Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1878-05-04
nouncing that be had taken the moue y
and was

ABOUT TO START FOR AMERICA.
1t was at once necessary that III
mon should take steps TO close up bis
business and arrange with his cred
/ itors. While be and bis clerks wer.
rngaded in this. the strange antics o
a cat belonging 10 the firm. and par.
,icular 'av"rile Of Binquer's. attracted
attention; the animal rushed around
the showroom, and finally disappeared
among the cloaks which were sus.
pended here and there, soon emerging,
however, only to repeat her strange
maneuvers.
While this was going on cab was
observed standing right across the
street, and the driver walking up and
down the sidewalk warming his hands,
and ever and anon looking toward
the warehouse OF RimOn and Binquer.
AT length, as the porter was sweep
ing out some rubbish. the hack driver
| crossed the street and said:
"ls not this the place from which
man is missing siuce the last Of y o.
vember!"
Yes. indeed" the porter replied ;
but | must not talk to you about it,
as Monsieur Rimcn has forbidden ali
conversation Gu the subject"
"Ah, WELL" said the driver, "bu; |
know something Of him"
You do" exclaimed the porter;
why. that alters the matter. Why
Why don't you speak to Monsieur
Rimon!"
Perhaps | don't know enough to
be o. aDv value" the driver said
Nevertheless, have heard
ALL ABOUT THE DISAPPEARANCE
in the newspapers. aud think that
perhaps | saw him later than any one
else"
"Stav there" the porter said, great.
" excited, IL will call Monsieur
RimOn,"
mo, no, friend" the driver called
after bin. as be sprang into the ware
house; and then seeing that the por-
ter had disappeared, the driver walked
rapidly across the street aud mounted
the cab. BY this tine Monsieur
Rimon had received the Information
from the porter. and was at the door
looking for the driver.
"See. Monsieur" said the porter;
there he is on the cab"
Monsieur Rimon crossed the street,
and addressed the csbnan: ..
IL understand" said be, that you
say that you saw my missing part
Der later than any one else. Pruy,
sir, what do you meaD?"
Il am only Joking" the driver re-
piled. and jnst ut at tbat time the per-
son be was waiting for emerged from
a house and entered the cab, where.
upon the driver whipped up bis horses
and deparled.
The merchant. however. was able
to see the number Of bis vehicle, of
which be made note.
| IL, is Of no consequence" be said
when he returned 10 he store; "but
still if the man knew anything |
should liks to bsveknow0, it, :oo."
On he morning the third Of Pc
cember the clerks, on entering tue
store, smelled
4 VERY OFFENSIVE ODoR.
After the stove was lighted it be-
came still more unbearablc, aud on
Monsieur Rimon's arrival, be, too,
perceived it. ....... .,.
"Wbere is the cat?" be asked.
Perhaps she bas brought a,rat inside
and it is undergoing decomposition
right alongside Of U.s.
The cat is perched on the window
sill outside. said the porter; land will
not come into the place, do what !
will. She refused to come in last
evening wheu closed up, aud she
has sat there all night"
Later on in the day the smell grew
so dreadfully offensive that it was re-
solved 10 make search for the cause
Of il. Passing in among the large
shawls and cIoaks which hung on
wire stands. the searchers found the
smell to he still more unbearable
At length, when they reached The far
corner. in which stood high metallic
screen with two or three valuable
shswls banging over it in graceful
folds the stencil was awful MOn-
sieur Rimon stepped forward and
GLANCED BEHIND TIE SCREEN.
He started back With cry of hor'
ror and exclaimed:
My God! the corpse Of Monsieur
Binquer!" II 80"
Que by one the awe-siricken group
approached and glanced behind the
wall that bid the dreadful secret.
There was no doubt at all about it.
The police authorities were SUN.
moned. and on the removal of the
shswls horrible sight was disclosed.
Tied to the screen with q strong
cord was the body of Binquer. The
arms were stretched out at right an.
giles With the body, aud the legs 6r'u'