The Opelousas courier., 1890-10-11

deed there was a chance-was to con-
ciliate the rufians and buy myself off.
With a presence Of mind for which 1
still take to myself considerable credit, I
said at once:
ri understand 1t AL, gentlemen, and
you will find me a very liberal person to
deal with. There is one thing / value
very highly, because it is the only one I
have, and / can not replace it-that is
my life. Everything else of mine is at
your service, even beyond what I have
with me-"
They were undoubtedly surprise to
hear me speak in that cool, of-hand man
ner, but they marched forward and sur
rounded me before either returned q
word.
CHOW much have you with you thena"
inquired one in a civil way, but in a low,
gruf tone.
I Immediately mentioned the different
articles of value, and the exact amount
of money.
"AlI of which I shall be pleased to
present you with, If one of you will be
kind enough to escort me to the street
above" / asked.
"You said you had more, monsieur"
eyes, gentlemen, l have 10, 900 francs
in the Bank of France, and will willingly
add a check for half that amount"
"Checks do not serve our purpose very
well,n said a second voice.
"Then I pledge you my honor that I
will tomorrow draw out 5000 france and
pay the amount over to any person who
may approach ms with this bouquet in
his hand" said /, holding out the Aow-'
ers / had purchased of the fair decoy.
"And have him arrested the next
minute, | suppose"
aNo, on my honor he shall depart
unframed and unquestioned; and no
other human being shall be informed of
the transaction for a week, a month or a
year"
eLet us first handle what you nav
here" said the first speaker.
l Immediately took out my pin, took
off my ring, drew out my watch, pro-
ducedmy pocket-book and purse and
placed them all in his extended hand.
"You make me a present of these
now he said.
eyes, on condition that one of you
will forthwith conduct me to the street,"
I replied.
ssMonsieur is a very liberal gentleman,
eh, eomrades2' said the mask, turning
to the others.
IA very liberal gentleman, indeed!"
was the response.
Then they drew off together, scrutin-
lied the articles by the light Of a smoky
lamp, and conversed together in low
tones. / felt that they were holding a
consultation that involved my life, and
to speak the honest truth, it seemed as
if every nerve in me quivered, and it was
with difficulty / could stand.
At length the principal spokesman
turned to me and said, in very cool
and methodical manner:
stMonsieur has acted more like a gen.
tIeman than any other person we ever
had dealings with, and if welcould, con-
sistent with our business, obllge him, we
should be happy to do SO, but unfortun-
nately we are governed by q rule, which
is a law with US, that dead men
tell no tales, and we think it will notdo
to make an exception in this case. We
will, however, in consideratis n of Mon
sieur's gentlemanly behaviel, be as mild
and lenient as possible in dC.1g u duty,
and grant Monsieur five minutes for say
ing his prayers"
aYou have, then, resolved to murder
me2" I asked.
monsieur uses a very harsh term, but
we will let that pass. You have five
minutes yet to live by that watch
The villain then held my watch to the
light, and / felt indeed that my minutes
were numbered.
a death-like silence then reigned in.
that gloomy apartment for some time,
and then one of the rufians bent down
ward and lifted a trap-door, and from
the dark pit below issued a noisome
smell. / beheld my intended grave,
and shuddered and shook like an aspen.
But why stand there and die like q
dog, without a single attempt ut escaped
At the worst it could be but death, and
there was a bare possibility that / might
get away. / fixed my eyes on the door
which opened upon the stairway, and
with 4 single sudden bound reached it,
but found it fast locked. Then, as the
hands of the rufians seized me-, with
murderous intent, / uttered a wild shrek,
the door. was burst in with a loud crash.
and in a moment the room was filed
with ~gendarmes. I saw that I was saved,
and tainted and fell.
The four masks, the fair decoy and
some two or three others concerned it
that murderous den were all secured that
night, and subsequently had the pleas
ure of giving my evidence against them
and seeing them all condemned to the
galleys for life.
The place had been for some time sus-
peeted and the decoy marked. On that
night a detective had secretly followed
the girl and myself, and, after ascertain
ing whittier she had c,nducted me, had
FASTENED to bring a body of gendarmss
to the place. The delay Of the ruffians
in their murderous design had been just
sufficient to aye me. ! scarcely need
add that I never again volunteered to ac-
company d distressed danlsel on a secret
adventure while / remained in Paris.
Death of M. i. Bonharn.
~ 49, ar.1laa-a