Year: 1862

ABOVE the rest, just DeyOnu tne large rock,
and the lane enters the road on the other side
of it. As it is very narrow and grown up
with bushes, you would hardly notice it. But,
with these directions, you can hardly fail"


Never you fear; l shall not miss the road"
'.Is that all Monsieur wishes?"


81 believe so; but stop minute. offered
your husband piece of gold, but he refused
to take it. Perhaps you may be more sensi-
Bile ?"


The old woman greedily took the proffered
coin. saying:


pierre is too sensitive. We might both
starve before he would take cent"


Il see you differ from him little" returned
the horseman laughing.


He then put spurs to his horse and rode on.
In a few minutes he reached the rock alluded
to, and could then perceive the entrance to a
narrow lane, artfuly concealed by bushes.
He soon made his way through them, and,
when once in the lane, found it little wider
than he expected. 1t also became free from
bushes as he proceeded. He stopped mo-
ment to examine the priming OF his pistol,
muttering:


my worthy friends are rather sharp. They
do not do their numbering in open road, where
spilled blood might lead to their detection, but
inveigle the unfortunate traveller into the
dark lane, where he may be safely put out of
the way, and be none the wiser for it. At
any rate am fully prepared for them, and
they will not put me out of the way without
a struggle"


Having seen that his arms were ready for
use, he road slowly forward, keeping a care
ful watch on each side of the road, that he
might not be surprised AS long as the woods
kept open as they were, he had no fear, as
there were no good hiding places for man.
Ere long the woods began to get thicker and
more sombre. Little hillocks, covered with
bushes, became frequent, until at last they
became long range skirting at each side of
the road. he horseman felt that the time
which was to try him was near at hand, and
he dropped the reins until his hand covered
a holster pistol, which he firmly grasped in
such manner as person would not notice,
and he then assumed an air of careiessness,
though his watch was now keener than ever.
AT length he came to place which he felt
contained his enemy. Nature seemed to have
adapted this place for the purpose of conceal
ment. The rocks which skirted the road at
this place were about breast high, and so per-
pendicular as to have the appearance of a
wall. They were covered with a growth of
bushes so thick as TO be nearly impervious.
The tall trees on each side of the road twined
their tops together, forming a natural roof of
leaves and branches, and rendering the place
as dark and dismal as midnight.


1t was a scene sufficient to appal the stout
est heart, but the horseman, although he knew
that the next moment might be his last, rode
forward with an air as careless as he might
have worn, had he been travelling the streets
of populous city. His hand still grasped
the butt of pistol, and his keen eyes still
searched each covert. Suddenly pistol shot
ran 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 direction of the
sound, he beheld slight wreath of smoke
curling up from behind bush, and without
a moments hesitation, he leveled his pistol
and fired. The aim was terribly fatal. A
wild shrek ran upon the air, and the next
moment there sprang froa behind the tree,
not the charcoal burner, as he had expected
but his wife. The blood was flowing copiously
from her forehead, and presented horrible
spectacle. She tottered TO the edge of the
wall of rocks, and fell into the road a corpse


Had known that it was woman" the
horseman muttered, Il never would have
fired. But it is too late TO moralize. What
can have become of my friend, the charcoal
burner?'


As he spoke. he turned round quickly and
encountered the object of his thoughts. II
was lucky that he was so quick. The charcoal
burner held cleaning knife in his band, al
ready uplifted to strike. While the horse
mans attention had been engaged by the
tragical end Of the woman, he had silently
crept up behind him. and the would-be-assassin
sprang forward, making desperate pass al
his breast. The horsemen still held the dis
charged pistol in his hand. and with Its long
barrel managed to parry the blow.


He then buried his spurs deep into hi:
horses sides, and the goaded beast sprang
forward so violently as TO dash the charcoal
burner TO the ground, and sprang completely
over him, dashing the knife from his hand
and leaving him stunned in the middle of the
road. The horseman turned instantly. and
drawing his remaining pistol from his holster
waited for the other to rise. The latter stag
gered to his feet, and leaning against the rock
at the side of the road, gazed sullenly and re
vengeiully on his conqueror. Thus the strang,
couple regarded each other for some time
until at last the horseman broke the silence:


$50, NV friend" he said, "your career i
ended at last"


Yes, curse youl I'd rend you asunder to-
if"


..You dared, presume" put in the stranger
Il doubt not your good intentions, and car
only thank heaven that you have not powe
proportionate to your viii, but ! am doubl,
thankful that have been the means OF nd
ding the earth of such a monster. Ipresum'
you can give pretty good account of thos,
mysterious disappearances of life!'


AVE. that l can. You are the first richl,
freighted traveller who has entered that lan'
and escaped the bullet or the knife"


"Pshaw! do you take me for one of thos'
simpletons whose purses are better filed thai
their heads? ?"


mo" exclaimed the other with sudden en-
ergy, II know better. From the very frs
moment YOU seemed TO have read my very in
tenhon, and you usthave been sent express
ly TO entrap me. In other words you are
detective in disguise. Well, YOU come GU
best. but you have played desperate par'
8 Few would have eScaned a. Won have. for M