Year: 1859

ana walked away. Ills step was hurried and
eager felt sure that he was not the man
who did the direct work of death. The plot
was deeper than that, or he would have been
discovered ere this. So resolved to wait n
while and see il he returned. | would have
followed him if l could have done SO with
safety; but he might have detected me, and
that would not do. However, in less than fif
teen minutes he came. lie walked now with
a sober, innocent air. 1t seemed to say, ''Oh.
| havn't been up to any mischief, as you can
sce."


| saw Cazaubon at his desk again, and then
] returned to my horse. knew that had n
risk to run now, but / was ready for it. II
tho factory agent was at the bottom of tho
crime, and meant to have me robbed, he had
already set his machinery in motion, and the
next development would be upon the road. -
| examined my pistols, and then left the town,
taking the road along tho river towards Aups


AT the end Of half an hour came to the
slopes Of the Barjos mountains, and soon
afterwards entered the wood. | now began
to DC very careful, and keep my eyes about
me. will not say that was wholly without
fear; for the mysterious manner in which the
murders had been done, vcrgcd so closely
upon the marvellous that sort of snpcrsti-
tiOus dread attached to it. Had the victims





their throats cut should huvc felt no sort
OF dread But this was new ground. Death
had come here, nobody knew how. 1t might
have come from all invisible hand, and in dead
silence. Yet, when reasoned upon the sub
1Jcct, felt sure that the murderer must np-
prOach very near to his victim ere the blow
was struck, since it must be some direct and
powerful agent that could cause death in SO
strange manner


] had crossed the little cascade of Saint Es-
prit, and was descending short, steep hill.
side, when saw boy by the roadside, at
the foot Of the descent, engaged in whipping
mule. lie was slightly built fellow, not
more than fifteen years Of age, and his coarse
garments were covered with meal. knew
that there was mill upon branch of the
Ncrlon, not far back, and supposed he might
be the millcr'S boy. AS ] came nearer, saw
a large sack upon tho ground, close by where
the mule stood.


WHATS the matter, my boy 2" | said, as
drew up near him.


"ThiS ugly mule has thrown both me and
my bag Of corn from his back" the boy an.
swercd


Are you hurt?" continued. -


My left shoulder is hurt, hc said, and
can't lift this sack II Monsieur would help
me ! would be very grateful"


Until this moment the idea Of suspccting
the boy had not entered my head; but the
suspicion flashed upon me now. lie was al
together too keen looking fellow for mil
lcrs apprentice. lie gave Inc a glance from
pair of quick, sharp eyes, that meant more
than he had spoken. And then, iG had not
been very much mistaken, had seen him
holding that mule with that left hand.


leaped from my saddle and moved towards
the boy, being careful to watch his every
movement =


Now" said he, "if YOU will take hold of
that end, we will put it on" lie lifted at the
other end, and pretended that it hurt his
shoulder; and he begged me tO lift it on alone.


lprofcsScd to be willing to comply, and
stopped down for that purpose, keeping my
head III such position that could watch him
with sidclOng glance. As bent over and
took hold Of the sack, l saw him carry his
hand to his bosom and draw something out.
| saw his dark eye flash, and heard his quick
eager breathing. In an instant l seized his
wrist and bent it upward, and as did 30,
heard a sharp report like the explosion Of
percussion cap, and saw a tiny wreath of
smoke curl up from the hand held. lie
struggled to free himself from my grasp, but
held him with grip Of iron, and fastened
my gaze upon him.


1--WE found you, have I >" snid, drawing
one Of my pistols and cooking it. 81 will
simply inform you that am an officer Of the
Prefecture, and that have been looking for
You. just offer particle more of resistance,
and bullet goes through your brain. Now
give inc that weapon"


The boy was frightened and trcmLled vio-
lently.


ut is only tobacco pipe" hc said, as he
handed it to me-


And certainly it looked like nothing more
but had seen enough Of it to know that evil
was in it. 1t appeared TO me to bc an Ordina-
ry mecrSchaum pipe, the bowl being colored
as though by long use, only the amber mouth
piece was missing. did not stop to examine
it then, but turned my attention to its owner.
| saw that he was still trembling with fear,
and knew that now would be tho time 70
work upon him.


so you arc selling your soul to Monsieur
Louis CazaubOn!" l remarked, by way of let
ting him know that was thoroughly informed.


lie started, and saw very plainly that he
knew just what meant; but he tried to re-
cover himself, and clumsily asserted that nc
did not know anything about the individual
| had named.


You needn't lie to me-" stcrnly replied,
for know all about it. Louis Cazaubon
~ hC uAuu
dream Of such thing lie thought was
tradcSman. But you arc young, aud would
Save you. Confess everything to me, and
promise yoN that your life shall be spared"


saw that the boy wavcrcd, and followed
up my advantage; and ere long l had him
bent to my wishes. l made him understand
that held his life in my hands; that could
protect him from the vengeance of any one
whom he might criminatel and that he had
everything to gain and nothing to lose by
full confession. lie came to it gradually and
reluctantly, but my wit finally triumphcd, and
gained the secret.


His name, he said, was Henry Dupin. lie
was born in Paris, but never knew who his
parents were. lie went to live with Cazau-
bon when quito young, and had been with
him ever since. lie said Cazaubon used to
be chemist, aud did some business in that
line; and it was in Paris that he invented the
Internal machine, which they had used with
such fatal effect. About two years previous
to the present time, they left Paris together.
and spent nearly year in travelling over the
kingdom numbering and rObbing for living.
Finally they came to Castcllanc, where the
master obtained his present situation, while
the boy went into a mill close At hand. Caz.
aubOn marked the victims that were to he
robbed, and the boy then did the work. Hc
used various artilices in carrying out his plan,
but the usual one was the one that had been
tried upon me.