Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1885-07-10
The Mysterious Hand,


however, instead of using the word
supernatural" to express what we do
not understand, we should use simply
the word 'inexplicable," # would be
much more exact. In tie affair 1 am
about to relate, it was, above all, the
preceding and attending circumstances
that impressed me. 1 will give you
the facts
was examining magistrate at the
time at Ajicco, little white city ~
ing on the edge of a beautiful bay,
which is surrounded on all sides by
high mountains The cases with
which had chiefly to do were those
Of vendetta. I 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
massacres, and almost glorious in their
horror. For two years had heard Of
nothing but the price of blood, that
terrible Corsican prejudice which
binds a man to aYenge every injury on
the person who wrought 1t, his de-
scendants and klnsmen. 1 had seen
old men and children murdered, and
my head was full of such stories.
l learned one day that an English
man had Just leased for a number of
years little villa at the foot Of the
bay. He had brought with him a
French body-seryant, engaged at Mar
settles 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 pTacticed 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 fed his country for po-
ntical reasons; another affirmed that
he was lying in concealment after hav-
ing committed a 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
I could learn nothing He gave his
name as Sir John ROwell. 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
the neighbOrhoOd of his estate.
I waited long for an opportunity.
1t came finally in the shape of a par
fridge which 1 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 a 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
daily, speaking with a strong English
accent, for my scrupulousness. At
the endof a month we had talked five
or six times together.
One evening as I was passing his
door saw him in his garden smok-
ing his pipe, astride Of a chair. I sa-
luted him, and he invited me in. I
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 under
the guise of a very lively personal in
terest, ventured a few questions re-
garding 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.
1 then turned to the subject Of the
chase, and he gave me many of the
most curious details in regard to hunt
ing tho hippOpOtamus, the tiger, the
elephant, and even the gorilla.
1 remarked that all these animals
were formidable.
He smiled.
"Oh, no; man is the most terrible"
He laughed outright, with hearty,
contented English laugh, as he fur
ther informed me
81 have also been great hunter o
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 hung with
black silk embroidered with gold.
Large yellow flowers. riOting over the