The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-05-19

| | had given on assumed name at the inn
and stated that belonged to Toulon. On
the next morning called for my bill, and
informed my host that was off for home
Then l went to the fruit preservers, and
told him the same, stating that must con
suit with my partner before | concluded my
bargain. After this / went to the wooden
factory, and saw the business agent. His
name was Louis Cazuabon, and he had come
to Casteane about year before. He seem
ed to be strait forward, business man, and
yet he was the only one had seen whom |
really wished to suspect. In conversing
upon the murders, he had been a little toe
free and off-handed, treating the subject
more coolly than man with heart would
be apt to do. But still had, thus far, been
able to find nothing against him. On the
present occasionI told him, as 1 had told
the Others, that must return to Toulon
"Ifyou have not the ready money with
you, we can give you credit, he said
told him had plenty of money, but I
was not fully prepared to pay the prices he
had demanded. He said, '.'very well,' and
added that he should be happy to sell to me
when | came again. babe him good dav,
and then departed. As soon as was alone,
| began to suspect Monsieur Louis Cazaubon
in earnest. When | told him that / had
money, but did not purchase because he
charged me too much, why didn't he banter
me? Simply because he wished me to leave
town with my money in my pocket. At
least. soft appeared to me. This was suf-
ficient ground for me to work upon, and I
resolved to watch the man a little while: so
| rode to an t-ofthe-way place, tied my
horse, and then returned and concealed my
self in a position whe e could see the move
ments of Louis Cazaubon. Ina few minutes
he came out from the factory, and walked
away. His step was hurried and eager
felt sure that he was the man who did the
direct work ofdeath. The plot was deeper
than that, or he would have been discovered
ere this. SO resolved to wait a while and
see if he returned. would have follwed
him if could have done so with safety: but
he might have detected me, and that would
not do. However, in less than fifteen min
utes he came. He walked now with sober,
innocent air. 1t seemed to -'say-Oh! L hav-
en't been up to any mischief, as you can see!
! saw Cazaubon at his desk again, and
then returned to my horse. / knew that
had risk to run now, but was ready for
| it. If the factory agent was at the bottom
of the crime, and meant to have me robbed,
he had already set his machinery in motion,
and the development would be upon the road
examined my pistols, and then left the
town, taking the road along the river, towards
Aups.
| At the end of half an hour came to the
slopes ofthe BaTols mountains, and soon
afterward entered the wood | now began
to bevery careful, and kept my eyes about
me. will not say that was wholly with.
out fear for the mysterious manner in which
the murders had been done, verged so closely
upon the marvellous, that sort of supersti
tious dread attached to it. Had the victims
been shot, or run through with sword, ol
had their throats been cut, | should have
felt no sort of dread. But this was new
ground. Death had come here, nobody
knew how. 1t might come from an invisa
BILE hand, and in dead silence. Yet, when
reasoned upon the subject, felt sure tha
the murderer must approach very near t.
his victim ere the blow was struck, since i
must be some direct and powerful agent
that could cause death in so strange a man
ner.
| l had crossed the little cascade of Sain
Esprit, and was decendinga short, steep hill
side, when | saw boy by the roodside a
the foot Of the decent, engaged in whipping
muleF He was slightly built fellow, no
more dkan fifteen years of age, and his coars,
garments were covered with meal knew
that there was amill upon branch of tn,
Verdon, not far back, and l supposed h,
might be the miler's boy. As came near
l saw large sack upon the ground, clos,
by where the mule was standing.
"What is the matter, my boy / asked a
| drew up to him.
This ugly mule has thrown both me anC
my bag Of corn from his back the boy an
swered.
'Are you hurt 2 continued.
! MY left shoulder is hurt, 'and can't lii
this sack again. IfMonsieur would help me
| would be very grateful.
i Until this moment the idea of suspectin
the boy had not entered my head but tn
suspicion flashed upon me now. He wa
altogether to keen a looking fellow for
niller's apprentice. He gave me a glanc
from pair of quick, sharp eyes, that mean
more than he had spoken. And then, ha,
seen him hold his mule firmly with his lef
hand.
| Ileaped from my saddle, and moved tc
wards the boy, being careful TO watch hi
movements.
! 'Now,' said he, If You will take hold o
that end, we will pat it on He lifted a
the other end, and pretended it hurt hi