The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-12-05

1
good time. During my three months
stay in the French capital, met with
many adventures, most of them the
result of my imperfect acquaintance
with the language, and many of them
ending in mutual explanation and a
good-humored laugh; but the one am
| about to relate was of an entirely diff
ferent kind.
1 had no acquaintance in Paris to
invite me to elegant parties or recep-
| tons, and therefore had no need for
| elegant dress. During my travels |
had picked up and preserved a great
variety Of costumes. and the fancy now
seized me to wear them just as the
| whim should, dictate. And so l did.
On Monday would stroll out attired
as Russian, on Tuesday as Turk, on
Wednesday as a Swiss, and so on.
One day / was. summoned to appear
before the project of police. l went,
wondering what could be wanted of
me in that quarter. When / was ush-
cred into the presence of that func-
tionary, he closed the door and atten-
lively regarded me.
"What nationT' he asked, in English.
American"
II supposed so. Well, Monsieur
American, pray be so good as to inform
me what object you have in going
about the streets as though you were
alta fancy dress party, in the costumes
of all known nations?"
1T is merely within" was my reply.
ut suits me to do so; that is all I can
say about it,
'Indeed" He looked hard at me for
moment, and then continued: ST
am well satisfied that you have no inn
proper object in all this incorporating;
nad it been otherwise, my agents would
have discovered it, You have been
under their espionage constantly. /
have sent for you to tell you that.
though you are at liberty to continue
this style Of proceeding, if you choose
to do so, vet in the end you may find it
to your advantage to drop it. This is
a strange city, and the role you have
adopted may involve you in compli-
cations that you little dream Of I
merely give you a friendly warning.
Good-morningw
This was caution that ought to
have regarded; but l was younger then
than l am now. and full of the idea Of
my own Importance and acuteness. If
the project could not explain what dan
ger there could be in my dressing as
chose, it was clear to me that there
could be no danger; so smiled at the
caution and went my way as before.
There was one of my costumes that
was rather a favorite with me-a
snowy Spanish dress, richly braided,
with large mantle and sombrero to
match. | believe l had appeared in
public with this much oftener than
with any Of the other costumes. A
few nights after my interview with
the project, was returning to my
lodgings in this dress. There had been
a great exhibition OF fireworks in the
Place Vendome, which had continued
until II, and as walked on slowly,
enjoying my cigar, 1t was half an hour
later before l turned into the narrow
street on which was my place of
abode. The street was unhghted, and
quite dark and deserted.
Presently three men came rapidly be.
hind me, talking and laughing in a
way that at first led me to think that
they had been taking too much wine,
One of them quickened his pace, over
took me, and addressed me in Spanish
knew a little of the language, and
understood that he was asking ms
for light.
| held out my cigar. and at the in.
slant my arms We've seized from behind
and plnioned with slipknot, my
throat was compressed by pair OF
bony hands. and a thick, padded hood
was wrapped closely about my face
and head. The thing was done so sud
denly and so secretly that | was taker
entirely by surprise tried to cry out
/ but found could not utter sound
was lifted off my feet; heard {
shrill whistle, carriage was driver
up, | was thrust into it, some OF my
captors following, others mounted Il
the box, and the vehicle was driver
away at a rafting pace.
shall waste neither words no
space in describing my emotions.
wish merely to speak Of facts, and tn
reader may supply the rest for him
self. ! struggled at first; but anothe
/ slipnoose was corded tightly about "a,
legs, and a few cautionary words o
! Spanish from one of the men conveye,
a threat which caused me to keel
silent. The vehicle was driven at
rapid pace, which presently brought
to the end Of the paved street, and
knew we were approaching one of tn
suburbs. The journey was CONTINUES
for more than an hour after this, M
companions exchanging word nov
and then in an undertone At last W
stopped; the door opened, and I wa
was lifted out ana carried a few steps
then down flight Of stairs, acros
paved floor. and into an apartment
MY hood and bonds were removed, an
y - - y - 49,.