The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-04-23
By Henry c. ROwland

said jacques, in a tone that was almost
light, tells me that, like many q gallant
gentleman, he has lied in~telligently, in
what he feels to be q just cause.
Isl tells me he Is not only innocent Of
the murder Of Miguel but that he does not
actually kOnW how that unfortunate
young man met his death. The count has,
in fact, no positive assurance that Migu
is indeed dead. But the count strongly
suspects that his butler, Auguste, for
whom he cheriEhes q deep affection, knows
what happened Miguel.
II am now sorry that ] should be re-
quired to make this examination because It
depriVes Auguste, should he be indeed the
guilty man, Of coming forward of his wi
accord to take the blame and pay the pen
The contrast between his smooth, even
speech and the unexpectedness Of his clear
statement was so astounding that, until
the pause, even Corentine was stupefied,
struck speeches.. Then, as her normally
stOlid mind grasped the significance Of
what had been said, she burst out with a
snarl Of rage.
inVective was directed at Jacques. "Au-
au-Qh! Duel salOpin! The dirty fraud!
The-the-" Words falling her in her
astOnished fury, she would have rushed at
JacQues-seemed in fact, gathering for a
spring when a stalwart gendarme grabbed
her.
Then, as she paused for breath and to
gather fresh supply, he orderd briefly
"Take her out"
TO the evrIasting credit Of the French
officials Of Correction, they promptly took
her out, a Whirling vortex Of black crepe.
At the door she gripped at the Jamb and
screamed at the presiding officer: Il have
a right to be heard! You must let me speak,
whatever 1t may COST"
Madame said the officer, there are
some of US who are not interested IN your
wealth.
The door slammed shut behind her. AT
the same moment old Auguste sprang to his
feet trying vainly to articulate. But
Jacques voice cut into this effort like q
"Tais-toi (shut up) ~ he said, so f~iercely
that Auguste's effort was instantly huShed
Two agents saw to it hat he remained
hushed. Jacques turned to the count, who
had sat immObile, frozen, throughout TINS
"a thousand pardons, Monsieur, for hav.
ing subjected you to so disgusting a scene
1 thought it better that this woman shOulC
hear what / had to say. But since she can
not control herself, l shall now proceed"
He resumed his attitude Of examination
and continued as though no interruption
had occurred.
me that what actually happened was this
The count, long tOrmented by the brutal
itv with which his beloved daughters hus
| band treated her, had hardened MS near
against interference because convinced tina
the moment for such had not yet arrived
but sooner or later would arrive. he rea
] sOned that to act too soon would De Onl!
To prOlOng the misery and to make the rad1
cal cure Of it indefinitely postponed. III
desired to be sure not only Of Just caus'
for divorce but of his daughters final de
sire to put her husband from her. IC seem
ed to him that it would be better to rtsl
even a serious physical injury to her per
son that might be healed than the sort o
hearted rupture that might also b.
i patched up. Miguel, by his very eruelLy
Twas unconsciOusly playing into the count
hand.
"But others were not so patient. RaOul
who does not enter into this case at all, eX
cept as one may appreciate his artistry
and the faithful s%ervitOr, ..Auguste, "h'
slew Miguel in seIf-defense."
Jacques did not pause. On the contrary
he went on stridently, as if to silence inter
%ruptiOn. '"The counts mind further tell
me that on this day Of tragedy he was An
definitely relieved when, after the none 20
respectful appeal by Auguste that M1gue
be stepped from maltreating his yOunj
wife, Miguel himself came down to say tina
he was going on the water. The count wa
/ making every effort to endure the nlueou
| state Of affairs a good deal as a genera
/ might brOlOng a battle, and from MS pom
Of observation watch the massacre OF M
\ loved troops until the moment to launch
decisive attack should have been reached
This was daily becoming more and NOR
difficult because Of the opportunities OF Tn
two men who, each in his separate way
4 loved Annik so dearly, RaOul and AugusO
4 1t WAS as IL 10 the BLGds mAA4buAy oSAoLI
gist the two members of his staff whom q
! found hardest to hold kept saying. MO
, generate, we are being slaughtered IN GU
Z tracks. We implOre you to unleash tn
: counter offensive before it is too late
. "Auguste, on this Easter morning, wa
= beside himself with rage. When he o
Z his master impossible to bulge, ne set o!
{ to fetch RaOul, not because he was afral
: : Of Miguel but because ne wanted the WI
' ness Of a tiers, a third outside person I
r. whatever might happen when ne Intel
Ifered. At least that is what the m1nd
= the count believed. he saw that AuguSte
u restraint had reached its limits and, dreaC
{ ing what might then befall, the count Wa
infinitely relieved when Miguel came dow
J and proposed a promenade on the sea.
rid Of Auguste, the count went up II
- a few words with his daughter and to drei
for the boat. Going then to the head
= the cliffs, he looked down and saw RaO'
3 looming up the path and nearly TO the 70
= They exchanged a few words, wren RaoJ
- at the counts suggestion, went back to q
house and the count to his boat. But
his surprise, Miguel was not there. Mlgu
did not come and Miguel had told him
would go down and hoist the sail and ha'
all in readiness to leave.
Gas the moments passed and Miguel d
not appear, the count began to have D
suspicious that some i'll had befallen hill
n Here were two men with every eFasOn
d hate this maltreateF Of Annik who mig
d have met him on the Lath-Auguste al
l. Raoul. The counts reasoning told him tn
]. more probably it was the former, as the
t, had been plenty Of time for Miguel, an a
d tive and athletic young man, to get dOv
to tie boat before RaOul had started up.
"Auguste, on the contrary, had not le
= long before Miguel, and as the butler "
an old man. whose movements were deli
s, crate and whose steps hk that OF most o
4. men more or less addicted to alcohol, we
= less secure in q descent than in mOuntin
- August might have gone down so slow
that Miguel would have Overtaken him.
VI 'It was then that the mind Of the cOul
la closely reasoning one, the mind OF I
lDhilosoDher. assured him that sOmethil
- terrible had happened and that it concern
ze his sOn-in-law and his butler. He made 81
and drifted out. He desired to reflect, a
this reflection served the more deeply
Il onnuinoa him that MinnaI and AngnEta h