Year: 1860

the relns until his hand covered a holster
pistol, which he firmly grasped, though in
such manner as person would not no.
tice, and he then assumed an air of careless.
ness, though his watch was now keener
than ever. At length he came to a place
which he felt certain contained his enemy
Nature seemed to have adapted this place
for the purpose Of concealmcnt. The rocks
which skirted the road at this place were
about breast high, and so perpendicular as
TO have The appearance of wall they
were covered with a growth of bushes so
thick, as to be nearly impervous. The tall
trees on each side Of the road twned their
tops together, forming a natural roof of
leaves and branches, and rendering the place
as dark and dismal as midnight.


1t was indeed scene sufi cent to appall
the stoutest heart, but the horseman, al
though he knew that the next moment
might be his last, rode forward with as
careless ali air as he might have worn had
he been traversng the streets of popu-
lous city. His hand still grasped the butt
OF pistol, and his keen eyes still searched
each covert. Suddenly pistol shot rang
out upon the air, and his hat fell to the
ground with bullet hole through it. not
more than an inch above where his head
had been. Instantly turning in the direc.
ton Of the sound, he beheld slight wreath
of smoke curling up from behind bush,
and without a moments hesitation he level
ed his pistol and fired. The aim was ter.
ribly fatal. A wild shrek rang out upon
the air, and the next moment there spranp
from behind the tree, not the charcoal burn.
er, as he had expected but that of his wife
The blood was flowing copionsly from her
forehead, aud she presented horrible spec.
tacle, She tottered to the edge of the
wall Of rock, and fell into the road-a
corpse.


Had l known it to be woman the
horseman muttered Il never would have
fred But it is too late to moralize. What
can have become of my friend the charcoal
burner p


As be spoke he turped around quickly
and encountered the object of his thoughts
1t ws lucky for him that he was so quick
The charcoal burner held cleaning knife
in his hand, already uplired, ready to strike
While the horseman's attention had been
engaged by the tragaal end Of the woman,
he had silently crept up behind him, the
wonld be assassin sprang forward making
desperate pass at his breast. The horse
man still held the discharged pistol in his
hand, end with its long barrel managed to
parry the blow.


He then buried his spurs deep into the
horses sides, and the goaded beast sprang
fN.,r Il ,f11, 1yy Il ,,l, : h. ol,.
coal burner to the ground, and completely
springing over him. dashing the knife from
his hand, leaving him stunned in the mid
die Of the road. The horseman turned in.
stantly, and drawing his remaining pistol
from his holster, waited for the other to
rise. The latter staggered to his feet, and
leaning against the rocks on the side Of the
road, gOzed suleny and vengefully at
his conquerOr. Thus the strange couple
regarded each other for some time, until at
last the hvrseman broke the silence.


so, my friend, he said, your career is
ended at last


Yes! curse you! I'd rcnd you asuuder,
too, if


You dared, Ipresume, put in the stran.
ger. Il doubt not your good intentions,
aud can only thank heaven that you have
not power proportiOnato to your will, but
| am doubly thankful that have been the
means of ridding the earth Of such a mon
ster. presume you can give a pretty
good account Of those mysterious disap-
pearances of late.'


Aye that l can You are the first
richly freighted traveller who has entered
this lane and escaped the bullet or knife


'Pshaw do you take me for one of those
smpletons, whose purses are better filed
than their heads 2


No ? exclaimed the other with sudden
energy. Il know better From the very
first you seemed to have read my every in
tention, and you must have been sent eX-
pressly to entrap me. In other words, you
are a detective in disguise


You are right was the reply.


We'll, you have come out best, but you
have played desperate game. Few would
have escaped as You have, for my wife is a
good shot. But you seemed from the first
to be fortunes favorite'


certainly had a narrow escape return
ed the other pointing to the bullet hole in
us udI. DuJ IL IL nDt Iuc uIot tI'uS lHdV
fortune has proved friendly to me-


We'll, who are you !? at length demand
ed the other.


My name is Vidocq ?


Great havens the Partisan detective !
/ might have known that it would be all up
with me when you were pitted against me.


Yes, business at the metropolis being
rather dull, and having heard some rumors
of your doings, thought that | would take
a trip out here, if only for the good Of my
health. BUTT is growing late, aud you
must be moving


Where must | go ?


TO the gallows, in the end, was the cool
reply; but at present to the Jail at P


TO the galows = returned the other
fercely, Never any death but that 7


The detective leveled his pistol at the
charcoal burners head, exclaimng


You shall have bullet through your
head, if you prefer it'P


The other ducked his head in expecta-
tion of the shot, and then made desper-
ate spring at the detective. The latter,
however, was in no hurry to fire, and coolly
awaited the others attack. The charcoal
burner grasped the reiDs with bis left hand,