The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-10-30

his EXceilencY. Soon we reached lit
tie cGbGret-their name is legion in
Antwerp-in one of the back streets
near the cathedral; and withfa glass of
his favorite Boonjekamp in front of him,
he seated himself, and told me the fol-
lowing sequel tothe5 mysterious disap-
pearance. -.... ...-r-s -..,-r,
g You must remember me, friend, he
began, " when | was in better condi-
ton than you now see me-" and he
scanned his wretched garments, shrug-
ging his shoulders with an impatient air.
nodded acquiescence.
Well, - said he, ''yOu must also
know in your long experience of travel
that all classes Of society on the COnti-
nent, and particularly in Vienna, have
their secret club. 81 The positions had
theirs; but it was subject to the rule of
the Chief Secret Society. In my younger
days, friend, was induced, in an un-
lucky moment, to enroll myself as a
member, and take the oaths of the Se-f
cret Society of Positions Bitterly have.
l repented since, for it is to that circum-
stance ! owe my yPresentdeplorable state
of mind and positionP'r' ii 4 II
But what has that to do with the
mysterious case-of his ExcelleneyP1' /
asked of him, Somewhat inpatienGy -
"Much more than you imagine or
can ever know, friend" replied he,
sententiously wagging his head. He
paused for a moment 4" Well, I will
tell you," continued he, though you
must not break my story with your in
quiring continents, Firstly, then, you
must know that I was on the escablish-
ment of Her Spu1tzen, the carriage
master and stable-keeper from whom
II i
hired his travelling carriage and
and horses for his return journey. 1t
was known to the Chief Secret Society
that his Excellency was in possession of
important papers, and it was also known
that he was on the point of starting with
them for England The Chief Com
mander had important reasons. for. OBJ
taining these papers, or copies of them,
and of one in particular above all 9th
ers, by fair means or foul; and what the
Chief says is to be done, IS done invari-
ably ut any cost. The Committee had
baAoted for the personTwho must exc
cute their orders, and their choice had
fallen on me as position, and the more
likely TO effect a successful result. BY
virtue of my oath | was bound to obey,
OF should have suffered a secret death.
by assassination probably. Irneed not
tell you my Instructions; but 4 dreadful
fate awaited you in the event of you or
his EXcellency obstructing our wishes.
In every town through which we passed
there were emissaries of the Chief So
ciety to assist me, 50 great is its organ
! iZation; and when | received your in
! struetions to pull up at the next town,
which if you remember was s., 1
/ knew the wishes of the Chief Com
mander would be effectuallY carried
out. The landlord of the hotel you Staid
at and the head hOstler were known to
me us members of the Chief Society,
and there we're other residents in the
| town also members, whom [ sdid not
| know. So you see, my friend, how his
EXcellency and you were cOmpassed in a
net from which there was no escape -
and he chuckled to himself as hesaid it.
! 'No wyou remember how his EXeellency
was always engaged in writing his dis
| patches and documents. Well, there
was consequently great difficulty IN get
/ tinga view of the papers without adopt
I ing foul means, and time was of great
| Importance TO the Chief Commander. -
'sWhat!n 1 exclaimed, in great as
/ tonfshment, my hair almost on end with
the suddenness of the confession
q what! Dc You mean to tell me, Carl
E
Excellency in cold bloodP'
'' Not exactly that, friend, - he quietly
replied. When his EXcellency went
for that short walk, the head hostler also
went for q stroll in the same direction
A short distmee from the town the host
Ter met a friend; also member, and
they quickly bound and gagged his EX-
cellency, and carried him to tie cellar
of the latter's house, where they kept
him secretly until after the exitement Oi
the disappearance and search had sub
sided, when he was taken to Vienna in
i-the involuntary disguise-Of a dangerous
iunatic peasant, and afterward-" And
he made a significant sign indicative o.
strangulation. 1.-The papers were alb
stracted by the landlord, and handed tC
me, and in turn delivered them to the
/ Chief Commander personally Nothing
4 was ever said about the missing docu
ments, if you recollect, because only ont
other person besides his Excellency anC
the Chief Commander knew of them
and he darednotsay what they were.' 7
"But how, "asked I, "was every thing
kept so quietly, as the British Govern
ment made a great stir over the matter
and large rewards were OfferedP''
" Well, y repied he, ''those to whom
the matter was referred were mostl,
members of the Chief Society, which
you must remember, numbered in it
roll members of all ranks and stations
The pair of overalls found in the cops
some days after the disappearance wer
I, purposely placed there to lead and en-
courage the belief that his Excellenc,
had been robbed and then murdered.
eBnt You do not account for your be
ing here in Antwerp now" said 1.
- Well, friend, - continued he, and h
drew himself closer TO me and spoke il
a very low Tone well, the Chief Com
imander, in consequence of the stir mad
/ by both the British and our Govern
ment, and fearing disclosure on accoun
of the large rewards offered, too
effective steps to prevent it by ordering
the deaths of those concerned in tn
tragedy. The landlord of tn
hotel, however, suddenly decampe,
to America-where he will be tracked
never fear-after hearing of tn
deaths of the hostler and his friend
, who were found stabbed in their beds
and I escaped here by circuitOus routes
! and have remained in hiding ever since
But 1 am already known and discovered
and 90 in daily fear of my life. Th
sign of the Black Dagger here ans
he tore open his vest and shirt, disclos
e ing the print of a dagger ON his breast
e 'tis known to all members of the Seere
= Society. My death-warrant has lon
T ago been signed, and / am suudiousl
watched, | feel certain. Even now
n And he suddenly stopped, casting
o cautious glance around the room, an
K pointed TO a stranger who was silentl
smoking and drinking, to ali appearance
/ engrossed in their enjoyment Il mus