The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-06-29

Paris. Cartouche went into Normandy,
where he organized gang of brig
ands. whom be commanded as chief.
Here some of his exploits have become
traditional.
A noble was travelling through the
country in his carriage, with postil-
lions and two outriders. 1t was about
dusk. when, at lonely part Of the
road. they encountered a man on
horseback, who, presenting gun at
the Positions, commanded them to
pull up. on pain of death. This they
did, while the two outriders put spurs
to their horses and gallopcd away
Then the robber, who was no other than
Cartouche, approached the nobleman
and saluted him with much respect,
at the same time keeping the muzzle
of his gun pointed at him. The tray-
ellers had no arms, SO that defence
was impossible, and the robber adj
dressed him with, ] beg a thousand
pardons of yoWn lcEdship's august
honor for stopping your carriage, but
| assure you that pressing necessity
has driven me to the act | am an
armorer, and being much pressed for
money, | would gladly dispose Of this
gun 60 your lordship, if your lordship
will only have the goodness to pur-
chase it Of me"
"Rnd how much do you want for it.,
pray p asked the nobleman, surprised
at this mode Of proceeding by a high
wayman.
One thousand francs, replied Car
touche. "The piece is worth double
that, as you can see from its mount
ings; but | am pressed for money, as
| have eaid, and you shall have it at a
bargain"
q have but five hundred francs With
me, said the nobleman.
"Give me three hundred, then, and
check on your banker for the
balance" said Cartouche
The nobleman seeing that resist
ance might cost him his life, opened
his writing case and made out check,
which he handed, with the three hun
drod francs, to the robbcr, who hand
ed him the gun, and bowling to his
saddle-bow, turned his horses head to
so. At this moment the nobleman,
cooking the gun, aimed it Mt Car
touches head, crying: Hand me
back my money you internal robber.
or else | will blow out your brains"
That, my lord would not be an ca
sy thing to do with an unloaded gun;
aud, although | have several loaded
pistols about me, do not think it
would be judicious for me to lend
them to you in Your present temper.
Spare your cpithets; | AIN not a
robber, on this occasion at least, but
have made q regular commercial
transaction with you, and with these
words the rascal gave an ironical
laugh and disappeared into the thick
Ct
Next day the nobleman notified his
banker, SO that payment Of the check
should be stopped; but Cartouche had
been beforehand with him and re-
cicved the money. 1t seems that the
robbcr, for some reason on other, had
made a vow not to steal for certain
time, and, being pressed for money,
had hit upon this subterfuge to keep
his conscience quiet,
Finding that Normandy did not AZ
ford u sufficiently wide field for his
operations, Cartouche returned tc Pa
ris, where he soon became the leader
of widely extended and very expert
gang of thieves. The police arrange
ments at that day we;o very eneifi-
Gent and these robbers committed
the most audacious thefts in the very
heart of Paris. Cartouche, as a gen
eral thing, was opposed TO the taking
of life, and his mode Of operating was
often very eccentric.
One day he went into tavern in
the neighborhood of Paris to seek for
some refreshment. The man of the
house and his wife appeared to be in
trouble about something, and Car
touche inquired OF them the cause; he
told that they were unable to pay
their rent, and that the owner of the
premises had threatened to eject
them.
"How much do YOU owe?" asked
Cartouche.
Three thousand francs replied
tho inn keeper.
After few moments reflection, Car
touche said:
You seem to be good, honest peo-
pie enough, and l should like to help
you out Of your difficulty. l will lend
you the sum named, which You can re-
pay me at your convenience Notify
your landlord to come here tomorrow
at three O'Clock to receive his rent, the
amount of which has been lent to you
by friend, and be sure that he gives
you a receipt in full.
Well, the landlord came at the APP
pointed hour. pocketed his three
thousand francs, and went ON his way
rejoicing AS he was passing through
a piece of woodland, however, ON his
way To Paris, he was confronted by
Cartouche aud one of his gang, who
robbed him of all the money he had
about him, amounting to more than
four thousand francs.
Cartouche and his gang used fire.
quently TO perpetrate robberles more
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