Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-03-18


is proof Listen TO me. My mistress
has Just seen you; you please her. She
instructed me to find out who you are.
Come this evening TO the great gate Of
st. Germain fAuxerrois, where ! will
meet you, and, in all probability, bring
you good news. Do not fail TO adorn
yourself with your best, for you would be
ruined If you appeared before my mis-
tress like n needy student"
After this they parted, and Wide
awake was mad with delight, as he felt
certain he had found the girl TO whom
the disappearance Of his fellows was due.
He hurried TO his father and told him all
that was going on. Lecoq shared his
sons suspicion and hope; but, in the
hour OF success, paternal tenderness was
aroused, and he trembled at the peril
the young man must incur. In order
TO diminish its extent he assembled his
most trusty myrmidons, aud ordered
them to keep close 10 his son, though
without compromising the success Of the
plan, and placed himself at the head Of
the squad.
At nightfall Wide-awake, more hand
somely attired than before, presented
himself at the identical spot. As the
church doors were being closed, a poorly
clad woman emerged from the sacred
edifice, looking around her furtively and,
recognizing Wide.awake, made him a
sign to follow. They passed through
several streets, closely followed by the
spies, and at length stopped in that of
des Orfecres, in front OF rather fine
house.
my pretty boy" the old woman said
to Wide-awake, "the lady does not live
at this paltry spot, but, as the house is
her property, she wished to receive you
in it. will 60 and inform her Of your
arrival"
After short absence the wicked old
crone returned. She asked the young
man to allow his eyes to be bandaged,
but on his refusal, introduced him
without further opposition into the fatal
house. Wide-awake, who was armed,
advanced in the darkness, apprehending
some sudden attack; but no enemy
presented himself. Ere long he found
himself in a room of average size,
splendidly furnished and lit up with wax
tapers. A sofa, covered with crimson
satin, and ornsmented with gilt nails,
occupied one of the sides Of the room.
On this sofa reclined, en- deshabille,
the Princess Jabirouska. At the sight
of the stranger she greeted the young
man, and with word dismissed the du-
emma. Wide.awake, in spite of his sharp
ness, lost his presence Of mind. The
sight of this lovely person fascinated
him; he could not move; the young spy
in an instant forgot his role.
The goddess descended from the
throne and offered her hand to Wide
awake, who kissed it. This kiss heated
his blood and restored his boldneess.
Most certainly he was in bad place
but he was close to a charming woman.
He became pressing, lost his head, felt a
hand abstracting his purse, but said
nothing.
His father was in the street with his
agents, impatiently awaiting the signal
for them to enter the house. But the
signal was not given, and 80 Lecoq pere
whistled; even in the arms of the prin-
pesR, his son started at it, and this whis
tie recalled him to himself. Two min
utes after, the princess retired to her
cabinet. Wide.awake took advantage OF
her absence to examine the room; he
tried to unfold a screen, and could not
succeed for the leaves seemed nailed &c
each other. Wide-awake shook them
smartly; one of them fell and disclosed
cupboard, in which twenty-six mems
heads, admirably preserved, were dis
played on silver dishes.
Such a scene was certainly a strange
awakening from pleasure, and young
Lecoq whose lips we're still warm with
the strangers kisses, opened them tC
utter a cry of horror. But worse re
mained behind. On approaching the
window he fancied he could see, through
the panes, other heads fixing their flash
ing eyes upon him. Paler than the
deaths heads, unable TO speak, he fel
on his knees and clasped his hands.
At this moment the window was burs
in, and his father, followed by the whole
squad, entered the apartment. Startled
by his sons silence, and fancying hin
probably assassinated, Lecoq had bravely
taken the accused house by storm. Thi:
lucky temerity saved Wide.awake' life
for, at the noise made by Lecoq and his
men in entering the room, the princess
accompanied by four bandits armed tC
the teeth, emerged from the cabinet
The kings men were in force, resistance
was useless, and the four rdfiians, will
the girl, their accomplice, were led away
in irons A strict examination of the
house led to 10 further discovery.
1t was found aftsrward that the girl
was English, and employed to entraI
young men, who were killed, and theiI
heads cut off. The bodies were sold to
students of anatomy, while the heads
sp,endidly prepared, were sent in patches
to Germany for the purpose of the sci
ence of phrenology. The Government
afraid of such a series of crimes becom
ing known, punished the culprits secretly
They were all hanged.