The evening world. Newspaper, December 31, 1904, Page 8

= on , a a ee ae THE COTTERY TICKET. “Yes, I see you-have brought them all. [t is strange that che idea of detach- ing the winning ticket did net occur to you. One cannot think,of everything, however.” “I brought the package exactly as I took it from my wallet.’ “Have you the wallet about you?’ “Ne.” stammered Puymirol, disconcerted by this question, which he might Lave foreseen. however. “[ Ieft it at home.” “Of course, great as is your audacity, you would hardly dare to produce that. It is stamped with other initials than yours." “Produce it if you can.” retorted Puymirol, imprudentiy. “I understand. You have no fear of ft» being produced, you have destroyed i This time the commivsioner had made a mistake, and a suspicion that had fashed across Puymirot’s mind a few mo:rents before was effectually @ispelled He had fancied that his assailant of the previous night had been set upon 5is track ®y the police, and that he had taken forcible possession of the wallet at the command of his superior officer “I do not understand you, unfortunately. ere you aiming et” he asked The commisstoner, after a moment's deliberation, sa!4 slowly and impressively: “A crime was committed in Paris about a fortnigh« igo. A well-known gen- tleman, a man of fashion, was murderal at mid-day in his own home. You must have heard of ‘he affair.” “Yes, through the papers.” “Well, the gentleman's walet was arrested: but as there was no eviklence against him, he has been released. The assassin has not only escaped detection thus far. but the motive that prompted the crime has not yet been discovered. All that has bees ascertained is that the victim always carried a wallet of which a full description has been given, and that this wallet has dixoppeared “AN this is very Interesting.” sneered Puymirol, “The wallet contained a large sum of money, probably?" “That is the general supposition, but one can not be sure. One thing, how- ever, is cectain; M containeal severad Uckets issued by the Lottery of the Decora- tive Art Society.”’ “I spemt the day here yesteriay.”” continued the commissioner. “You pre- sent yourself on the second day. You have not kept me waiting long. Now, 1 have finiahed. What have you to say?” “Nothing.” “Your silence is equivalent to a confession of guilt. You admit, then, that you took these tickets after killing the man who had them about his person?’ “I admit nothing of the kind.” “Then how did you obtain them‘ “Geant thom" ‘ a public hack.~ “When? “A fortnight ago.” “And yoa kept them until the present time?” “I attached very little importance to the occurrence. Lottery tickets are rarely of any value.” “Why did you not inform Monsieur Robergeot of the finding of these tickets?” inquired the commisstener abruptly, after quite a prolonged silence. “Who is Monsieur KobergeotT “The jedge of instruction who questioned you the day after the murder. 1 have his report here I learn from it that Monsieur Dargental wags une of your intimate friends, that on the very day of the crime you were to breakfast with him in a restaurant on the Rue du Helder, and that after this breakfast—at which he failed to make his appearance-you were the first to discover his body. Were you alone in that cab?” This time Puymtfrol hesitated. It was too great a risk to mention Goorge Caumont’s name, for George, sho was ignorant of the real sttuntion of affairs, would simply tell the truth, and then the wallet, the wallet that Puymirol no lon- ECT possessed, would appear upon the scene. George would probably hand over the letters. Perhaps he would even teil the Judge that one of the letters was from the Coultess de Lescombat, and that one of the others was probably from Blanche Pernic, in which case the leas that could happen to Puymirel would be convic- tion of perjury; so thinking to avert this new danger by a falsehood, he replied. unMushingly: “I was alone.” The commissioner rang 2 bell. Two policemen appeared. The amazed Puy- mirol, who had expected to be set at liberty at once, was sent to the nearest police station cells. Pet let us put an end to this. What CHAPTER IV. A Terrible Complication. EORGE CAUMONT read in the next morning’s papers of Puymirors arrest. He hastened to Gabrielle's house with the news, after vainly seeking an interview with Puymirol at the jail. Gabrielle and her mother were out. but Alert and Roche Planceet were there, and to them he hold the story of the arrest; his suspicion that it bad something to do with Dorgental’s murder, and ended by re- counting the whole affair of the wallet. @ “Here is the packet of letters.” be went on. But at sight of the handwriting on one of the envelopes Aibe=t Verdon snatched up a letter from the heap and tore it open. A glance over his shoulder told the bitter secret to George and Plancoet. The letter was from Mme. Verdon to Dorgental. It told briefly of her love for him and her desire to marry him. It bore an old date, but proved clearly that she had lowed the worthiess blackmailer and that she had been willing to sacri- fice all to that love. George withdrew, leaving Roche to comfort the frantic son. An hour later he returned. Albert was not present, but Roche greeted Caumont cordially. “It is all scttie4,” said Plancoet. “I have persuaded him to do nothing vio- lent. Mme. Verdon will leave Paris at once. She may marry M. Rochas if she wishes to, but she must engage to hold no further communication of any sort with Gabrielle. She consents to this. Now the only fear of publicity lies in the chance your friend Puymirol mey reveal the whole story and indirectly drag Mme. Verdon’s name into it “He is still silent,” replied George. “He refuses to answer the police.” “And he has said nothing about the letters?” inquired Plancoet, almost eagerly. “No; and yet it is the only means of saving him that remains, I think.” “Then why does he 10t avail himself of it?” “Probably because he does not wish to compromise a lady who ts not worthy of such a sacrifice on his part, however; I refer to the Countess de Lescombat. Perhaps, too, because he is unwilling to mix me up in this most unfortunate affair. If he should speak of the letters, the magisirate would ask what he had done with them, and would instantly suspect that he had Intrusted them to me.” “And do you think tnat he will be silent until the end?