Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-04-13

became necessary to the safety OF the roboers.
Besides the feeling of hatred arising from
the loss of four of the troop, including the cap
tain, and the diminution of their gains ehected
by young Lecoq's interference, Lady Guiifort
nourshed deep desire of personal vengeance
against him for having been duped by hlm,
and resorted to the following stratagem to graf
ify that feeling. Young Lecoq, enriched by
the bounty of the king, and possessed OF iu-
crative place, led a regular life, undisturbed by
any fears of Lady Guilfort's vengeance, ne
supposing her to be dead, when, one day, a
grave-looking and respectfully dressed man
called upon him, and, after requiring prom.
Use of secresy with regard to what he should
tell him, asked if he should like to be put In
the way of detecting set of smuggiers, VINO
carried on an extensive and thriving trade De-
tween Belgium and Paris, in Brussels lace and
other prohibited goods. Lecoq, whose ruling
passion was avarice, eagerly accepted the Oh
fer, and agreed to the terms proposed. His
informant was to point out Lecoq as sure a.
gent, to whose house the smugglers might con-
sign their bales and cases of contraband mer-
chandize. Ten to twelve days after the con-
cluson of this bargain, cart stopped at Le-
coq's door, and from it were taken two large
wooden cases, which, according to Lecoq ) or
derS, were placed in store-rOom on the ground
floor of his house. The carter, after in vain
searching his pockets for the keys, said that
he must have left them at the stage where ne
Ddu stopped the nlgDl pul nS
would return thither, and bring them to Lecoq
the next morning. From some over-acting on
this mans part, and from observing that these
cases were perforated in seven or eight places
with small holes Lccoq had his suspicious a
wakened. He communicated his doubts to a
friend of his, a courageous and resolute young
fellow and in the evening, when everything
was very quiet in the house, they both, armed
with pistols, descended with noiseless steps
the stairs, and took their posts near the door
of the store-room, which had been left pur-
posely unclosed.
They had been for a considerable time on
the watch; and Lecoq's friend, getting impa-
tient, was about abandoning his post, when an
indistinct noise from that part OF the store
room where the cases were placed, struck their
ears. They redoubled their attention-the
noise increased; and they were soon afterwards
able to ascertain that it came from the cases.
Lecoq squeezed the hand of his friend-the
signal was understood-they both cooked their
pistols. ssJohn,' said a voice in the lowest
possible whisper, ssare you there We ap-
pear to be alone in the house. Let us breathe
a little air. for am stifed in this cursed box.
We can lie down again when the people of the
! house come back" ssDo you think they have
any suspicion ?'' ssNot the least with all his
cunning, Lecoq is blinded by his avarice the
English woman judged him rightly, and to-
night, ,at twelve, she may satisfy her vengeance
(police spy.'D ssFire !" cried Lecoq, at the
same time discharging his pistol in the direc-
tion of the cases his friend did the same;
and the explosion was followed by double
cry of agony-the balls had taken effect Le-
cog ran into an adjoining room, where he had
placed lighted lamp in cupboard land bring
ing 1t with him into the store-room, he and his
friend saw the robbers stretched at the bottom
of the cases, one dead, and the other having his
thigh broken. The roise of the firearms bro't
several of the neighbors to the house and soon
after the patrol arrived. This circumstance
greatly annoyed Lecoq; as the public rnmor
| of the discovery of the two robbers would, If
| it reached the ears of the rest of the band,
| prevent them from keeping their engagement
for midnight ,and thus Illustrate, his intention of
securing them all. He however, endeayored
to repair as much as possible the evil by en-
joining silence on those who entered the house.
He also informed the lieutenant general of po-
lice, who sent him company OF soldiers, dis
gused, and who came to the house only one
By one, where they were conveniently posted
for the reception of the robbers.
1t had scarcely struck midnight when the
noise of several feet was heard approaching,
and soon after they stopped opposite the door of
the house whilst, at the same time, five knocks
were given upon one of the windows of the
store-room the door after moments delay,
cautiously half opened, and four men sue
cessively entered, followed by another figure
in female attire. The door was then slammed
to violently, whistle was blown, and instant
ly numerous torches and tapers were brought
from the adjoining rooms, which lighted up the
hall, and exhibited to the stupefied bandtti the
muskets of thirty soldiers leveled at them. In
despair they dropped their arms, and were
seized, bound, and carried off to prison. Be-
fofe their departure, Lecoq went up to the fe-
male figure, and putting lamp to her face,
behed features totally unknown to him. The
W., NO nnf LODI (Nnil
pointment and astonishment were extreme.
The next day, however, he received note,
which in some measure cleared up the mystic
cy. This note which exists in the archives of
the police, was brought to him by porter,
who said it had been given to him by lady
in a thick veil. The contents were as follows
ssTremble !-One of us must perish Yes
terday was near your house, when the i'm
patience OF my two agents rendered abortiye
my plan but wishing to revenge myself on
the new captain of our troop. and the unwor-
thy rival he has preferred to me, / did not
warn him of the fate of our advanced guard,
but allowed him to proceed on the expedition,
knowing that he would thereby become your
and the policies prey. l have succeeded, and
they ,will now expiate the scorn they treated
me with. You may judge from this if my
vengeance knows how to reach those that is-
cur 1t. 1t is your turn next, young fanfaron,
who imagine that you secure from my
blows, by having made yourself a nioHchdrd,
when at best you are good for nothing else
than to be -
Peuchet adds, in note, ssafter this letter,
the conclusion of which is expressed IN TOO
energetic terms to be repeated to ears polite,
the report breaks off abruptly, several pages
having been torn out OF the register. We are,
therefore, ignorant of the denouement of Lady
Guilford's history; but from what we have
seen of it, it is abundantly clear that this was
not the last of her adventures