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

meantime Coussac died, and the old
mother was beside herself. Catisson,
half out Of her. senses, saw ever that
frightful hand, with the four even fin
gers gliding over the oak shutter, like q
spider or crab.
AS you can imagine, we made every
effort to find the dog who had sent that
worthy to Lonyat (the cemetery at Linn
oges) Yes, we did all we could, but
there was no clew. We had the hand as
Catisson had described it to me, but
knew of no one possessing such hand.
We questioned all the masons who had
worked with Father Coussac, but no
suspicion rested upon them; all were
worthy people, we'll known, with little
fondness for chestnut wine, but not
crime. Who, then, was the criminal?
One day butcher-boy from La rue
Agueperse came to tell us that he
remembered once having quarrel with
a great fellow who, in drawing his Nou-
tron knife, had displayed very peculiar
hand with four even fingers. Now this
knife with which he had killed Coussac
was Noutron knife, but the butcher
boy could give no further information,
and many thought his story fabrioa-
ton. And our men still searched, find
ing nothing, which annoyed me, as / had
said to Catisson: "Tell us, demoiselle,
what you will give for the man who
captures your fathers assassin"
She did not answer, but turned pale
while her beautiful BLACK eyes wept and
promised, but all that did not enable me
to find the criminal. Finally Catisson
said:
"If you can not find him, will"
She had still her grandmother, a true
woman, living, who since the assassina-
ton had been silent as stone, yet fierce
as dog ready for attack, and the poor
old woman kept repeating: @Will they
not, then, conduct to the Monte-a-Regret
the villain who killed my son?"
Catisson left her position az seamstress,
and applied to the project of police for
permission TO take place at the fair.
This astonished every one, especially
when we saw at the fairgrounds at St.
Loup or st. Martial or Limoges great
bill posted, with portrait of Catisson IN
rose-colored robes, and beneath, in large
letters, "The Electric Girl" How odd
for Catisson 80 to designate herself. So
Catisson Coussac was electric, and you
received shock when she touched you.
But needed not to touch her to be cleo
trifed; had only to look at her. You
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,
or other attractions. They saw her and
exclaimed, What beautiful grill" Their
entered.
One day I entered The fair. She was
there upon Little platform, with Mother
Coussac, who, az fostune-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:
"Oil, it is you! / do not need to sex
your handl'
Then / knew what the brave cir
wished; why she went about the country
in such disguise. She had ever in mine
that frlghtful hand, Gnd extended he
own white little hand, soft 0s satin, bu
nervous to every one who came, hoping
it might meet that other hand stainet
with blood. 1t was her own idea; sh
had only the one clew; it would suffice
she thought; yet to find the rascal wa
like looking for needle in hay-stack
But there are chances that murdere
viii 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 chance that sh
might again see the hand which haunte
her like nightmare.
Everywhere Catisson, with Mothe
Coussac, travelled over the country, We
it was always toward Vienna that the
turned with the most confdence-womel
often divine things.
One day. remember it as though
were yesterday-the 22d of May, a Nor
day, there was a show at the Plac
Royale, and Catisson, and Mother Cou:
sac were there, distributing the hanC
bills and saying: "Enter, ladies an
gentlemen" 1t was not necessary to il
vite me; / entered as the others, onl
saying, "Good-day, mademoiselle;" an
she replied, Good day, gendarme," we
knowing my name, but giving only m
title. I see it all, now-Catisson i'll he
red robe, her pretty brown hair, rof
: in her corsage, white arms, pretty shou
ders and head to turn all others. An
she explained to the spectators, as We
her custom, about the electric fluid; the
extended her hand, saying:
"Give me your hand and you will fe'
the current. Donot fear; twill not hu,
you"
Then some laughed, others were a
most afraid, but all extended their hanC
for the touch of Catisson. / was Their
and wac almost jealous of those Peep
who pressed her soft hand, when SUI
denly, like a thunder-clap, saw ii
electric girl, as pale as death, extendir
her hand to one who seized it as dc
does a piece Of meat Before her was
: great fellow, with curly red hair shown