—that he will allow himself to be sent before the Court of Assizes rather than tell the truth?" “I am sure of it My unfortunate friend has many faults, but nothing can subjugate or intimidate him. Even if they should put him to the torture they would not succeed in wringing a confession from him. He is a man of iron, and I know him so well that yesterday I made up my mind to interfere and extricate him from bis dangerous predicament if possible. In fact, I left my rooms frmly resolved to pay the investigating magistrate a visit, tell the facts exactly as they occurred, and then give him the letters. And now my hands are tied. I can do nothing more for Puymirol for fear of involving Albert's mother in the scandal He is lost” Plancoet, visibly agitated, dropped his eyes, but did not gainsay the cruel prediction. “I am sure that though Mme. Verdon may be very culpable, she did not in- stigate Dargental’s nurder.”’ he said, after a short silence. “Then who could have done it—-Rochas?” “I think not. Rochas would not imperil his life to save a woman's honor. And you are still determined to marry Mile. Verdon?” “More determined than ever, if she will have me. “But you are aware that there are two other persons who know ¢hat the wal- let has been found, and who are also acquainted with the comtents of- the letters intrusted to you by your fricnd.” “Blanche will be silent. I can vouch for her. And the Countess de Lescombat also realizes that it will be immensely to her ipterest to maintain a determined “I can proceed to act, then,” muttered Piancoet, as if tatking to himself. “May I venture to ask you If you have an opportunity to exchange a few words in private with Mlle. Verdon to tell her that my feelings are unchanged?‘ sald George. “I can readily promise you that; and now, as you are acquainted with the habits of the investigating magistrate, will you tell me at what hour I should be likely to find him in his office”’ “My friend Charles Bulmer (who was Dargental's dearest friend and who “es also at that wedding breakfast) assured me that he would be in his office all Gay. Balmer is one of Judge Robergeot's closest intimates.” . * * * * © * While his friend was engaged in these efforts to save him, Adhemar de Puy- mirot was the sullen inmate of a solitary cetl in the prefecture depot. On the third day of his imprisonment a jailer opened the door of Puymirol’s cell, deluding him for on instant into the belief that the moment of bis release had arrived. All pflsoners are subject to these fits of hopefulness. This one was of short duration, however. “I am ordered to conduct you to the office of the judge of instruction,” an- pounced the jailer. In any case, he would soon know his fate, so he silently followed the guard through the corridors and up the staircase to M. Robergeot’s office, where he found that gemilewan seated at his eesk, with his clerk busily engaged in writ- ing at a table, a short distance off. Charles Palmer’a friend was stil in the prime of life and possessed a by no means unprepossessing face His was a countenance that evinced a decided Hik- ing for the good things of life. though it was nat devoid of an air of distinction, end it could become grave enough when necessity required. Jie motioned Puy- r.irol to a chair and that young gentleman teok it. and the Moor as well, for without waiting for the juige to omestion him he said curtly: , “I beg you will put an «nd to thia, sir.** “It is with that intention that I sent for you,” replied the maeistrate, “though To might nave spared myself the trouble, as you have. up to the present time, re- fused to furnish any of the information asked of you; but I felt it my duty to eve you one more chance to tel! the truth.” —_ have told you at! Tam foing to tell »ou.” 1 nae ee see in finding the coachman who took you to the < E . mony proves that you were not alene in his carriage—the carriage in which vou claim te have fownd the lottery tickets. Why did you as- sure the commissioner of police to the contrary?" “You would have done the same, had you been tin my place. I do not wish to Subject an innocent person to the same annoyance and discomfort of which I have been a victim.” “But this person's testimony might be of great service to you. Resides, we Shall soon ascertain who your companion was, We have a description of the gen- tleman, and {, for my own part. am already satisfied. The coachman I have just been questioning told me many things—among them a new fact that utterly con- traéicts your assertions." “Indeed!” sneered Puymirol. “It is surprising how much information a magis- trate can get out of a coachman.” “Will you have the coodness to listen to me? to jest after you have bean! what I havs to say. “I have just listened to the deposition of this coachman, whose sincerity is uaquestonable, for he can have no passibie interest in deceiving me. He declares that on the day of the murder, ard betwern the hours of half-pest efeven and half-past twelve o'clock, he Grove two young gentiemen from the Rue de Medicis t» the Lion d'Or, and that he had no other