Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-10-17
GrIctt AIistrlianp.
THE FORCE OF FEAR.

ers in the Paas Royal at Paris were about
lighting their lamps and putting up their shut
ters the practice of the major part of them at
nightfal, well known money changer sat be-
hind his counter alone, surrounded by massive
heaps Of silver and gold the glittering and ser-
ling currency of all the kingdoms Of Europe. Tie
had well nigh closed his operations for the day,
and was enjoying in anticipation the prospect of
a good dinner. Between t easy chair upon
which he reclined in perfect satlsfactlon' and
the door which opened into the north side of
the immense quadrangle of which the splendid
edifce above mentioned is composed, arose .
stout wire partition, reaching nearly to the cell
ing, and resting upon the counter, which travers.
ed the whole length of the room. Thus he was
effectually cut off from all possibility Of unfiend
ly contact from any Of his occasional visitors
while small sliding board that ran in and out
under the wire partition served as the medium
of his peculiar commerce. Upon this he received
every con note or draft presented for change ;
and having first carefully examined it, returned
It's value, by the same conveyance, in the coin
Of France, or indeed Of any country required =
Behind him was door communicating with his
domestic chambers, and in the middle of the
counter was another, the upper part of which
formed portion of the wire PARTITION above
described
The denzen of this little chamber had already
| closed his outer shutters, and was Just on the
point Of locking up his doors and retiring to his
repast, when two young men entered. They
were evidently Italians. from their costume and
peculiar dialect. Had it been earlier in the day,
when there would have been sufficient light to
have descerned their features aud expression. it
is probable that our merchant would have de-
feated their plans, for he was well skilled in de-
tecting the tokens of frau or design in the hu
man countenancG. But they had chosen III r
time too appropriately. One of them, advancing
towards the counter demanded change in French
coin for an English sovereign, which he laid upon
the sliding board, and passed through the wire
partition. The money changer rose immediately,
& having asce tained that the com was genuine,
returned its proper equivalent by the customary
lmode Of transfer. The Italians turned as if to
leave the apartment when he WIN had received
the money suddenly dropped the silver, as though
accidentally, upon The floor, As it was now
nearly dark, it was scarcely to be expected that
they could find the whole of the pieces without
the assistance of a light. This the unconscious
merchant hastencd to supply; and unlocking
without suspicion, the door of the partition be.
tween them, stopped with candle over the foo
II search of the lost coin. In this position tht
unfortunate man was Immediately assailed will
repeated slabs from ponlard, and he at length
fell. after a few feeble and Intellectual struggles
senseess, and apparently lifeess at the feet 0
his assassns.
A considerable time elapsed ere, by the for
,uitons entrance of Stranger, he was dscoverot
in this dreadful situation when 1t was fuun,
that the assassins, having first helped themseIve
to an almost incredible amount of money, h1
fed, without anything being left by which
clue might have been obtained as to their re
treat.
The unfortunate victim of their rapacity AM
cruelty, was, however, not dead Strange as
may appear, although he had received upward
of twenty wounds several Of which pain
showed that the dagger had been driven to tn
IA ho nd aaI foy, l,
after the event, was again to be seen in his Ion
accustomed place at the changers board. |
vain had the most diligent search been made b
the military rolce of Paris for the perpetrator
of this detestable deed. The villains had eude
all inquiry and investigation, and would in a
probability have escaped undiscovered with the
booty but for a mutually cherished dstrust
each other. Upon the first and complete success
of their plan, the question arose, how to dBpos
Of their enormous plunder, amounting to MOI
than hundred thousand pounds. Fearful of ii
researches of the police, they dared not retain
; at their lodgings. To trust a third party vii
their secret was not to be thought of. At lengt
after long and anxious deliberation, they agree
= to conceal the money outside the barriers
Paris until they should have CONGO ted some sa
This they accordingly did, burying the treasu
under tree about mile from the Bariere
y Enfer. But they were still as far as ever fro
: a mutual understanding. When they separate
4 on any pretence, each returned TO the spot viii,
y contained the stolen treasure. where of course
was sure to find the other Suspicion thus form
t and fed soon grew into dislike and hatred, un
o at length, each loathlng the sight of the othe
1t they agreed finally to divide the booty, and tn
= eternay sep rate, each to the pursuit of his oy
!; qualification. 1t thpn became necessary to car
It the whole OF the money home to their odgin
IT in Paris, in order that it might, according
r. their notions, be equitably divided.
:. The reader must here be reminded that the
r exists in Paris law relative to wines and spir
er uous liquors which allows them to be rctaiIed
- much lower price without the barriers III
l. that at which they are sold within the walls
'e the city. This law has given rise, among
n, lower orders Of people, to frequent attempts
Tx smuggling liquors in bladdcrs concealed ab,
h. their person, often in their hats. The pena
ut for the offence was so high, that 1t was very ra
Of ly enforced, and practically it was very sedt
indeed that The actual loss incurred by the
'g Tending party was anything. more than the pal
G. venture, which he was generally permitted to
in bandon. making the best use of bis heels to
p cape any further punishment The gcnsdaz
80 planted at the different barriers generally ma