Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-03-18
A STORY OF PARIS.
u. WHITMORE,
Publisher and PropIletor:

A Romantic story of smiles and
Crime-BeautifGI Eyes, but u
Black Heart.
A recent history of the 1.-THE French
Police" contains the following tragic
story, showing that truth is sometimes
stranger than fiction:
When M. LaReynie was Lieutenant
General of police, a terror, produced by
the disappearance of several persons,
spread through various districts of Paris.
Within about four months twenty-six
Young gentlemen, varying in ages from
sixteen to twenty-five years, were miss
ing from their inconsolable families.
MYSTERIOUS and contradictory rumors
spread in the Faubourg st. Antoine,
which had been robbed of five promising
tradesmen's sous. The gossips declared
that princess who was suffering from
liver complaint contended against the
malady by taking baths in human blood.
Others affirmed that the Jews, at inter-
walls. cruci6ed Christians in hatred of
the Savior, but luckily this mad opinion
did not prevail.
The Due de Gesvres spoke on the sub
iect to the King, and the latter com
blamed 10 the lieutenant general OF po-
lice for allowing such thing to go on.
La Reynie, in despair Of the King $ dis
satisfaction, returned very sadly To Paris.
On arriving there he sent for very
smart agent-one Lecoq-whom he had
previously employed with success intri-
eating tangled skeins. On hearing the
renort. Lecoq, carried away by his ac-
tivity, exclaimed
"Well, Monseigneur, | see that in
order to relieve you from your embar-
rassment | must renew Abrahams 5 sac
rifce. / ask for a week, and at the end
of that time hope TO have good news
for you.
Lecoq gave no further explanation,
and De la Reynie, who regarded him as
one of his most Trustworthy agents, dis
missed him with sign that granted him
most extensive powers.
Lecoq had a son to whom he was sim
cerely attached, and whose education he
undertook himself. This lad, called the
Wide.awake by his comrades, owing
TO his ready wit, really possessed an un'
common intellect. He was sixteen
years of age, and nature, while develop
ing his mind, had not forgotten his ex'
ternal appearance.
Wide-awake, whose real name was
Exupere, obtained from Lecoq every
thing that can hatter young man s
vanity. His handsome clothes height
ened the effect of his personal appear
auce; but he rarely went out, for lie
coo was aware to what young men are
EXPOSED in the streets of Paris. DE was
escorted by spies in whom his father
could confide.
On the day when Lecoq had his con-
ference with De 10 Reynie, on his return
ONE. he shut himself mp with Wide
awake, with whom he had 2 lengtheped
conversation, aud au hour after the
female neighbors noticed the boy 90 out
in tho most brilliant toilet, and this time
alone. He wore around his neck and hat
gold chains and medallions; there were
,wo watches in hIs fob, and he frequently
clinked the louis with which his pockets
uere well lined. LecOq felt that young
men had necessarily fallen into somee
Gallant snare, and that the lure offered
them must be q pretty girl; hence, ne
foresaw that in eKpobing his son to a
maet;nS with this creature she would not
fail to try TO ruin Wlde-awake Glsgl but
the latter, beiBg well warned, would not
be caught in the trap by which so many
others had perished. or,
At about three p. m, on the Hith qaly'
Young Lecoq in all his glory, was EaiK,-
ing ON the river terrace in the garden o.
the TuIeries, when remarkably beau
tiful lady passed close to him. She
was alone. but followed at a short dis
tance by a speaies of duenna. The young
lady's age might be from twenty-five to
tweuty-fVe, and her faee and hgur'
were models ofbeauty. Mide-aNsEe ex'
amined her with interest," his gances
are not lost, for pleasant ones directly
resnond to his. he foreboded be was i1
FOR an adventure; could this be the girl
he was looking out fort In order "a
make certain he checked his pace, 'apa
ESSENTIALLY sat down on a bench facing
the Clamps Elysees.
He had not been there more than ten
minutes ere he asw the couple proShpR
around him, and ehs BY seating them,
selves on the same bench. They bowed
10 the usual fashion Of the age. eRtrred
into conversation, and the artful youth
who thus found his affair ready made
asked the dueBna who her companion
might be.
@Oh, sir" was the reply, my mis-
tress' history is almost a roEzGnoe.
The duenna hereupSn proceeded q
inform Wide-awake that her mistress va
the daEghter Of a great Polish prince
and sole hs,zess 10 his estate. Wide
awake. on kis siSs. iold the gouyernanie
with al the ingeniousasss possible, tha
be vas q son Of a doctor at Nantes, auc
sent 70 Paris to attend the lectures
I After some minutes talk the old Womar
took Wide-sWsks's hand.