The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-12-26

gen darme can enter private residence
without a special permit from the burgo-
master
"Herr Graf" suffered the wretched
functionary, edging toward the door,
CT regret that"
His courage failed him. He said no
more, but rushed down the stairs fol-
lowed by his men, and in minute we
heard the door close behind them.
Immediately upon their departure
fresh wine was brought in, and the
orgies continued until about 2 o'clock,
when the party broke up. L had Sc
cured bed at a house where / had
lodged in my student days, and it so
happened that my way lay in a different
direction from that of my companions.
l therefore babe them good night, and
started off alone. 1t was dull, murky
night, with a sharp sleet driving from
the north the only light shed upon the
wretched streets was from the oil lamps
swung at intervals across the road. On
| fastened, wrapping myself up in my
large coat, and meeting no one. Not a
sound did | hear until, just as | was
reaching the street where my lodging
was situated, which turned up out of
one of the principal alleys of the town, L
thought | distinguished the sound of
advancing footsteps. / listened, and
was convinced that my surmise was cor
rect, but thinking nothing of it, | pro-
ceeded up the street. / had reached
my door, and was endeavoring to turn
the rusty piece of German mechanism
supposed to be key, and mentally con-
trasting it with my own neat Chubb at
home, when two men advanced toward
me, followed at some distance by third.
This L could just distinguish by the
light of a neighboring lamp. AS the
two men came up to me one of them
said, Good night" "Good night" /
replied &" or rather good morning, for
it must be almost that by this time. -
The words had scarcely escaped my
lips when the foremost man hit me a
tremendous blow between the eyes
which lit up thousand candles before
me, and knocked me violently back
ward. AS my back dashed against the
door, | heard something crash. In q
second / recollected myself-it was the
champagne bottle / had placed in my
pocket when the gems d'armes entered.
In second ] grasped it by the neck,
withdrew it from my pocket, and, whirl-
ing it in the air, brought it down on the
head of my assailant. He gave one
groan and fell heavily to the ground,
while the blood spurted from the wound
like a fountain. His companion turned
and fled, while the third man, who all this
time remained at distance, almost i'm
mediately made off. My state of horror
can scarcely be imagined. / knelt down
by the mans side, l bathed his head
with water, which / was fortunate
enough to procure ; L strove to stanch
the blood which was pouring from the
wound. / spoke to hint offered him
all my money if he would only look up.
| was in momentaTy dread of the arrival
of the gems d'armes, and of being con-
veyed TO prison as a murderer. For
more than an hour did remain III this
fearful state. The man never opened
his eyes, but lay apparently in lethargic
stupOr. No one came near me, and my
excitement was at its height, when by
the dawning light l perceived figure
approaching. 1t neared me, and in it
thought | recognized the companion OF
the robber. Not a word was spoken,
and with my assistance he raised his
friend, twined his arms around him and
half carried, half dragged him out OF
sight.
need scarcely say that I did not go
TO bed that night. | went in, struck a
light, collected the few things | had un-
packed from my carpet-bag, and, heed
less of my friends and intended pleas
ure, hurried off by the first train and re.
turned at once to England, so appre.
hensive was | of the consequences. Two
years passed, and / heard no more OF
my nocturnal adventure. l had letters
from o 'Scardon and from some German
friends, full of wonder at my sudden de.
parture, but giving no hint as to its
cause, and the circumstance had almost
faded from my recollection. Last
autumn, however, | was again in Ger.
many and hearing that an old tutor OF
mine had become Protestant chaplain al
the Jail of Verdun-a place a few miles
from Dusselberg-I went over to see
him. He acted as my cicerOne round
the prison, and while going through one
of the wards | caught sight of a face
that turned me faint This face be-
longed to a convict, short, thick-set
man, who was sitting apart from the
rest. j recognized him in an instant a,
the man whom / had nearly murdered
| approached; he raised his head
started, aud then grinned calmly.
" Do you know me ?" asked.
" l do, he answered. - only saw
you once, as you came out of the sad
dler's door, but you saw me after that
and gave me this.
He raised his matted hair as we spoke
and showed me a red scar on his temple
about three inches long. / shuddere,
at the recollection.
"And why did you attack me?"
Why" he replied, "because l was
paid for it, as | had been for many
more. That Polish Count was m,
master and partner we were one firm
all that winter, and shared alike. HI
pointed you out to us, told us you haC
won immensely at cards, and had tn,
money about you. He was close behinC
us at the time, and if it hadn't been TO,
that internal bottle"
What then ?"
Why, if you'd given much trouble
we should have pitched you into tn,
canal ~
| Aud tbie 1vos Tho avD1apo+io,, of M,