to Martin Walkers house and ar
rested him for the murder OF Francois
Marcelle. and. there being no jail In
the vicinity. he wns removed to
neighboring town. The public prose-
cutor entered n charge against him,
and day was set for his trial.
There was never palmer case based
on circumstantial evidence than the
state against Martin Walker. During
his quarrel with Marcelle no had been
heard TO say. Go away from here, and
as you value your life never again set
foot on my propertyp The man no
had met when coming from the thicket
testified that he was IN great excite
ment The trial was brief. Notwith-
standing that the accused was n prom.
inent man in the community no was
adjudged guilty and condemned TO
death.
Martins Jailer, having littlo to do
occupied much Of his time in working
out chess problems, for he had a great
fancy for the game and played so well
that he could not find an opponent
worthy OF his skill. Ono day he was
sitting over chessboard trying 10
checkmate himself in a definite mum.
ber OF moves when young man en-
tered.
"You are, believe" said tho new.
conner. "the person who has beaten
every one OF your neighbors Mt the
game you are studying. have some
skill Mt chess and have sought you
ont, thinking may learn something
about It from you"
"You are only too welcome" replied
the tallcr "There nre no chess players
In this town. ! have tried all who