Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-07-10
The Three Hunchbacks.

The following amusing and seemingly in-
credible narrative was extracted from late
French publication. Its neatly told, and
viii be read with interest: !.
Three brothers, al humpbacked. and all
accurately alike in appearance, lived in bas'
sacom. One Of them killed a man in chance
medly, and not. Icing taken on the moment,
the prosecutors could only swear which one oil
the brothers had done the deed. Rather than
put an Innocent man to death, the Judge let
the guilty one escape. but to avoid further
inconvenience Of the kind. he hanisbed all
from the province. One settled in Paris, be:
came rich, and married. the others, after
neatly starving in England, returned ard paid
a visit to their fortunate brother.
The master ct toe hogse was abroad when
they Knocked, and the poor wife was troub-
led more than little by the visit.
"My husband is very jealous" size said 10
them while she was giving them something
to ecr. "You must go to tie lurthcst quar-
ter of tie town, and never come here again
but III make your brother look to your
wants"
While she was speaking sue hapra her hus'
bands knock. and cried out:
"Folow me, you value your lives"
She ordered the servant not to open the
door till abe should return and then convey
ed the brothers down stairs and locked them
in the cellar Her h.. band scolded for be-
ing kept ont so long, but a good dinner re-
stored him 10 good humor, and at night he
went cut to pay visit.
The wife then went down 10 the cellar, and
there found the two brothers dead, one lying
here and the other there. What was TO be
done :? She sent for strong Auvergnat,
brought rundown stairs, showed him one
corpse, which she bad previously taken out
of the cellar, and promised him,a louis dor
On his return after having thrown it into The
river Seine. He made no scruple about
the matter, but popped the body into the
sack, took it to the bridge, and shook 1t into
the river.
Returning for bis reward, the wife disputed
his claim, as the bpdy was still dying outside
of the cellar door. Here the stupiGed man
saw what be firmly believed to be the corpse
he had thrown from the bridge, and resign
ing himself to destiny he got it into the sack,
and went through the ceremony for the Sc
cond time.
Coming back. he was terrified and enraged
by finding the twice drowned corpse knock
ing at the door,
care these your tricks, master ?" said he,
eAb, Monsieur Ghesi Ccverss Jou are, III
settle you the third trial"
So saying,he forced the poor husband into
the sack, carried hirnto the same spot, and
effected the third discharge. This time he re
turned in triumph; for the wife, ignorant OF
her hus' and's fate, and having no more
ccrrses to remove, paid him twice what she
had covenauted, and gave him glass OF wine
into the bargain.
"Your good Eeahh, madam" said he. you
are better than your promises, but / earaed
il. found the humpbacked rogue, or h's
ghost. knocking at the door after had thrown
him in the second time"
"Ob, wrctchl you have drowned my hus-
band" cried the woman.
While size was screaming, and he'standing
In amazement, the gend'armes entered, SO
cured both, and sent them to prison. hexi
day they were brought before the magistrate
of the quarter and examined. The poorwic
concealed nothing; the'Auvergnat was called
On for an explanation, and while both were
awaiting sentence OF death, The three broth
ers full of life, but with very pale faces, were
ushered in the room. Some fishermen sta
toned hear the bridge lad saved the three
The unmarried men had only been dead drunk
in .he Cellar, and the submersion, and the con,
seouent pulling and hauling and e'ectment
of zine and water, had recovered them from
their drunken lothargy before the natural
time. On their first appearance before the
magistrate they could give no explanation Of
their visit.o the river, and the husband had
no idea Of the cause of his being seized; but
lis wife's explanation made all clear.
The king. hearing Of the strange adventure,
settled pension on the unmarried men, but
they were not to dwell within fifty miles Of
Paris, and the married man was not jealous
for year and 9 day after his SECURE and es
cape from the river.
Worrny.r STAND IT.-A good Joke is told