Port Royal commercial and Beaufort County Republican. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1873-1874, 1873-10-30

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 to his pocket
pulled forth another of a blue color.
Chow many segars do you smoke in q
dayP" 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 as he made some laugh
ing reply.
upon us. We were midway in the
Channel, 30 that we caught the full
force of the sea and gale. Both were
terrific. - = ''H
The sea swept the boat, which lay SO
far o7e1 that her machinery was soon
damaged 30 that it would not work.
The wind, screaming like demon,
threw her over still farther.
Suddenly we observed the sailors en-
deavering to loosen d ,lohg-bpat on the
datits at The stern. Meanwhile there
was an ominous grinding, smashing
noise under the cotintef: The truth
cotldhot be concealed; we were sinking.
The ladies screamed; the handsome
passenger lost his self-possession, and
ran hither and thither. - I,l
The cool behavior of the little lady in
black conttastsd strangely with the
agitated demeanor of those around her.
There she stood calm and immovable,
her bright steel, blue eyes flied upon
the handsome stranger, of Shorl she
did nos lose sight for a moment.
"Keep quiet, ladies and gentlemenp'
sang out the captain-"Keep quiet, and
don't crowd around the boat 30 There
will be room in it for you all; and, be-
sides, there is schooner coming to our
assistance" pointing to a vessel blow
ing towards ris before the wind.
There was, however, q pants 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.
Imust acknowledge that I was SO en-
crossed with the perilous situation OF
my fair companion and myself-how
the only two left aboard the steamer
that I paid little attention to the drown.
ing man.
The steamer was, in fact, going down
fast-was already nearly engulfed inthe
stormy waves, her heated and half
submerged boilers kissing as the steam
came gushing out like the spout OF q
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
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. I
complied, marveling at the love and de-
votion thus shown by woman to IN
acquaintance of an hour.
His power over the female sex must
be great, I thought. He ls conceited,
but not without reason.
The idea flashed clearly across my
mind in spite of my danger. The
schooner, however, was very near, and
I. had every reason to believe that we
should be picked up.
I 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 !" she
said, sternly. "I 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
rod cigar.case, and opening it, q ring
dropped to the deck.
The ring she picked up, and holding
it up before us all, exclaimed
81 have found it at last. The jew
eler assured me it was the only one OF
the device in Paris-a chariot wheel
This person is the murderer Of the
Countess de Marville !"
The handsome passenger stood as il
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 hel
dress and false hair, revealing the per.
son of a slender man with delicate,
girlish features.
ct am Jean Mosoueau, the detec.
tive!" he quietly remarked, "and ]
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,
noted adventurer and gambler, who,
however, by cool effrontery and O win
ming address, backed by his good looks,
had been enabled to move among the
first circles of Partisan society.