The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1868-08-11

| scpulcncrSI rclolned with some asperi
ty, being voxcd at myself for suffering m
good nature to lead me into den 70
which l might never como out alive.
To this my fair guido dcigncd no reply
Gu reaching the foot Of the stairs, sh
pushed open door into a small diml
lighted room. and followed her in witt
somc secret misgivings, There was
bed in ono corner and on it appeared t,
bo human form, lying very still,
ii have brought doctor, mother,
said the girl, ne she closed the door be
hind me- As there was no reply to thi
she turned to me saying:
"Will Monsieur lc Doctcsir ploaso tC
be seated minute think my moth
or 10 asleep"
al beg Mad0moiscllc will boar ir
mind that | can only spare few mo.
mcnts in this case tonight, us | have
another call | wish TO make immediate.
ly," | returned, feeling anxious TO depart
from that subtcrrancan quarter ns quick
ly rs possible.
"Monsievr shnll not be detained long
by NO." rcjoincd the girl, passing ont Of
tho room by another door.
did not Fit down, but walked over 10
tho bel whore tho patient was lying very
stlll 80 still, indcod. that could not de
tcct any breathing. A womans cap was
on the hcnd and the end of n sheet cons
ccnl@l the face vcnturrd 10 turn this
down carefully, and bchcld the cyclces
sockets and griEning teeth of n human
skull
| started back in horror and at the
same rnorcnt the door by which the rirl
had len was thrown open, and in
marched nc after the other four tall hu
man forms in black gowns and maske, /
tnew Mt once. ihcn, that was to b,
robbed, and probably murdered. wore
n heavy diamond pin and ring, carried "a
very valuable goh watch, and had in
money about my person some five hun
dred frsSca, but not ii single weapon of
any kind. Resistance, therefore, being
out OF the question, | iJt my only chance
If, iIrlccd, there Wv rhancc--wns to
cenciline il,c ruiSars and buy myself off.
With presence Of mind for which | still
take To myself considerable credit, | aid
nt once:
81 understand it all. gentleman, and
you will find nc II very liberal person to
deal with There is one thing value
very highly, because il Is the only one ]
have and | cannot replace ii--thni is my
life Everything Gle of mine is at your
service, rvcn beyond what have with
mo"
ncri ili, -lr,r,n u, n.nt cool, oil'hand man
ncr, but they marched forward and sur.
rounded me before either returned n
word.
GLOW much have you. with you
thcnr
Immediately mentioned the differ
ont articles of value and exact amount
OF money, "aR of which l shall be
pleased to present you with if ono OF
You will he kind enough to escort me to
the street above" added.
"You said you had more, monsieur" ."
"Yca, gentlamcn, l have ten thou
sand francs In the Bank of France, and
/ will willingly add check for ono
half that amount
"Chccks don't answer our purpose. y
"Thcn pledge you my honor TINT
will tomorrow draw out five thousant
francs aud pay the amount over TO any
person who may approach me with this
bouquet in his hnnd,n said holding
out tho flowers | had purchased of the
fair dccoy.h
"And have him arrested the mex
minute, | supposc"'
mo; on my honor he shall dcpar
unframed and unqucstioncd, and ~
other human being shall be informc'
of the transaction for week, month
or year"
LET us handle what you have here,
said the first speaker.
Immediately took out my pin, tool
Off my ring, drow out my watch, pro
duccd my pocket book and purse, an
placed them in the extended hand.
"You mako us present OF thot
nOw?" he said.
.'Yes, on condition that one of go
will conduct me TO the street above
replied. ,u.., .,n
man, indeed" was the response.
| 1ncy tncn urcW Oh to8ctiici n'ihtii
lied the articles by the light of
smoky lamp, and cOnyerscd together
n low tone. | felt that they wcro hol,
ing conversation that Involved m
lifo. and TO speak the honest truth,
seemed ~ II overy nerve in me quiz
cred, and it wHs with difficulty couI
stand.
At last the principal spokeema
turned to mo and said in cool al
methodical manner:
"Monsiour has acted more like gel
tlcman than any other person We ey
had dealing with, and il we could, co
sistent with our business, obligo hir
, wo would he happy TO do so; but unfo1
tunately we are governed by n rul
which Is law with us, that dead m'
! tell no tal0s, and We think it will n
do to mako an exception in this cas-
We will, however, In consideration
monsieur's gentlemanly behavior, be
mild and lonient Us possible In doll
our duty, aud grant monsieur five mi
utes to say his prayers"
q "You have then resolved to murd
| me ?"
:, "Monsieur uses very hard term, b
u wo will let that pass. You have ii
{ minutes yot 10 live by this watch"
@ The villain then held my watch
! the light, and / folt indeed that n
minutes were numbered, and scarce
), began to pray for the salvation of II
aosI holiax,inu thot | cOuld NOT snVp n