patrons that morning He also de- clares that hefore leaving the stable that day be had carefully «xamined the in- terior of his carriage. and had fourd in it no papers left there by any former pas- senger. He abso Geclaies that nething extraordinary occurred during the drive before referred to.” “We are going round ard round. in the same circle, tt seems to me," inter- rupted Puymirel, “and if you have nothing new to tell me*— “This coachman aiso dectares that a few Gays after the crime a man who had taken the number of his carriage came to his reeidence, which he had ascer- tained at the company’s office, and that this man, efter giving him twenty francs, questioned him at length tm regard to hie drive on the ninth of April. The coachman could tell him no more than he just told me, viz., that his two passen- gers. one of whom was light-compiexioned, and the other a dark-complexioned yeung man, alighted at the derr of the Lion @Or. on the Rue du Helder. Now, can you tell me why Uhis man wus seeking you with so much ardor? “No, I cannot. Look him up yourself, and ask him the question.’ “In short,” continued the Judge, “if you would only make a full confession, I can almost promise that you would escape indictment.” “Bah! your clemency could not restore what I have lost. A man who has spent three days in prison is a dishonored mas. Besides, | have not a penny, and the only future in tore for me ts starvation.” “I can prove to you that you have nothing of that kind to fear. You came from Perigord, did you not, anid your retatives reside there?” “My only remaining relative is an aunt who gives me an allowance of 2.000 francs a yeor, and my father left me nothing but debts.” “Your aunt made a wealthy marriage, however, and she inherited all her husband's property.” “Yes, but she has other nephews, and I shal! not inherit her fortune.” “You have done so already. She died three days ag», after making you her sole legatee; and you are consequeully the possessor of an income of 30.00) franca." “You ore jesting, sir. and I assure you I think the pleasantry in very poor taste, situated as I am.” “1 am perfectly serious. Since your arrest, all letters addressed to you have been seized at the post-office. This was done at my orders. The law gives me this right, and your case was one in which | thought it necessary to avail my- celf of it. I hweped that In your correspondence I might find some clue to this mystery. but I have been disappointed In this hope This morning, however, there came a letter from a notary at Montpazier, announcing your aunt's suéden death, and inciosing a ceTtified copy of her will These documents will be given to you as soon @s you are set at liberty.” Puymirol's chuice was already made. Puymirol, poor, had been reticent to the verge of heroism. He bad not thought it worth his while to purchase freedom by a confession merely in order te drag out the miserable existence of an im- poverished man who has been suspected of a crime. He preferred to take his chances of conviction and profit by his silence afterward, for be felt sure that the Countess de Lescombat would not fall to reward him eventually. But he now viewed his situation under an entirely different light. To re-enter, with head erect, the gay world of Paris, which so quickly forgets one’s misde- meanors; to begin life again with plenty of money, made it well worth his while to yield to the entreaties of the judge. Being ignoram of George's acquaintance with the Verdons, Adhemar, of course, supposed that he could confess the truth, without injuring his friend, wh felt very Nttle interest im Blanche Pornic, and still less in the Countess de Lescombat. “Sir.” he began, “I am deeply touched by the kindness and consideration with which you have treated me, and I should be ungmately, indeed, if I longer ve- sisted your benevolent entreaties. I will therefore confess that I know Dargen- tai's assassin.” And he repeated. truthfully and conc!soly, the story of his adventures with the wallet. first and last; «nding with the attack by the stranger and the «tes ing of the wallet from him. Puymirol, however, omitted ters. There scemed a chance the Magistrate might not susp ct there had been any letters in the wallet. M. Robergeot listened very attentively to this narrative, and when Puymirol paused, said quietly: “The contents of this wallet must have been very valuable, judging from his anxiety to secure pos»tsion of it, and the trouble this man teok to recover it." “Perhaps it had contained banknotes. but when it came into my hands there was nothing !n it but the lottcry lickets.”* “and it was to recover these lottery tickets that the assassin risked his head! —for he did risk It by entering into conversation with you tn a public place, as you only had to denouace him to secure his arrest. In fact, it was your duty to have sent word to a commissioner of police while the scoundrel was seated at your table. Come, sir, complete your confession. Confess that there were letters in the wallet,” Puymirol turned paie and hung his head. He saw that he was caught tn his ewn trap. There was nothing for him now but to make a clean breast of it. “You are perfectly right, sir.” he said, resolutely, “and I admit that I have done very wrong to persist in the system of defense that your logic has utterly demolished. I have been silent partly from a fear of tmplicating an intimate friend, but you apprised me a few moments ago of your intention to summon him to-day; consequently I can do him no injury by admitting that there were letters in the wallet, and that I intrusted them to him.” You will feel no further desire Mo mention of the let- ~~. ena wt ee ee le Poe ee Ss a SS ae ee ee in «ot 4 . et i