Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-07-17
CATISSON COUSSAC.


adjutank one morning informed US we
had an important undertaking on hand.
An honest, poor man, a master mason,
bad been assassinatsd at his own home,
Faubonrg MontmAiller, no one knowing
who had committed the crime. 1t was
In September, and we had an agreement
10 clear the roads for the unarmed chas-
ssurs. The adjutant, n. Doudet now
promoted to the rank Of captain, recon-
mended to the euarter1naster that tho
men redouble their vigilance, and II
they found under the chestnut tree or
niong tho road doubtful or suspicious
characters, to arrest them. The entire
round was guarded, for the order had
been dispatched to Chateau-neuf, to Am
bayac, to Saint Sulpice and Lauriere,
Dellac and Rochechouart. Such orders
are somewhat perplexing. 1t will not
do to depend too much upon the appear
anoe. There are those Of unfavorable
mien who are most worthy. once
knew person whom they might have
glillotined, or at least sent to the galleys,
for his looks. An, well, he was man
TO whom in every other respect they
would have given the Montyou value.
He supported number OF people, and
distributed to the poor all he had; a
saint, upon my honor, yet with the head
II q galley slave while others who would
be granted absoluslon without confession
suddenly come to manacles. But they
hold US to arrest. and we arrested ped
Hers, beggars, as yellow as their wallets,
gwen idiots, who roamed unknowingly
over the country. Not one seemed
capable Of making way with Father
Coussac. Time passed, and the assassin
II Faubourg was still unknown. Discov-
sry was not easy; we had 30 few indica-
lions TO guide US, and the affair was one
H mystery.
One day when / was at the guard
house a beautiful girl, with black eyes
like malberries, and red lips like straw
berries, came toward me, saying:
"Have they any news of the assassin
am the daughter of Leonard Coussac."
That was something worth hearing.
She spoke with SO much energy and feel
thg that I felt ashamed OF not having put
into custody the wretch who had killed
her father. Then tried to excuse my
sch, saying how meager was our infor-
nation regarding the assassin, and this
md that, but she looked at me 80 steadily
I became embarrassed and said suddenly:
1Well, miss, would risk an arm or a
limb to catch the rogue for you"
And spoke the truth; yet it was not
perhaps professional duty that made me
say 1t, but those velvety black eyes.
@Only," said, 1--WE must have a clew.
"A clew?' And then she shrugged
hsr shoulders. "Is not the hand one?"
"The haRdl What handf"
Then Catisson Coussae related TO me
the story Of the crime, which confess
chilled me.
1t was one evening In September
Poor, honest Coussae had at his house ir
Faubo,lrg koAtnaiilsr some money
which had been intrusted to him by hi
pAAron, II. Gsbourdy, the contractor
zbout 10000 francs. with which he wa
10 settle two bills--one with plasterer
eAe other with humber merchant. Hav
tpg, upon this particular evening
finished his repast, Father Cous
sac and his daughter remained
Downstairs after mother Coussac had re
tired, he reading his almanac as he sai
near the closet containing the silver, ant
The knitting wool stocking. 1t is nee
esssry to explain that there was gar
den back of the house, and, facing this
window, tbs height Of man, the shut
ters of whioh were generally closed, bu
which on this particular evening, tn
worthy man, being a trifle warm, lief
open. He read there, under the sky
light by q small lamp, and Catisso,
heard him turn over and over the page
al his almanac. She has often told M
that she felt, while working meehan
ically, a little drowsy, by this noise Q
the paper, so regular, and by the ticl,
of the pendulum, and that, suddenl
raising her head from her work, to yaw
and see if it was not time to go to SLEEP
she saw, believing at first that she wa
mistaken, that she dreamed; that she ha
the INTERCHANGEABLE saw between th
folds of the shutter, passing, movin
softly, softly, hand, large hand, BIT
with something frightful about it ths
Catisson remarked at once, the four fiji
gers, almost as large as the thumb, b,
ing all of the size, as though cut by linz
yet they We're not cut, only terminate
in this frightful way; and this hideor
hand glided along the shutters evidentl
seeking to open the blind noiselessl.
Then it remained motionless, as thong
its owner knew that Catisson had disco
cred him. For moment she believe
she had not seen Alright, that tt
light of the lamp had dazzled h,
sight. But when she opened he
eyes, very much frightened, thel
was the moving hand, with its emo
nous even fingers. Catisson wishe
to scream, but seemed strangled by TIL
terrible hand. Then she suddenly aros
and, Selling her father by the sleev
pointed to the hand on the blind. B.
at the same moment that old Coussi
turned, the robber quickly pushed opt
the blind, and a current of air exit