The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-23

VERY well" said the other, Tets
come to the point and have done with
it. In two words. I have been sent
by Mile. de Sincleves."
"Sincleves?"
1.-THE Comtesse d'Andillot's heir
ess."
"Well?"
"Well, Mile de Sincleves has employ
ed me in order to make you give up the
black pearl"
"But l haven't got It."
Eyes. you have"
derer."
you are the murderer"
Danegre gave forced laugh.
Fortunately. my good sir. the
court took another view. The jury
unanimously found me not guilty.
And when a man has conscience on
his side, together with the esteem of
! twelve good men and true"
The acknowledgements seized
him by the arm.
None of your speechmaking. my
lad Listen to me carefully. and
weigh my words; they are worth It.
Three months before the crime.
Danegre, you stole the key of the
servants entrance from the cook and
you had a similar one made at Out
ards. the locksmith, 24A Rue Ober-
kampf." ~
ats not truei It's not truei"
growled Victor. "No one has seen
the key; there's no such key"
"Here it isl"
After a silence. Crimaudan re-
sumed:
"You killed the countess with a
clasp knife which you bought at the
Bazaar de la Republique on the same
day that you ordered the key. 1t has
a three-cornered, grooved blade"
"All humbugl You're talking at
random. No one has seen the knife.
Here it isl"
Victor Danegre started back.
| "Who can swear that they belonged
to me?"
1.-THE locksmith first, and next the
shop assistant from whom you
bought the knife. / have already re-
! freshed their memories. Once brought
face to face with you. they would not
fail to recognize you"
He spoke shortly and sharply. with
terrifying precision. Denegre wa.
convulsed with fear.
However. he still tried to make q
show of indifference.
"If that's all your evidenced"
II have this besides. After thu
crime you went back by the way you
came. But half way across the ward.
robe closet, seized with fright, you
must have leaned against the wall to
keep your balance. 1t could never
have entered the heads of any of the
gentlemen in the Office OF the public
prosecution to light a candle and ex-
anime the walls. But if they were to
do SO they would see a rcd mark or
the white plaster, a very slight mark
but clear enough to show the impress.
sion of your thumb. all wet with
blood. which you put against the wall
Now you are surely aware that, in the
Bertillon system. this forms one o.
the chief methods of Identification
| Victor Danegre was deathly pale
Beads of perspiration fell from hi.
forehead to the table. He stared
mad eyed at this strange man who
was conjuring up his crime as though
he hi been its unseen witness.
IF I give you back the pearl" hi
suffered, how much will you givs
mel"
Nothing"
i "Whatl You're jokihgi You ex
pect me to give you a thing worth
thousands and hundreds of thousand.
of francs and you to give me moth.
ing1"
Eyes. your life"
j The wretched man shuddered
Crimaudan added, in an almos,
gentle tone:
| Como. Danegre, the pearl is of nc
value to you. You cannot possibl,
sell it. What is the good of keeping
! it?"
Victor clutched his head in his two
hands and reflected. He felt himself
lost. irreparably lost. and. at the same
time, a great sense of WEAKNESS over
came him. an immense need of res,
and ease.
when do you want itT'
Before I o'clock tonight"
"And If you don't get it?"
| "1f / don't get it ! shall post thi.
letter. in which Mile. de Sinclevcs de
nounces you to the public prosecu
tor"
Danegre poured himself out tive
glasses of wine swaljoved sth.,, IN.