The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-04-01

e said to CatlSSOn: Tell us, demoiSelle
g what you will give for the man who
J. captures your fathers assassin"
She did not answer, but turned pale
, while her beautiful black eyes wept an6
3 promised, but all that did not enable me
s to find the criminal Finally Catissor
t said:
: "If you can not find him, will"
? She had still her q andmother, true
: woman, living, who since the assassina-
: ton had been silent as a stone, yet fierce
as a dog ready for attack, and the pool
old woman kept repeating: viii they
not, then, conduct to the Monte-a-Regret
the villain who killed my SOM"
Catisson left her position as seamstress
and applied to the prefect of police fcr
permission to take a place at the fair
This astonished every one, especially
when we saw at the fairgrounds at st.
Loup or st. Martial or Limoges a great
bill posted, with portrait of Catisson in
rose-colored robes, and beneath, in large
letters, "The Electric Girl" How odd
for Catisson so to designate herself So
Catisson Coussac was electric, and you
received a shock when she touched you.
But 1 needed not to touch her to be cleo
|
see her at %; but ten years ago. those
who saw her and did not turn to look the
second time were great imbeciles.
Well, the electric girl" brought spec
tators. An orchestra was not necessary,
exclaimed, What a beautiful grill" then
entered.
One day entered The fair. She was
there upon little platform, with Mother
Coussac, who, as afortune-teller, watched
every one closely. Catisson encouraged
me, and, while stood before her think
ing how becoming her costume, she
smiled, and said in droll tone:
~Oh, it is you! 1 do not need to see
your hand!"
Then / knew what the brave girl
wished; why she went about the country
in such disguise. She had ever in mind
that frghtful hand, and extended her
own white little hand, soft as satin, but
nervous to every one who came, hoping
it might meet that other hand stained
with blood. 1t was her own idea; she
mad only the one clew; it would suffice,
she thought; yet to find the rascal was
| like looking for a needle in hay-stack
But there are chances that a murderer
will wander in the direction of his crime.
The murderer might then be far from
Limoges, but would in all probability re
| turn, and there was a chance that she
might again see the hand which haunted
her like nightmare.
Everywhere Catisson, with Mother
Coussac, Travelled over the country, yet
it was always toward Vienna that they
turned with the most confidence-women
often divine things.
One day remember it as though it
were yesterday-the 22d of May, a Mon
day, there was a show at the Place
Royale, and Catisson and Mother Cous-
sac We're there, distributing the hand
bills and saying: ~Enter, ladies and
gentlemen" 1t was not necessary to in
vite me; / entered as the others, only
saying, "Good-day, mademoiselle;" and
she replied, "Good day, gendarme," well
knowing my name, but giving only my
title. see it all, now-Catisson in her
red robe, her pretty brown hair, a rose
in her corsage, white arms, pretty shoul-
ders, and head to turn all others. And
she explained to the spectators, as was
her custom, about the electric fluid; then
extended her hand, saying:
"Give me your hand and you will feel
the current. Do not fear; it will not hurt
you"
Then some laughed, others were al
most afraid, but all extended their hands
for the touch of Catisson. was there,
and was almost jealous of those people
who pressed her eoft hand, when sud-
denly, like a thunder-clap, 1 saw the
electric girl, as pale as death, extending
her hand to one who seized it as dog
does piece of meat. Before her was a
great fellow, with curly red hair showing
beneath felt hat; he wore a blue blouse
over a vest, and epaulets; giant I saw,
as regarded his profile; his inferior jaw
resembled that of a pike, and his tenn !
pies almost concealed with eyes, with no
beard, some hairs in the pale skin, bad |
figure. Catisson looked him well in the |
face, and he extended a hand which |
seemed enormous beside her small one. |
She chung to him, seemingly, as if every
thing depended upon that arm in the !
blue sleeve. A shudder passed over me, |
and said: 1T is the individual, she holds /
him"
Yes, yes, she held him, and, pale as
death, said to the gross fellow, suddenly
turned as white as herself.
"Ten me, do you know the assassin of
Leonard Coussac?"
He recoiled, seeking to withdraw his
fingers from the electric woman. All,
she needed not to be electric to cause a
shock to that man. He was unable to
move his arm; he wished to repulse her,
and said:
@Are you a fool? viii you unhand
me?"
AS he turned his head, 1 saw his light
eyes, fierce and eager, seeking means Of
escape.
miserable villiani" cried Catisson,
forcing him into chair. 1t was you
who dealt the blow. 1t was youl"
And she held that giant, stunned by
the suddenness of the affair. but he
gagged his hand from Catisson, and I saw
it, frightful, with the even fingers; he
struck her, then turn like a wild animal
to the place of egress.
Everybody sought to escape; the crowd
were afraid. The man leaped, pushing
the people before him, when 1 planted
myself in front of him. He had an ugly
look, seeing my kept and white breeches.
He perceived in them the evidence of my
position. He had his face toward me- I
raised my arm and seized him by the
blouse.
In the name of the law, arrest
you."
The Villains only reply was blow,
which would, believe, have sent me
ten feet, if had not had the presence of
Catisson to increase my strength Trid-
culed the blow. l held the man; I
dragged him; would not let him go.
They would have had to break my wrist
IN order to make me. And he gave me
blows on the head, trying to stun me, or
break my skull. Suddenly q stin hold
the scarf he attempted to plunge a
Knife into my neck, in the same way he
had struck Father Coussac-a habit of
his, believe. He counted upon killing
me; but the collar of my uniform turned
aside the blade of the knife-a Noutron