St. Landry democrat., 1878-09-28
4 THRILLING REMINISCENCEE.

WnlCn 1 WFlAc was otuey AhSo LA WIZ AA"N
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
indefatigable 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 two 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 came, and con-
sisted of mere stab or cut, but a
small, circular, clean-cut incision, in size
such as a pistol bullet would make,
directly in the center of either breast.
The police, as 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 a fish out of water. The only
theory they could broach 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 a
skilled and practiced one, it resembled no
part of any recognized operation. The
whole affair was dark mystery.
At that time I had been student for
more than three years, and hoped in a
few more months to take my degree. I
was more looked upon as likely to make
my mark in the profession had chosen,
and as my means were limited I 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 one
cold December morning, half an hour or
SO before daybreak, to attend woman
who had gbeen rnn over by a carriage
and lsy--so the messenger said--at the
point of death.
The cold, gray wintry dawn was break
ing as I followed the messenger into the
street. He was a thorough specimen of
a Partisan ganaia, 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 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-ruiued stone houses run
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
out from those below all the light of the
sky.
1t was in one of the most disreputable
quarters of the city, out of which any
respectable person might deem himself
lucky if he escaped with the loss of every
thing of any value about him. The
gamin, who was my guide, however,
served as voucher for me, and we went
on unmolested, until at last we passed
before the door of house in the basement
of which was a vile drinking den, crowded
with men and women, the very dregs of
society, who were there sauandering
their last nights plumber.
The door at which my guide rang was
opened by r Misunderstanding old wo-
man, who stood with her hands upon
her hips, and filing up the whole of the
doorway, while her ferret-like, blood-shot
eyes measured me from head to foot.
After moments survey thus, she rapid
ly spoke some words in a slang could
not understand, to which the gomin
answered with another mysterious
monosyllable.
otis all right" he added, "He's
going to see the woman up stairs,''
The other did not ask what woman,
nor any further questions, but stood aside
to let us pas, along the narrow hall.
I still followed the gam'n up the crszy
staircase, that creaked under our every
foot,step, until we reached the attic floor.
On the highest step he stopped, and
pointed with his finger to door i'm
mediately before me.
q There is the reom," he said, and al~
most before | was aware of the fact he
turned on his heel, and, passing me,
descended the stairs an fast as he could.
/ confess feeling of terror took pos
session of me at thus being entrapped
into such den of forgers, thieves and
everything but honest men and women.
1t was not for long, howe yer, when re-