The Grenada gazette., 1888-01-14

0o"S"'oA, DoIu anu DARING
robbery had been committed within it,
immediate precincts. just at twilight
as neighboring nobleman, a frequen,
guest OF the house, was traversing tht
customary road through the forest, 8
gun-barrel was suddenly thrust be,
tween the thick bushes. while a deep
hoarse voice cried steraly:
| "Halt! Your money ar your life!"
Feeling no desire, as the nobleman
afterward explained. to yield his life
for the sake of q few louis dor, he in.
stantlythrew his purse upon the ground
and dashed Oft without venturing to
look back.
Robberies, or serious crimes of any
kind. were of rare occurrence in Linn
ousin. and less frequently still were
they ever traceable to the quiet inhab-
itants, but almost invariably to high
waymen, from distance, passing
through the province. 1t was at once
surmised. therefore, that this audacious
deed must be the work Of some such
intruder, and Count de Saillant gave
wholesale instruction to spare no effort
in the discovery Of the depredator; but
all in vain. No trace of the bold
marauder rewarded their search.
But what was the astonishment,
alarm and CONSERVATION of the whole
community when, in quick succession,
robbery after robbery of the same ma
ture followed, each and all committed
in the same mysterious manner, always
at twilight, on the forest road, and the
base attack always confined to the
wealthy, intimate frequenters of the
castle. Within afortnight no less than
eight OF these fearless assaults had
been successfully accomplished, as
guests went to or from the Counts
residence. the closest investigation and
vigilance proving utterly futile to dis
cover the expert highwayman.
And not one Of the victims had either
possessed the courage, or thought it
wise, to show fight; obeying the man
date Of the imperious voice. each in
turn had with alacrity resigned his
purse. A few, it is true, had mani
tested sufficient bravery to look back
in their hasty fight, and were thus en-
abled to give some information con-
cerning the appearance Of the scoun-
drel as he stepped forward to take pos
session OF his booty; and in every
instance he was depicted as a man Of
gigantic size, wearing a mask--a kind
Of demon in human form, upon whom,
itiwas evident, pistol shot or sword
thrust would prove harmless. Some
had even been armed at the time of at
tack, but considered it useless to avail
themselves of the advantage.
Count Mirabeau laughed heartily
over the stories Of the bandit, and
rallied numerically the faint-hearted
knights of Limousin for thus permit
ting themselves to be plundered by a
country vagabond; but they resolutely
reidned that he would prove no more
courageous than they, If once at
tacktd. In vain Mirabeau assured
them that he roamed the forest daily, |
hoping to encounter the mysterious
freebooter, and that nothing would
afford him greater pleasure than a |
meeting, when he would engage to de-
liver him prisoner at the castle.
Meanwhile the proper authorities
were byno means dilatory or negligent;
every effort was diligently employed to
discovH the author of the outrages,
but inNain. He remained enshrouded
in impenetrable mystery.
1t wis late in the evening Of the fif-
teenthEof November that the Marquis
of Charras, worthy nobleman, of
middle age, rode slowly on his way to
Castle 6aillant. Twilight had already
fallen pn the forest; it was perfectly
still, Ad the stars shining serenely
overhead, while the full moon rose in
majestic beauty, lighting the trees
with fahastic splendor, as the falling
leaves Aoated silently from the dying
branches
The itsecurity of the path he travelled
was wei known to the Marquis, and,
advancing deeper into the woods, he
spurred his horse to faster speed, in
wardly Fishing that he had not VEN
tured tn p into the solitude alone.
Nor d the wish prove q needless
one; scately had he proceeded hun
dred steH further when the click of
gun hamk ker startled him, and the next
instant muzzle Of the weapon was
bearing 4bse upon him, while dark
[orm suddenly appeared beneath o +,
lowering Rak, and in calm, resolute
voice ordd|sd: Il
"Halt! Tour purse, my lord, or YOU |
stir not fufher!'' |,
Instantly the Marquis realized that
ne stood ced by the same dilemma +
Forced upon many before c
lin, and pite as reluctant as they to
sacrifice hi1 life for the small sum he /
,arried, scdAfully cast his purse upon /
he ground }'iding slowly forward, but a
aging. as n did so:
"You foil fw risky trade, fellow; l n
it ill yet bring you to the Il
,allowsw
UThat'G nj r;sE ~ rooI;ed tho 1,;rL- | y