St. Landry democrat., 1878-09-21
4 THRILLING "REMINISCENCES.

tive. l am surgeon. AT the time OF
which I write | was studying in the hos
pitfalls in Paris.
For few months previously the pub
lie mind had been startled by series Of
mysterious murders, but by whom per.
petrated or with what motive the most
indetatigable efforts of the police could
find no clue.
They were at fault even to determine
whether they were all the work of one
person or whether of different parties,
each Influenced by that inexplicable
spirit of imitation which seems to be
called forth by any crime which strays
out of the usual beaten track.
The victims were of all ages and both
sexes, mostly among the humber classes,
but in one or tive cases they had been
men of wealth and standing. The pecu-
liarity about the affair was that while
the bodies were found in all quarters of
the city, the manner of their death
was identically by the same, and con-
sisted of mere stab or cut, but a
small, circular, cleau-cut incision, in size
such as a pistol bullet would make,
directly in the center of either breast.
The police, IS I have said, were COM
pletely puzzled. They could assign
no motive; and without possible motive
to build theory upon they were as
helpless as fish out of water. The only
theory they could breach was that it
might be the vengeance of some secret
society whose trusts the victims had be-
trayed. Professional men were still
further at fault, for while the hand that
made the incision must have been
skilled and practiced one, it resembled no
part of any recognized operation. The
whole affair was dark mystery.
At that time I had been a student for
more than three years, and hoped in
few more months to take my degree. l
was more looked upon as likely to make
my mark in the profession I had chosen,
and as my means were limited was glad
to be able to exc them out somewhat by
attending to few outside patients.
I could always bear-at least philoso-
phically, if not cheerfully-the constant
Interruptions to his leisure or repose
which physician must endure, yet it
certainly was not without repugnance
that I forced myself to rise from bed ore
cold December morning, half an hour or
SO before daybreak, to attend a woman
who had fbeen run over by carriage
and lay-so the messenger said--at the
peint of death.
The cold, gray wintry dawn was break
ing as I followed the messenger into the
street. He was thorough specimen of
a Partisan gomsn, and, either for some
purpose of his own or following out his
Instructions, he seemed to take an impish
delight in evading my questions. I
could get nothing out OF him regarding
the woman l was going to visit more than
he had already told me.
We moved at brisk pace until we
came to one of the Oldest streets in the
city, if street it could be called-alley-
way would be more appropriate, with
The old, half.ruined stone houses rum
ming up to the height of ten or more
stories, and each story projecting foot
or two beyond the one beneath it, until
the highest nearly met above and shut
'ut from those below all the light OF the
ky. a- "
1t was in one of the most disreputable
quarters of the city, out of which any
person might deem himself
lucky if he escaped with the loss of every
hing of any value about him. The
,amin, who was my guide, however,
erved as voucher for me, and we went
IN unmolested, until at last we passed
'efore the door of house in the basement
(which was vile drinking den, crowded
With men and women, ths very dregs of
ociety, who we're there seuandering
heir last nigl t's plumber.
The door at which my guide rang was
pened by Misunderstanding old wo-
nan, who stood with her hands upon
er hips, and filing up the whole of the
conway, while her ferret-like, blood-shot
yes measured me from head to foot.
After moments survey thus, she rapid
7 spoke some words in slang I could
OF understand, to which the qamip
answered with another mysterious
lonosyllable.
''It's all right" he added, "He's
Ding to see the woman up stairs"
The other did not ask what woman,
or any further questions, but stood aside
J let US pass along the marrow hall
l still followed the gamin up the crazy !,
airease, that creaked under our every {
'ot,step, until we reached the attic floor.
n the highest step he stopped, and s
ointed with his finger to door i'm.
ediately before me 4
There is the reom," he said, and all |
ost before was aware of the fact he
lrned on his heel, and, Easing me.
seconded the stairs as fast as he could. I
] con fess a feeling Of terror took DOS c
ssion OF me at thus being entrapped t
ito such den Of forgers, thieves and t
7ery thing but honest men and women I