The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-06-28


After years of industrious and unremittinU
search have tracked this mysterious party to
what believe to he his very domicil and strong
hold. In almost every city of consequence UPON
the continent have heard of him. bat never be-
fore has the trail been so warm or the contact so
imminent as now. Yet cannot say more
Though am within one of him" almost hourly
though am continually stepping into places from
which he has just Departed am not prepared 10
state that have him fairly in view as yet. Though
every one here Is in daily communication with
him-though he pervades every nook and corner
of this peaceful village-aIss [ cannot pledge
myself TO any further information.
Would that the want of acquaintance were mu-
tuol! Would that the Best Authority we're
ignorant OF my existence! But It may not be.
he knows me-he has marked me for MS own
and l, who have been the pursuer. am now the
heDzled and terror stricken victim of pursuit.
Interesting runOrs grew into semi detraeiDn:
they gradually thckened in quality aud numbers
aud al my most cunning devices TO bring about
artncounter and thrust the falsehO0d down the
teeth OF the Best Authority have been thwarted
and eircumvented. until my rage has become des-
perste. seriously believe that should | meet
the Best Authority 10 my present state Of mind |
would plunge something into his mdrin--lf he
has any.
Where does he get his information, and why
get II! tor there is always almsy basis of truth
in his stories. | think have the right to demand
thus much.
How did be find what wrote to friend ia A
distant State aud what my friend said abaut III
How does be know what vIrtu0us blrghers say to
their spouses after bedtime, sDd by what means
does he ascertain the exact amount | lOse at
draw ~
How did he find out what said to Minciug
when we were fishing on the lakel Perhaps2
horrid suspicioni-i may be Mincinz himselfl
But no; he Is known as perfectly harmless asa,
who couldn't remember what he was told il he
tried.
No! no there is something about this which ia
altogether trighttul, and my le-h creeDs when
contemplate it, For instance The other even.
ing, on my way to small gathering, | said to my
upanion:
Miss Buffers foe girl, isn't she 20
Two hours afterwards my partner said to ne :
On, Mr.. blinker! | hear you are to marry
Miss Buller-now don't deny it; have it from
the best authority"
Then he Is here, thought; and strsightw.y
gave up everything in the search. There was
Clsbton, pompOus doBk ey. whose only ambi1on
IN lie Is TO conceal density which he has lust
shTeW dness enough 20 suspect; it couldn't be him
because be never talked. There was-bat jl.t
then l happened 70 turn | saw, standing BY a
window, snail man of a cadaverOus habit who
hAed on me dull aud phlsphoresceut stare
Heavens, l thought, that must be nun al lat.
Mhat an unearthly gsze, and 1 thought of tbs
] feare thee aun'ient msrinere,
iesre thy glyttedug eye"
But the small man had disappeared. Nslk5io-
tien! be viii escape, and bounded on wildly on
to the gallery.
He had not fed there he was. leaning over the
baluslfade, ano giving unmistaksble evidences of
sickness. he turned Oue stupid orr upon me ano
muftered thickly, Isn't IL awful to reflect
amidst all this gaiety that we're passing away
hici"
Bah! II was Fitzass. The next dav heard I
mao taken Miss Butler on the gallery and been re.
Jected then and there.
| met hiDcing. Now look here, MineinV: |
collect your faculties and tell me where YOU heard |
that lie ?"
" Well. old Mrs. Prowler told US at breakfast: |
she SAID she got it from ="
" The Best Authority
Damn the Best Authority " I shrieked sav.
agely, and Mineing shrunk from NE as If had |
blssphemed.
Now, | ask, if this is not enough to produce |
Madness: TO experience these things daily hourly; |
70 nave the most foolish and exs-persting topics /
10 circulation about yourself, and 70 be constantly |
meeting people who have just heard them, and /
whO calmly announce their faith 10 the Best Au
lhorlyi ask, II a free American citizen is to
peal?
i call on the Best Authority to stand forward
aho produce himself-tO give an account Of him.
self where he lives what are his means of sub.
slstenee, and whether he is married
1 call upon him TO give me sstisfaction-the sat
siaeiion Of one deadly gaze upon his features.
snd OF graphing with him the next moment in
he death struggle. orEuRrs