The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1868-10-30
t appeared to be human form lying

very still.
Il have brought doctor, mother.
said the girl, as she closed the door be
hind me. AS there was no reply t.
this she turned to me. saying:
"Will Monsieur le Doeteur please b,
seatetla1HinuteS think my mother
is asleep" H'fl iIa Il
II beg that Mademoiselle will bea
IN mind thatl can onlyispare a few mo
ments in this ciIse Tonight, as hav,
another call wish to make immediate
| lly. feeling an Xious to depart from thai
| subterranean quarter as quick as pos
sble.
Monsieur shall moi ,N detained Ions
by me- rejoiued the girl, passing Out
of the room by another door.
. did not sit down, but walked over
to the bed where the patient was lying
very still-so still, Indeed, that could
not DETECT any reatning. A woman,
cap was on .lIe head, and 1t the eifd oi
il the sheet concealed the face. ven-
tnred to turn this down carefully, and
beheld the eyeless sockets and grinmine
teeth Of a human skull! "f :
started hack in horror, and at the
same moment the door by which the
girl had lett was thrown open, aud in
marched. ohe after the other, four stall
wart forms in black gowns and masks.
lat once then knew that was to lie rob-
bed and probably murdered. / wore II
heavy diamond pin and ring, carried Il
very valuable gold watch, and had in
money about my person some five hun
dred francs, but not single weapon of
any knd-resistance being therefore
ont Of the question, felt that my ouly
cha lce--It indeed'there was Il chance
was to concililte the rutfians and buy
myself off. With presence OF mind
for which | still take to myself colsid-
erable credit, said at once.
III understand il all, gentlemen, and
you will tiud me liberal person to dt al
with. There is one thing value very
highly, because tits the only one have.
and cannot replace t-thiit Is my life.
Every thing else o. mind is at your SER
vice, even beyond what | have with
me-
They we're undoubtedly surprised to
hear me speak in thai cool, of handed
but they marched forwardand
me before they returned II
word, p aftiH
"How much have you with your" in
CURED one, in a clvil'way, batfna low.
grnti tone. ir1
Immediately mentioned the differ
ent articles of value and the exact a.
mount Of money; 'all of which shall
be pleased to present you with. il one of
you will be kind enough to escort me to
Ihe street above. added.
"1ou said you had more, Monsieuri"
"Yes, gentlemen. | have ten thor-
sand francs in the Bank of France, and
will willingly add Il check tor hall that
inl0unt.' .it,j'ela tfH s.t.f,
"Checks don't answer our purposes
very well. said a second voice. M
''flfen pledged you my honor that
will t0-morrow draw out five Thousand
'rancs and pay the amount over to any
person who may approach me with this
bouquet in his hand. F" said |, holding out
HE flowers had purchased of the fair
iecoy. ua fa.,a
"And have him arrested the next min-
ite, | supposeY'
mo: on my honor he shalt depart un-
harmed and unqnestioped. and no otht + |
luman being shall be informed of the |
for Il week, Il month or Il |
ear s- $3.50 |
''Let MS handle what you have.' said
he first speaker
immediately took ont my pin, took
III my ring. drew out my watch. pro-
luced my pocket-5ook and purse, and |
,laced them all in his exteaded hand.
''Yon make us II present of these |
now ~ he said. .o7is{5a5 .,g.i
f"Yes, on condition .hat one OF you |
will forthwith onducC me to the street |
bove," replied. ,Iia nat-
'Monsieur is II very liberal gentle
nen, indeed ~ was the response.
They then drew off together. scrutin-
zed the articles by ,he light of a smoky |
amp, and conversed d together in low
ones. felt that they were holding
onversation that involved my life. To
peak the honest truth, it seemed us if
very nerve in me qliiyered, and il was
With di ilielhty that could stand.
AT length the principal spokesman
upledLto. NE aud said in a cool aud me-
hodicai manner: oqotrtfG 4GsI,i
Monsieur has acted more like a gen.
LEHMAN than any we ever had dealings |
With. and If we could, consistent with
tIr business, oblige him. we would be
appy to do So; but unfortunately we
fe governed by a rule which is law with
5, that dead men tell no tales, and we
hink 1t will not do, 10 make any excep-
ION in this case. We viii, however. III
Of Monsieur's gentlemail-
y behavior. be as mild ana lenient as
ossibie ia doing our duty. aud give you
we minutes for prayers. IIiur1
"Aou have then resolved TO murder 1
ne Z" gasped |. ss.r
"Monsiellr uses very han d term, but
'e let that pass. You have five min
tes yet to live, by this watch" "aaa
This william then held my watch to
he light, and | felt indeed that my
minutes were numbered, aud secretly |
egan to pray for the salvation of my |
oul, believing that ! COULD not ave my
ody. /
A deafh7llke silence reigned in that
loOmy apartnens for Some time, and
hen one of tile r,Ifiians bent down and
fled Il ttap-i.ooi-. and from the dark pit
Glow issued Il iIauseotIS smell, rs it
light be of putrid budlcs. | beheld my.
lLertied grave, and shuddered like all
Spen. tft..s
But why stand :here and die like
og. without Il single attempt ut escape!
the worst it could be but death. and
here was Il bare possibility that might
et away. | liked my eyes Oh the door
hich opened on the stairway, and with
single sudden bound reached it, but
,und it last and locked. Then, rs the
lnds OF the rufiians seized me with a
lurderous intent, | uttered u wild
Irlek. the door was burst il with a
'ud cI;lsn, aud in u moment the room
as filled With gems d'armes. saw |
as saved, and / tainted aud tell.
The four masks, the tilir decoy. and
me :wo of three others concerned in
lat lntirderous den, were well secured
lat n.gut, aud subsequently had the
leasare OF giving in my evidence a
iinSt thehi, and seeing them all COLI
to the galleys for life.
The place had tor some time been sus-
scted, and the decoy marked. O.l that
Nllt n iliIpcfINn Ind Sni.ri.f La nIl.AM III