The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-08-13

H'h pm NAANA INK
carried a very valuable gold watch. and
had IN money about my person, some five
hundred francs, but not n single weapon
Of any knd-resistance being therefore
out Of the question, l felt that my only
chance if indeed there was a chance-was
to counciliate the rufians and buy myself
of. With a presence of mind, for which /
will take to myself considerable credit. 1
said at once.
81 understand il all, gentlemen, and YOU
will find me u liberal person TO deal. There
Is one thing ! value very highly, because it
IS the only one / have, aud | can not re-
place IL that is my life. Everything else
OF mine Is ut your service, even beyond
what | have with me-
They were undoubtedly surprised to
hear me speak in that cool, off-handed
manners; but they marched forward and
surrounded me before they returned a
word.
How much have you with voug" in
CURED one, in a civil way, but in a low.
gruH tone.
Immediately mentioned. the Indifferent
articles Of value apd exact amount OF
money; 'all of which Ishall he pleased 10
present You with, if one of ypu win be kind
snough to esgoyt me to the street above. ~
I added
Yea sail You had more. Monsieur
YES gentlemen, / have ten thousand
francs IN the Bank of France. aud [ will
willingly. add a check for half that
amount
Checks don't answer ouJ purpose very
well, said a second voice.
Then pledge you my honor that | will.
tomorrow, draw out five thousand frnuc,
and pay the amount over Uauy person VII,
] NOV UN,F,V4.n.l .A. -g.Nl. aI.. -. -. L..
hand, said |, holding out the flowers
had purchased of the fair decoy.
and rave him arrested the next minute.
I suppose"
mo; on my honor he shall depart uu.
harmed and unquestioned, aud no other
human being shall be informed of the
transactions for u week. "a month, or a
year.
Let US handle what you have" said the
first speaker
/ immediately took ont my pin, took on
my ring, drew ont my watch. produced my
pocket book and purse, and placed them
All IN his extended hand.
You make MS n present Of these, now
he said.
Eyes, on condition that one of You will
forthwith conduct me TO the street above, ~
l replied.
Monsieur is a very liberal gentleman in
deed1' was the response.
They then drew of together, scrutiuized
the articles by the light ola smoky lamp,
aud conversed together in low ones. /
felt that they were holding n consultation
that iuyol,ed my life. To speak the honest
truth, II SEEMED as if every nerve in me
qulyorcd, and it was with difficulty that |
could stand.
At length the principal spokesman turn
ed TO me and said IN "a cool and methodical
unner
Monsieur has acted more like n gentle
man than any we ever had dealings with,
and If W. could, consistent with our bust
ness, obligr him We would be happy to do
so; put unfortunately We are governed by
a rule which Is Law with MS. that lead men
tell no tales. and We think II will not do TO
make an exception in this case. We will,
however, IN consideration OF MonsieuT's
gcntlamanly behavior. be rs mild aud len
lent as possible in doing our duty, audgive
Monsieur five minutes for prayers.
You have then resolved 10 murder me-
gasped /.
Monsieur uses a very hard serm, but we
will let that pass. You have i've minutes
yet 70 live by this watch
This villain then held my watch Ia the
light, and | felt indeed thai my minutes
were numbered, aud secretly began 10 pray
for the salvation ut my soul, believing that
/ could not save my body.
A death-like silence reigned in that
gloomy apartment ior some time, aud then
one OF the mJianS bent down and lifted q
tmp door. aud nom the dark pit below Is.
sued a nauseou4 smell, as IL might be OF
putid bodies. / beheld my intended ginve
andshuddered like An aspen.
Do -A.a .t..l HI.V. ...l IL. Lilo. . L.
without a single attempt at escape Al
the worst It could be but death, and there
was "a bare possibility that Knight yet awuy.
/ fixed my eve on the door which opened
on the stairway. and with a single sudden
bound reached it, but found IL fast and
locked. Then, as the bands ofthe ntiians
seized me with "a mUrderOus intent, l ut
tered a wild shrek, the door was burst IN
with "a loud crash, and In "a moment the
room was filled with geudarnes. | saw
that | was saved, and tainted and fell,
The iour masks, the lair decoy, aud some
two on three others concerned IN that muir
derous den, were wen secured that nipht,
and / subsequently had the pleasure Of CIV
ing in my evidence against them, and SEE
iug them all condemned TO the galleys ii
life.
The placs had for some time been sus
pected, and the decoy marked. On thai
night IA detective had secretly followed Tia,
gill aud myself, and after ascertaininp
whittier she had conducted me, had hasten.
| ed to bring a body Of gendnnnes TO the
the place. The delay of the mfians in then
~murderous design had been Just sufficient
to save me-. / scarcely need add that
never again volunteered to accompany d
distressed damsel on n secret adventure
while / remained IN Paris.