Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-11-06
ROCKVILLE MARYLAND FRIDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER 6 1895
The Whiskers of
Hercules
BY WOLCOTT L. BEARD
%. 1875. western Newspaper Union }

THEIR wedding journey included a
L visit to their common birthplace;
the town had changed. A glimpse Of
the Malson Puchaud caused Alice to
quote poetry.
"Man may come and man may CO."
she murmured, "'but l go on for
ever"
Dick, her husband, knew that 1t was
brook that Tennyson had In mind
when he wrote those words, but they
We're expressive enough even when ap-
piled to that candy shop. There was
a pause, filed with early memories
Memories of Madame Puchaud, huge,
dominating and capable; of NJ. Her
cule-"Mr. Hercules"-her very un-
herculean spouse renowned for his
skill and the glory of his golden
whlskers and of "Herculette," their
son, who, was replica of his sire
"D'you remember, Dick" asked
Alice, after a little, "how the little
Puchaud boy used to fly into tan
trum when we called him Herculette,'
because 1t was girls nameT
None Of the other kids had much
TO do with him." remarked Dick, tex
cept Molly Bowman. She was sorry
for him, she used to say"
"And he adored her IN consequence"
smiled Alice, reminiscently. Larry
Burke also adored her-and she him.
wonder how 1t all came out"
II.
"Just look at those kids" chuckled
Dick as they seated themselves at one
Of the little tables. "It's 'Whlskers
Day. Alice-have you forgottenf"
She had not forgotten that weekly
event of her childhood. On this day
the Maison Puchaud produced a glorl-
fed molasses taffy of peculiar con
sistency and a dellciousness to be
found nowhere else In the world.
The kitchen door opened, and
Whitehead figure, in a cooks cap and
apron, could dlmly be seen bearing
one of those trays, as a young man
md a woman, also young, came into
the garden. On the girls hand
cleaned two rings, one Of plain gold
and both of them new. It was the face
Of Molly Bowman, and Larry Burke
With glad fellOw-feellng for her sis
ter-bride, Alice started to run forward
to renew the old friendship, when
Wild yell made her start, then shrink
back in fright.
The yell was repeated; from the
shop door, scattering the children,
there burst that white-clad figure.
With apron and long, golden whiskers
streaming behind, with cap raklshly
askew and knife flourished in its
right hand II sped down the path.
Before the astonished Larry could
do more than take a quick step back
ward, this wild figure had sprung and
was clinging to him. The knife gilt
tered as 1t fell.
Followed by Alice, Dick dashed
around madame They found Larry
with Redeemed shirt front, with his
head supported on the knees Of his
bride, whose face was paler even than
his own. They found madame, stand
ing horrOr-stricken, gazing with wild
ened eyes at the whitehead form that
lay prone on the gravel walk. Rench
ing down, Dick jerked this figure to its
feet-then gasped with surprise.
"Oh, papa, papal He is crazed--
and where has he fed to2-whO saw
him GOT"
No one answered. Then the police
came; and still lamentlng loudly, Her
culette was led away.
III.
Thus began the great Puchaud mys-
terry, and which, incidentally, de.
tanned Dick and Alice In town as ma
terial witnesses.
Alice and Dick stated positively that
they saw NJ Hercule Puchaud rush
down the path and strike Larry Burke
with n knife. Larry-who was not
fatally wounded-and Molly made the
same unequlvocaI statements. Ma
dame, who had come from the kitchen,
also had no doubts, though she nat
urally could not see her husbands
face
Monsieur Hercule Puchaud, on the
other hand, swOre that he had been
purchasing supplies, and at the time Of.
the assault was In the act Of return
ing home on a street car.
In short, the affair ended in an alb
sdute deadlock-and there you are
~.
II was madame who answered the
riddle But she gave that answer to
Alice alone, and then only because
both were old friends and-especially
because Dick was a doctor.
Figure to yoursefw said madame
"As he brings the cOnfectiOn beloved
of children, my son sees his hated and
triumphant rival. His artists soul Is
aname! 70 fix a portion Of the con
lection to each cheek and another to
his lip, so that they resemble the gold.
en- whiskers of his father-tlat Is the
work OF an instant, IIe rushes forth
strkes-and Is hurled TO the ground.
lie Is surrounded must escape! He
eats his disguise-thOse whiskers Of
confectionery" explained madame.
"He ate them-swallowed them in one
superhuman gulp! But alas, they had
been dragged in the stone-coycred
path. Pebbles, great and small, adj
hered TO them Conhde In local
doctor he will not And me- am dis
tracted. A doctor he must have. His
stomach Is u human gravel pit. There
fore"
At this point madamc's feelings
oyercame her, and she sobbed aloud
Alice, however had heard enough
With con.olatOry pat Of the elder
woman's cheek. she went in search Of
Dick, in order that excavations might
be duly begun