The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-04-17

The Pari .ians are determined to have
q mystery now and then. They have
been fond of something of the kind ever
since the time of the Tour de Nesle.
Only the other day they were Mortified
with blood-curdling descriptions of .
house in an obscure suburb, which had
,een rented by stranger, forbidding in
appearance and evidently bent upon
the consummation Of some hideous
crime, judging from the preparations
which he had made. Rumors ran in
the neighborhood that he was darkly
engaged in plotting against the life Of
some one, for he had brought to the
house huge case made of solid wood,
lined with heavy cloth and pierced
with air-holes.
1t seemed just the sort of thing in
which to imprison some helpless crear
ure whom he was DESTROYS of torturing.
The woman of whom he had hired the
house, spied his movements in q most
indiscreet manner, and when one day
she saw him bring in . half dozen
chains, such as are ordinarily used for
dogs, she could not restrain herself any
longer, she went off to the neighbors
with terribly magnified version Of the
whole matter, and the result was that
the police were called in. Meantime,
the mysterious stranger appeared to
have gained some knowledge of the
movement against him, for he disap-
peared and was heard of no more-at
that period. The police agents came
out from Paris and spent q day or two
in the house. There stood the wooden
case, gaping wide open, with its cush-
toned sides and the staples driven into
them seeming to indicate that human
being was to be chained in there alive.
The agents began to think that some
attempt at blackmail was to be made
by band of clever criminals. Every
endeavor was made to catch the sup
posed culprit, and the concierges, shoe
makers and water carriers of the capt.
tai, with bated breath, nightly discussed
the mystery, until one fine morning the
Project of Police received letter from
q wealthy gentleman who lives but q
little way from Paris, explaining the
whole matter. 1t appears that several
weeks ago this gentleman was bitten by
one of his dogs in such . manner as to
awaken suspicious in his mind that the
dog was mad. He cauterized the
wound, but the thought that he was
possible victim of hydrophobia 20
preyed upon his mind that he deter
mined to separate himself from his
family for q time, and to experiment
upon certain animals by inoculating
them with his own blood, in order to as
certain if the rage were really lurking
in his system.
With this intention he hired the house
in the suburbs and prepared case in
which he proposed to shut up three Of
his dogs, and TO study their symptoms
until he felt sure either that he was free
from danger, or that there was crisis
to fear. Just as he was about to bring
the dogs to the cottage and to inoculate
them there, he found that the meddle-
some neighbors were likely to get him
into trouble, 90 he gave up his design.
He inclosed to the Project the false
seard and spectacles with which he had
been disguised when he rented the cot
tage. The Project smiled the peculiar
smile which men do when compelled to
admit that they are sold, and the great
mystery was at an end. Let rs hope
that its curious ending win debar the
gentleman who fears hydrophobia from
any more such experiments. Perhaps
he would have gone mad with fear had
circumstances allowed him to keep ON.
THE personal estate of the late Mr..
N Il - = = a