The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-01-23
rFrom the New Orleans Picayune.I

IllS clIy from Cn1CdgO OF OF. LOUIS IL
couple, consisting of a handsome blonde
lady and an elderly, staid, respectable
gentleman, who, taking lodgings at one
of the principal boarding-hOuses,
seemed to start out on a round of pleas
of the theatres, they attracted the at
tentiOn of a well-knOwn, prominent
merchant and citizen, who, rising from
his seat, procured One Us al Us pos
sible to That of the couple, frequently
staring at the lady, upon whom his
glances seemed to cast some confusion,
or ut least have a visible effect.
After the performance was over the
couple started for their home, followed
at a safe distance by the elderly gentle
man, who could hardly be suspected of
! such things, and who, after ascertain
ing their names from the clerk, de-
parted.
Meeting by accident on the street
next day, the merchant was ~accOsted
by Mr.. Smith, as the elderly gentleman
was named, who, claiming an acQuaint-
ance from a former visit to our city,
when he had the pleasure Of meeting
him, related that ne had just arrived
with his wife, and he would be ever so
much obliged if he (the. merchant)
NOulu SIlON I4CL any lIlNlC dGlClIIlOAS W
make her visit agreeable.
Certainly he would! And that even
ing, being introduced, he passed a most
delightful visit.
The husband being out most of the
time, as he said, On business, and the
merchant not being Over-Occupied, he
found it convenient to spend a cOnsid-
cradle amount of his leisure at the
rooms Of the elegant and handsome
lady.
SATURDAY. the gentleman announced
he would lave to leave for Mobile on
business, and he would take it as a
great favor if the merchant would look
after his lady while he was absent.
"Certainly he would! Only too happy"
and that evening found him in close
companionship with the lady. Nor did
matters end here. At the dead hour of
night the merchant might have been
observed with his shoes i'll his hand
making his way to the lady's room,
where she in q wrapper received him.
A couple of bottles of champagne hav-
ing been discussed, the gentleman took
off his coat and vest, the room being
warm, and laid them over a chair, and
ant conversation when heavy footsteps
were heard on the stair, followed by a
knock at the door. "My-," muttered
the lady in an agonized whisper, "that
is my husband, unexpectedly come
home! What shall l do? what shall [
do 2"
The merchant was aghast. What
should he do? His wife was away from
the city, it was true, but if he were
caught in another lady's room at the
dead hour of night, and killed by the
husband, what would she do?
What would the staid and respectable
old boys at the club say? What would
everybody say? What would the pa
pcrs say His agony was terrible,
more especially when an angry voice
outside shouted that if the door was
not Immediately opened, it would be
burst in; followed by a kick that made
the panels shake.
A moments thought and he was
showed into an adjoining, room, while
his coat and vest were thrown under
the bed and all looked serene.
Then the door was opened, the lady
in a mild and %insinuating voice asking
raging angrily and declaring with sum
dry oaths, which made the merchant
tremble, that if he had caught anybody
in there he would have blown his
bloody brains out.
After a while, however, quiet was re-
stored, and the merchant heard the
couple going to bed. After a long
waiting, the merchant heard soft
step, and the lady coming in, let him
out into the corridor and he fled.
After getting to his room he sat down
to think. He remembered that in his
coat pocket was eight hundred and odd
dollars in currency and a valuable gold
watch. All, he was ever so glad, though
that he was safe, and he could go round
in the morning and get his clothes.
Morning came, and with it a note
from the lady, which related that her
husband had discovered all and was
seeking his life. Here was a fix. He
must lie very low, which he did for
several days, and at the end of that
time, he found the couple had left the
city, and with them his money and
watch.
At this he smelt q mice, which grew
very large when he discovered that the
couple had also been playing the conf
dence dodge on other people, and, sad
to relate, got away with their money.
In toto, he was inveieled into the room,
induced to take off his coat and vest,
the return of the outraged husband, his
smuggle out and all were a cleverly
executed robbery to get possession of
the money in his coat, which was done,
and he was beaten.
He did not tell this to the police no
action was taken for their arrest, for
fear that it would get into the papers;
but he only related it to a few personal
friends, who suppressed his name, how
owing to his responsibility.
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