River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-08-13
THE MYSTERIOUS HAND.

not understand, we should use the
word "inexplicable, it would be much
more exact In the affair | am about
to relate, it was, above all, the pre-
cedlng and attending circumstances
that impressed me. / will give you the
facts.
was examining magistrate at the
time at Aiicco, little white city lying
on the edge of beautiful bay which is
surrounded on all sides by high noun
tains. The cases with which | had
chiefly to do were those of vendetta. |
had some fierce, heroic instances, the
most superbIy dramatic possible.
Among those people were found the
most glorious causes for revenge that
men could dream of-secular hatreds,
appeased for Il moment, but never eX-
tinguishcd, traitorouS ruses, assassina-
tions, developed into massacres, and
almost glorious in their horror. For
two wears had heard of nothing but
the price of blood, that terrible Corsi
can prejudice which binds II man to
avcnge every injury on the person who
wrought it, his descendants and kins-
men. | have seen old men murdered
and children, and my head was full of
such stories.
learned one day that an English
man had just leased for number of
years Il little villa ut the foot OF the
bay. He had brought with him a
French body-servant, engaged at Mar
settles as he passed. Everybody was
soon busy with this strange parsonage,
who lived alone, and left his dwelling
only to hunt or fish. He spoke to no.
body, never came to the city, and every
morning practiced shooting for an hour
or two with his pistol or rifle.
There were many stories about him.
One man held that he was of princely
rank, and had fled his country for po-
ltical reasons; another affirmed that
lie was lying in c0nccalment after hav-
ing committed fearful crime, and
even related particulars of an especial
ly horrible nature.
wished, in my capacity of eXamin-
ing magistrate, to obtain some definite
information in regard TO this man; but
! could learn nothing. He gave his
name as Sir John Rowcll. | took sat
isfaction in watching him near NJ hand,
but no one could point out to me any
thing really suspicious about him.
Since, however, the rumors concern
inc him continued. increased, and be-
came more general, resolved to make
an attempt to see the stranger myself,
and began to hunt regularly in the
neghborhood of his estate.
| waited long for my opportunity.
1t came finally in the shape of n part
ridge which | shot and killed in the
Englishman face. My dog brought
it to me, but taking the game in my
hand l went to excuse my lack of good
manners and beg Sir John RoWcll to
accept the bird.
He was large man, with red hair
and beard, very tall and very robust,
a sort of placid and polished Hercules.
He had nothing of the so-callcd Brit
ish stiffness, and thanked me cordially,
speaking with strong English accent,
for my scrupulousness. At the end OF
a month we had talked five or six times
together.
One evening as l was passing his
door [ saw him in his garden smoking
his pipe, astride of chair. | saluted
him, and he invited me in to take 4
glass of beer with him. i did not wait
to be asked twice.
He received me with scrupulous En-
glish courtesy, eulogized France and
Corsica, and declared that he was
warmly attached to that country and
to that particular portion of the coast.
then, with great caution and under
the gtlise of Il very lively personal in
terest, venturcd few questions re-
gardinr his life. He replied without
embarrassment, telling me that he had
travelled extensively in Africa, India,
and America, and that he had had many
adventures.
then returned to the subject of the
chase, and he gave me many OF the
most curious details in regard to hunt
ing the hippopotamus, the tiger, the
elephant, and even the gorilla.
| remarked that all these animals
were formidable.
He smiled
'.Oh, no; man is the most terrible.
He laughed outright, with hearty,
contentcd English laugh, as he further
informed me:
Il have also been great hunter of
men"
Then he turned the conversation to
the topic of arms, and invited me to
the house to look at guns OF different
kinds.
His drawing-room was lung with
black silk embroidered with gold.
Large yellow flowers, rioting over the
dark background, snone liku lire. lie
explained that it was japanese fab
RE.
But, in the middle of the largest pam
ell. il strange object drew my eye On
a square of red velvet 4 black object
was thrown into relief. 1t was hand
a human hand. Not skeleton hand,
white and clean. but dried and black
ened hand, with yellow nails, naked
muscles, and traces OF blood-old, ciot-
ted blood. where the bones were cut
short off Us if with the blow OF an AK,
about midway up the forearm An
enormous iron chain, rivcted at the
wrist, soldcred to this unsightly mem
Der. attached it to the wall by a ring
strong enough to hold an elephant in
! leash.
"What is that?" | asked.
"That is my worst enemy" replied
the Englishman, calmly. He came
| from America. 1t was cut oil with a
sabre. skinned, and dried in the sun
for week 1t was pretty good piece
| of work for me.
l touched that human fragment,
which must have belonged to a giant.
The fingers, disproportionately long,
were attached by enormous tcndons,
| to which shrods of skin still chung.
| Seorched as it was, it was frlghtful
thing to behold, suggesting irresistably
some savage revenge.
lie must have been a very strong
man" said |.
"Oh. yes. said the Englishman,
gently. "But was stronger than he.
/ 1 had that chain put on to hold him. "
| thought he was jesting, and said:
s.The chain is wholly useless now;
/ the hand will not run away"
But he gravely replied:
ssThe chain was necessary. 1t was
always trying 10 get away.
With a rapid glance questioned his
countenance, asking myself:
us he a lunatic or IN ugly jester?
But his face remained impenetrable,
calm. and benevolent / talked OF
other things. and admired his gung. !