Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-10-18

=" We may, but do not be alarmed,
madame"
With an air of nonchalance he pulled
red cigar.case from his pocket and
asked his companion if she objected to
smoke. Then he started, and quickly
returning the red one tc his pocket
pulled forth another of blue color.
How maay segars do you smoke in a
days" inquired the lady, evidently
amused at the sight of two cases.
''The other colored, and it struck me
that his voice slightly faltered and his
hand trembled IS no made some laugh
ing reply,
Soon the storm came poune;nR down
upon us. We were midway in the
Channel, so that we caught the full
force of the sea and gale. Both were
| terrific.
The sea swept the boat, which lay SO
far over that her machinery was soon
damaged so that il would not work.
The wind, screaming like a demon,
threw her over still farther.
Suddenly we observed the sailors en-
deavoring to loosen a long-boat on the
davits ut the stern. Meanwhile there
was an ominous grinding, smashing
noise under the counter. The truth
couldnot be concealed; we were sinking.
The ladies screamed; the handsome
passenger lost his self-possession, and
ran hither and thither.
The cool behavior of the little lady in
black contrastel strangely with the
agitated demeanor of those around her.
| nharr hn n4oo1 ao1,,o I IL
her bright steel. blue eyes fixed upon
the handsome stranger, of whom she
did not lose sight for a moment.
Keep quiet, ladies and gentlemenl"
sang out the captain quiet, and
don't crowd around the boat so There
will be room in it for you all; and, be-
sides, there is a schooner coming to our
assistance" pointing to vessel blow
ing towards us before the wind.
There was, however, a panic among
those addressed. The moment the boat
was lowered, into it they all bundled,
among the number the handsome pas
senger.
A huge sea coming along, roaring
like thunder, parted the tackles, tearing
the boat from the steamer before the
lady in black or I could enter it. The
handsome passenger, losing his bal
ance, fell over the gunwale, and being
unable to swim wildly threw up his
arms.
I must acknowledge that I was so en-
crossed with the perilous situation of
my fair companion and myself-now
the only two left aboard the steamer
| that xNoi1 1i441o l. l..
| ing man.
The steamer was, in fact, going down
fast-was already nearly engulfed in the
stormy waves, her heated and half
submerged boilers kissing as the steam
came gushing out like the spout of
whale.
[ was advancing to throw an arm
around the little lady, fearing to see
her washed away, when, quietly motion
ing me back with one hand, she seized
a coil of rope and threw the end to the
handsome passenger. He caught it,
when, turning to me, the lady requested
me to help haul the man aboard.s I
complied, marveling at the love and de-
votion thus shown by woman to an
acquaintance of an hour.
His power over the female sex must
be great, I thought. He is conceited,
but not without reason.
The idea flashed clearly across my
mind in spite of my danger. The
schooner, however, was very near, and
had every reason to believe that we
should be picked up.
[ was right. We were all taken
aboard the schooner, the handsome
passenger among the rest. Then the
lady in black pulled forth revolver,
pointing it at the head of him whom
she had rescued.
"Out with that red cigar-case p she
said, sternly. 81 would like to see
what monsieur carries in it,"
Why-why," stammered the stran-
ger; "what is"
Before he could say another word,
the little Amazon thrust her disengaged
hand in his pocket, pulled forth the
red cigar-case, and opening it, ring
dropped to the deck.
The ring she picked up, and holding
it up before us all, exclaimed
" [ have found it at last The Jew
eler assured nae it was the only one of
the device in Paris-a chariot wheel !
This person is the murderer of the
Countess de Marville 3"
The handsome passenger stood as if
frozen to the deck, making no resis-
tance as the lady in black slipped pair
of handouts over his wrists.
"By what right" he theu stammered,
edo you"
He paused as the other threw off her
dress and false hair, revealing the per-
son Of slender man with delicate,
girlish features.
:" l am Jean Mosoueau, the detec-
tive " he quietly remarked, "and I
robbed the sea of this man that the
scaffold might not be cheated"
There is little more to add. The
main proof having been obtained, other
proofs on the prisoners trial were
brought forth, showing him guilty be-
yond doubt.
Long before his execution his name
was ascertained to be Louis Rosseneau,
a noted adventurer and gambler, who,
however, by cool effrontery and win
ming address, backed by his good looks,
had been enabled to move among the
first circles of Partisan society.
| Saint Eounv