The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1918-02-14

muttered:
ooh, is it possible ="
By the pale CLEAN of light that
entered through ground glass
window they saw the body of a
man lying on the floor.
"The inspector! Inspector Yer
otl' gasped the office messenger,
running forward.
He and the secretary raised the
body and placed it in an armchair
in the projects office.
Inspector Verot was still alive,
but so little alive that they could
scarcely hear the beating Of his
heart. A drop of saliva trickled
from the corner of his mouth. His
eyes were devoid of all expression.
However, certain muscles of the
face kept moving, perhaps with
the effort Of a will that seemed to
linger almost beyond life.
Don Luis muttered:
"Look, Monsieur lie Prefet-the
DFOWu patches!
The same dread unnerved all.
They began to ring bells and open
doors and call for help.
"Send for the doctor!" ordered
M. Desmalions. "Tell them to
bring doctor, the first that comes
and priest. We can't let the
poor mani
Don Luis raised his arm to de-
mand silence.
"There is nothing more to be
done, he said. eve shall do bet
ter to make the most Of these last
moments. Have I your permission,
Monsieur lie Prefet7''
He bent over the dying man, laid
the swaying head against the back
Of the chair, and, in a very gentle
voice, whispered:
"Verot, it's Monsieur le Prefet
speaking to you. We should like
a few particulars about what is to
take place tonight. Do you hear
mo, veroti II you hear me, close
your eyeidsi''
The eyelids were lowered. But
was it not merely chancei Don
Luis went on.
"You have found the heirs Of
the Roussel sisters, that much, we
know; and it is two Of those heirs
who are threatened with death.
The double murder is to be COM
mitted tonight. But what we do
not know is the name OF those
heirs, who are doubtless not called
Roussel. You must tell us the
name.
Listen to me: you wrote on a
memorandum pad three letters
which seem to form the syllable
Eau = : = Am / right Is this the
first syllable Of a name7 Which
is the next letter after those three
Close your eyes when / mention
the right letter. Is it 'b7' Is it
sc9'''
But there was now not a flicker
in the inspectors paid face. The
head dropped heavily on the chest.
Verot gave two or three signs, his
frame shook with one great shiver,
and he moved no more.
He was dead.
The tragic scene had been en-
acted SO swiftly that the men who
were its shuddering spectators re.
manned for a moment COMPOUNDED
The solicitor made the sign Of the
cross and went down on his knees
The project murmured:
"Poor Verot! - He was 8
good man, who thought only Of
the service, Of his duty. Instead
Of going and getting himself seer
to and who knows7 Perhaps HI
might have been saved he cam,
back here In the hope Of com
municating his secret. Poo
| Verot -
j WAS he marriedi Are Their,
any childrenf'' asked Don Luis.
Il He leaves q wife and thre'
/ children, " replied the project.
I will look after them sail
Don Luis simply.
Then, when they brought q doc
| tor and when NJ. Desmalions CAV
orders for the corpse to be carrie,
to another room, Don Luis tool
the doctor aside and said:
4 There is no doubt that Inspec
! tor Yerot was poisoned. Look a
his wrist: you will see the mark o
! puncture with q ring Of inflam
nation round it. /"
Then he was pricked in tha
q place
Yes, with . pin or the point Q