Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-11-25

| "Monsieur said that had allowed others to
enter his chamber, and complained that some-
thing had been stolen from them. In conse-
quence Of this he had another lock placed upon
the door. mentioned it to the proprietor, who
said that he had no objection"
"Ah, indeed" replied Vidocq. "Then you
had better follow me-"
He consequently ascended the stairs, exam.
ined the lock, and producing bunch Of keys,
found one that fitted it. The door opened, and
he went in. There was no defect in the mea-
surement Of the rooms. They corresponded
exactly with those which were over them. A
closet in the bed chamber was locked. This
also he opened. 1t was vacant, bat his eye at
once discovered trap.door in the floor.
"Where does that lead to!'
@lt is new, Monsieur"
Il see it is" said Vidocq, closing the door,
"Who have the apartments beneath these!'
IL assure you, Monsieur" was the trembling
reply Of the porter, "that really know nothing
about the"
"Answer me-"
"An old lady with her two daughters, Mon
sieur. ] can testify to you that they are very
I quiet and respecta-"
Vidocq again cut him short. ss
"What is their occupation" was bis guess
ton.
sNothing, Monsieur"
"How do they live, then!"
"Upon their rents, Monsieur"
70, very good. In that case. will return in
less than half an hour, and arrest them. You
will, in the meantime, accompany me to the
Bureau of Police" 7'f A%
As he said, it was done, and Vidocq had the
at sp(n ~e = l. =.
ner apartment, under the bedroom occupied
BY the Alsatian. 1t was also fitted up with
truckle' bed, and a small but complete printing
press, and contained the whole Of the plates
necessary for the manufacture Of forged checks
upon some Of the principal banking houses in
Paris.
The men and the three women were Of
course arrested, but Vidocq did Tot remove
them, as be wished to give their principal no
possibility of obtaining hint which might
lead to the chance Of bis escape. He then
once more ascended to the apartments Of the
Alsatian, and concealed himself in the inner
chamber. i It Was now late in the evening" but
the forger did not return until il was eleven.
He washed bis hands, and changed bis cost for
q rough kind Of jacket. a.
While be did 90, Vidocq had the opportunity
Of observing him. He was built with enof.
nous muscular strength, and Vidocq beganto 70
imagine that he might have miscaculated bis
own capacity of dealing with him. However,
assistance was nesr, and he made up his mind
how to act. A the Alsatian went to and un-
locked the cabinet, he bent down over the trap.
At this Instant the Chief Of Police-I forget
whether at this time he was Chief Of Police
or not-sprang upon him, and gave the signal
for those below to mount the stairs.
The struggle was short and fierce. Taken
at disadvantage as he was, the muscleso the
Alsatian enabled him to get the better Of bic
opponent, whom he throw upon the floor Of
the chamber, just - Vidoeq heard his oompsn.
ions rush up the stairs. Unluckily, the forgef
had bolted the door a. be entered the ROOM
They were obliged to break il open.
This had made the chance Of Vidocq for life
an amazingly narrow one. His friend from
Alsaee had plucked out pistol from the boz
som Of bic waistcoat, and cooked Il While
he was doing 30, Vidocq had managed 10 NJ
lease one Of bis arms. But for this he would
have been dead man. The Alsatian. a
matter Of course, went 10 the Bains, and had
the pleasure Of passing the remainder Of his
life in the occupation Of les trsvaar forces.