Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-05-10
From Gleason,s Pictorial.
The Agents Stratagem.
AN ADVENTURE.
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By sYLyANUs COBB, JR.

NJ. Augustine Lafont was the coniden.
.tial agent Of heavy banking house in
Paris. Early in The spring Of 1882 he SCI.
out from Paris with bills, notes. drafts, &c,
10 the amount Of oyersa million of francs,
for q house in Chaumont, and much secre.
cy.had been observed in the preparation
for his journey, as the kingdom was, at
that time, infested by q secret organization
.ofthieves. Lafoni had The notes concealed
in various parts Of his dsess, and taking the
aheayy diligence as his best mode Of con-
yeyance. he SET out on his mission.
Nothirg worthy Of note occurred 10 ar
rest bafont's attention, until he had passed
nearly through The department Of The Seine
and Marne, when, just nt nighlfall Two
~eil>dressed gentlemen hailed the diligence,
and claimed passag &c 10 Chnpmont. Il was
already too dark for the agent 10 clearly
distinguish The features Of The new comers,
but yet from what li,lle he could see he al
once madesup his mind tho, their counie
annnces were not unfamiliar TO him, and
having come 10 this conclusion, be deter>
mined TO watch their movements, for q
vague suspicion that they Ind BY some
means became possessed Of the secret Of
his BUSINESS, took possession Of his mind
The diligence crossed the Seine nt No.
gent, and there remained for the night
As soon as Lafon. had opportunity TO ex
anime the countenances Of the strangers
at the supper.table, he became satisfied that
his FIRST impressions were correct, Tor one
Of The travellers, al ieast, he had seen in
Paris on the dav before his departure, and
he could moi but notice that they both eyed
hin. with marked interest. After supper,
The agent lighted his cigar, and walked
out on TO the bridge, whore be remained
nenrly half an hour, and at The end Of that
lime, he started bnck towards The inn, and
just as be arrived Of The door, he noticed
his two travelling companions entering the
stab}e. A feeling Of curiosity prompted
him TO follow them, and as he came round
By ihe stable door, he could just see the
two men crouching away in an empty
stall. With steollhy, cat>like trend, the
agent crept as near as possible tolhe stall,
and be was fortunate enough 10 make out
the gist Of their conversation. 81
When Lufont left the stable, he knew
that the two men had left Paris for The pur.
pose of robbing him, and that they intend
ed to put their plan in execution as soon
as The diligence should have entered the
department of Upper Marne. Atfrst, the
agent thought Of calling upon the gsnsd
afnaes and have the two men arrested, but
then The evidence might no. be sufficient TO
warrant such proceeding, and besides, he
weald thereby give the secret OF his mis-.
sion 10 the cupidily Of others who might be
equally as really ready 10 rob him. He
returned the inn, and after considerable
reflection, he determined to procure horse
and secretly pursue bis journey. Having
come tosihis conclusion, be went 10 the dri-
ver OF the diligence, and under the plea Of
having TO remain in Nogsnt on especial
business for q day or two,he settled his
fare thus far; then he went 10 the stnble,
and ordered horse to be in readiness for
him BY. three 0 clock in the morning, a. the
same time amounting upon the garcoa the
strictest secrecy with regard 10 his moves
ments, 5tts
sAs soonas the arrangements were made,
Laion. retired to his room. He, Of fcourse,
knew tha. his secret had go. wings, and
even in his proposed course he was not en-.
ltirely free from danger. A million francs
was large sum; andsif the two Parisian
robbers had SCI their hearts upon its pos>
session. he had yet some work 10 perform
| ere be could be entirely free from them. e
Alter revolving the thing over in bis mind