The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1901-1903, 1902-11-16
Mystery of Mont Gents.

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line was explored, the tunnels were
searched and the embankments care
fully surveyed, bur there was no trace
to be found of any accident No dead
body, 40 stain of blood, no shred OF
clothing could be discovered to tell its
own tale. Edmund Justican. if that
were his name, seemed to have van,
.shed as completely as if ne had been
a deniZen of another world
For some time ! continued to take
an interest in the strange disappear
ance CT the traveller, as did the rest
of the world, for the papers were full
Of the mystery. Other sensations pre-
sented themselves however, and the
Justican disappearance was forgotten.
| made up my mind at last that l
should never know the sequel of the
strangers story and that his disap-
pearance was one of the mysteries of
life which are never explained.
Wien l was next in the south of
France, some three years later. | had
almost forgotten the occurrence, and
was only reminded of it by means of
the evil chance which caused me to
miss train and have to wait for few
hours at Culo2
Well, as this place is known by
name don't think that it has many
foreign visitors, and, as | had some
hours to wait, strolled through the
village admiring the quaint green pot
terry which | saw in the little shops.
and wondering whether | had time to
attain the heights on which the great
chateau was built or to explore the re-
cesses Of its park
AS | stroled past the house and up
one of the green lanes, which were
suggestive of England rather than of
southern France, came across a pref
~ little scene of domestic felicity.
There was a tiny red house built in
French fashion, with its back to the
view, surrounded by garden fun of
roses and other sweet smelling flowers,
with pot of herbs behind and little
enclosure of land. evidently well titled
Everything about the place breathed
of humble prosperity
There We're great beehiyes in cor
rer OF the garden, and a dovecote on
the side of the wall, and on the porch
sat a pretty, dark-eyed young wo-
man in peasant dress. who was at that
very moment lifting up black eyed
child of about two years old, in its
queer blue blouse and black cap, TO be
kiCGnd INV q no 10
and blue blouse of a French laborer:
but who. as ! noted Immediately mad
curiously fair hair, and looked very I'M
like the ordinary Frenchman
There was a still smaller child in
wooden cradle at the door, and the
young woman pointed to it reproach-
fully. as much as to say that her hus-
band had not given sufficient attention
to the little one. whereupon with
laugh the man stopped over the cradle
and at that moment | caught sight of
his face.
held my breath and stared in blank
amaze for the fair haired man In the
peasant dress was none other than Ed
mund Justican.
stood outside the hedge still star
ing, when the woman at the door
caught sight of me and said some
thing to her husband. He looked
around at me and paled suddenly.
Then ne put his finger to his lips as if
TO beg me to keep silence, transferred
the child to its mothers arms, and
walked slowly down the garden path
10 the gate, looking steadily at rne all
the time.
Monsieur wants somethingT" he
asked in French or rather in the patois
Of the district. which is generally diff
cult for an Engishman to acquire. /
was too much taken aback to anawer
IN anything but English
Is it you. after all?" | said. Don't
You remember ne? | vas an old &C
quaiatance of yours"
Il have no acquaintance with mon
sieur," said the man. looking me quite
calmly in the face. But tae more | OBJ
served him the certain / became
that ne was the vanished Justican.
Perhaps you don't know me by
name" | went on bluntly, but you
mast remember that we lunched to-
gether at Venice. that we visited the
Pitt Palace in Florence together, and
that we were travelling in the same
compartment on tie journey from Tur-
in, when you so mysteriously disap-
reared? | do not come as an enemy.
Mr. Edmund Justican, and have no
wish to inquire into your secrets. but
you must allow me to express my plea
sure in seeing you alive and we'll" /
noticed that the color came back to
his face as | spoke, and at the end
he smiAd slightly and lifted his cap.
IF you will promise me not to be-
tray my secret, he said, speaking Eng
ljsh-how well ! remembered his re-
fined and languid accents-"I will not
refuse myself the pleasure of convers-
ing few moments with a countryman
of my own. You are the first American
have spoken 10 for three years, but
shall be glad of your kind assurance
that you will give no account of your