Connecticut western news., 1885-07-08
The Mysterious Hand.

DO not In1nK TOT moment that could ever have seen anything super human in the occurrence. l do not believe in any but normal causes. If, however, instead of using the word supernatural to express what we do not understand, we should use simply the word "inexplicable, it would be much more exact. In tEe affair am about to relate, 1t was, above all, the preceding and attending circumstances that impressed me will give you the facts.
 was examining magistrate at the time at Ajicco, little white city ly- ing on the edge of beautiful bay, which Is surrounded on all sides by high mountains. The cases with which I had chiefly to do were those of vendetta. had some fierce, heroic instances, the most superbly dramatic possible. Among those people were found the most glorious causes for re- venge that men could dream of-secu- lar hatreds, appeased for a moment, but never extinguished, traitorous ruses, assassinatiOns developed into mas sacres, and almost glorious in their horror. For two years had heard of nothing but the price of blood, that terrible Corsican prejudice which binds man to avenge every injury on the person who wrought it, his de- scendants and kinsmen. I had seen old men and children murdered, and my head was full of such stories.
 learned one day that an English man had just leased for number of years little villa at the foot of the bay. He had brought with him a French body-servant. engaged at Mar seilles as he passed. Everybody was soon busy with this strange person. age, who lived alone, and left his dwell ling only to hunt or fish. He spoke to nobody, 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- litical reasons; another affirmed that he was lying in concealment after hay ing committed a fearful crime, and even related particulars of an especial ly horrible nature.
 l 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 Rowell I took sat- isfaction in watching him near at hand, but no one could point out to me anything really suspicious about him.
 Since, however, the rumors concern ing him continued, increased, and be- came more general, resolved to make an attempt to see the stranger my self, and began to hunt regularly in tho neighborhood of his estate.
 I waited long for an opportunity. It came finally in the shape of a par fridge which I shot and killed in the Englishman's face. My dog brought it to me, but taking the game in my hand, I went to excuse my lack of good manners and beg Sir John Row. ell 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-called Brit. ish stiffness, and he thanked me cor dially, speaking with strong English accent, for my scrupulousness. Al 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 smok ing his pipe, astride of chair. I sa- luted him, and he invited me in. ] did not wait to be asked twice.
 He received me with scrupulous English 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 unde the guise of very lively personal in terest, ventured a few questions re garding his life. He replied withou embarrassment, telling me that he hal travelled extensively in Africa, India and America, and that he had hac many adventures.
 I then turned to the subject of thu chase, and he gave me many of tn most curious details in regard to hunt ing tho hippopotamus, the tiger, tn elephant, and even the gorilla.
 I remarked that all these animal were formidable.
 He smiled.
 "Oh, no; man is the most terrible.
 He laughed outright, with hearty contented English laugh, as he fu1 ther informed me
 "I have also been great hunter men,"
 Then he turned the conversation the topic of arms, and invited me the house to look at guns of differen kinds.
 Ills drawing-room was hung wit black silk embroidered with golt Large yellew flowers, riOting over th