The Press., 1915-04-28
Tbe STRANGER He Formed a Plan Which He Carried Out Successfully.
By F. A. MITCHELL

]. j. ]. l. * * *
 Martin Valkier was grape grower in the north of France Though he lived POO years ago, his vineyard has remained a vineyard ever since.
 Martins daughter, Marie, was 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 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 a dance given by Marie's 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. t +
 II don't know you, monsieur" said Martin, "or anything about you. What is your occupationY' --~-
 Jules Garnier, the person in question, had not cared to give his real name, 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 versa tility, but this was not his profession. He possess ed gift that had made him celebrated in Paris, though it was not of such nature as would extend his renown to 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,OOO, which was d 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 i'm pressed by him than she had realized.
  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 woodC proper ty he owned and which he thought of clearing to add to his vineyard when he heard shout for help ill thicket Dismounting, he went to where the sound had come from and found g man who had been stabbed to the heart. On looking closer at the body he saw that the murdered man was Francois Marcelle, a former workman in his vineyard, with whom he had had an altercation and whom he had dis charged. --< ,a,. *s.a> as<s
 It occurred to Martin that. if 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 voice almost beside him say:
 What is your hurry, my friend? Wait bit. have something to say to you. I heard cry for help moment ago, and now find you coming from where I heard 1t in hot haste. Have you had fight with any one?"
 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 look at the body. Martin reluctantly consented. Indeed, had he, boo,, r1,;I+x of tbo Yn,1rdor ho oOul6 not have demeaned himself in a manner better fitted to indicate his guilt. He was pale, trembling, and h,s 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 was removed to al neighboring town. The public prose cutor entered charge against him, and day was set for his trial.
 There was never a palmer case based on circumstantial evidence than. the state against Martin Valkier:. During his quarrel with Marcelle he had been heard to say, "Go away from here, and as you value your l.fe never again set foot on my propertyp' The man he 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 prom inent man in the community he, was adjudged guilty and condemned to death. '@
 Martins jailer, having little to dc. occupied much of his time in working out chess problems, for he had great fancy for the game and played so well that he could not find an opponent worthy of his skill. One day he was sitting over chessboard trying to | checkmate himself in a definite num- Der of moves when young man en- ,ered.
 ''You are, I believe" said the new conner, .the person who has beaten every one of your neighbors at the game you are studying. I have some skill at chess and have sought yor out. thinking I may learn something about it from you.'' 1T.
 You are only too welcome,' replied l the Jailer. There are no chess players I in this town. have tried all. who pretend to play the game ana nave de- rived no pleasure from playing with l them. You see, I am reduced to work ing out problems.
 "I, too, sometimes amGse myself in that way" said the stranger. and, dra wing chair to the table on which ! the board rested. he began te set the | pieces. -
 The first game the jailer checkmated | his adversary in eight moves The l stranger seemed very much pleased | with his opponents plan of attack and | asked him to go over the moves again that he might learn the1n In the second game the jailer had more trou- ble, but in the third he won easily. I
 T think 1 would play. better for a l