Year: 1859

w
him.


had given an assumed name at the inn, |
and stated that belonged to Toulon. On
the next morning called for my bill, and
informed my host that was off for home |
Then went to the fruit prcserver's and told |
him the same, stating that I must confer !
with my partner before concluded my
bargain. After this ! went to the wollen |
factory, and saw the business agent. His
name was Louis Cazaubon, and he had come
to Castellane about a year before. He
seemed to be straightforward, business
man, and yet he was the only one had
seen whom really wished to suspect. In
conversing upon the murders, he had been
little too free and off handed, treating the
subject more coolly than man with heart
would be apt to do. But still had, thus
far. been able to find nothing AGAINST him
On the present occasion l told him, as /
had told the others, that must return to
Toulon


"If you have not the ready money with
you, we can give you credit he said.
told him I had plenty of money, but I
was not fully prepared to pay the prices he
had demanded. He said, very well ;" and
added, that he should be happy to sell to
me when came again. bade him good
day, and then departed. As soon as was
| alone, began to suspect Monsieur Louis
Cazaubon in earnest When told him I
had money, but did not purchase, because
he charged me too much, why didn't he
banter me? Simply because he wished me
to leave town with my money in my pocket.
! At least so it appeared to me. This was
sufficient ground for me to work upon, and


| resolved to watch the man little; so l
rode to an out-of-the-way place, and left my
horse, and then returned and concealed my
self in position where could see the move
M snts of Louis Cazaubon. In few min


utes he came out from his factory and walk


ed away. His 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


while and see if he returned. l would have


followed him, if I could have done so with


safety; but he might have detected me and


that would not do. However, in less than
fifteen minutes he came. He walked now


with sober, innocent air. 1t seemed to


say-"Oh haven't been up to any mis-
chief, as you can seef


saw Cazabon at his desk again, and then


| returned to my horse. knew that had
a risk to run now, but was ready for it
If the factory agent was at the bottom of
the 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 the river,


toward Aups.


At the end of half an hour came to the


slopes of the Barjois mountains, and soon


afterward entered the wood. now began
to be very careful and keep my eyes about


me. | will not say that was wholly with


out fear; for the mysterious manner in


which the murders had been done, verged
SO closely upon the marvellous, that a sort o.
superstitious dread attached to it. Had thu


victims been shot or run through with Q
, | sword or had their throats been cut, should


have felt no sort of dread But this was


new ground. Death had come here, nobody


knew how. 1t might have come from an


invisible hand and in dead silence Yet,


when | reasoned upon the subject, l felt


sure that the murderer must approach very
near his victim ere the blow was struck,


since it must be some direct and powerful


agent that could cause death in so strange q


msnner.


| had crossed the little cascade of st.


Esprit, ana was descending short, steep
hillside, when I saw a boy by the roadside,
at the foot of the descent, engaged in whip


ping mule. He was slightly built follow,


not more than fifteen years OF age, and his


coarse garments We're covered with meal


knew that there was mill upon branch


of the Verdon, not far back, and supposed
he might be the miller's boy. AS came


nearer, saw a large sack upon the ground,


close by where the mule stood.


What's the matter my boy ?" l asked


as drew up near him.


'.This ugly mule has thrown both me
and my bag of corn from his back" he ans


wered.


''Are you hurt?" continued.
'My left shoulder is hurt" he said,
land | can't lift this sack again. If Mon.


sieur would help me, would be very CRATE.
full"


Until this moment the idea of suspecting


the boy had not entered my head but the
suspicion dashed upon me now. He was
. altog ether too keen looking fellow for a
mllCr's apprentice. He gave me glance
from pair of quick, sharp eyes, that meant
!, , more than what he had spoken. And then
. if had not been very much mistaken,
: had seen him holding his mule firmly with
that left hand.


leaped from my saddle, and moved to
ward the boy being careful to watch nj:
every movement.
: Now" said he, 'sif you will take hold o
{ that end, we will put it on" He lifted a


the other end, and pretended that it hur
!, ! his shoulder; and he begged Of me to lift i
: on alone. @....=
| professed to be willing to comply, ant
= stopped down for that purpose, keeping m!
:. = head in such position that could watci
!. him by a side-long glance. As | bent owe
J and took hold of the sack, saw him carr.
his hand to his bosom, and draw something
T. out. l saw his dark eye flash and hear'
: his quick eager breathing In an instant
= seized his wrist, and bent it upward, and a
! did so, heard sharp report, like the ex
= plosion Of a percussion cap, and saw a tin,
. wreath of smoke curl from the hand held
= He struggled to free himself from my grasp
= J. but held him with grip OF iron, and fas
= tened my gaze upon him.


"rve found you, have II" | said, draw
" ing one of my pistols, and cooking It, -
will simply inform you, that am an office
! of the Prefecture, and have been hunting TO
;, you. just offer particle more ofresistanct
II and bullet goes through your brain! NOV
= give me that weapon


!, The boy was frightened and tremble
" violently.
> ut is only tobacco-pipe," he said, as b
- handed it to me.


W And certainly, it looked like nothin
~ ~ more; but had seen enough Of it to kno
= that evil was in it, 1t appeared to me to
:. an ordinary meerschau pipe, the bowl b.
"a ing colored as though by long use-onl
= the amber mouth piece was missing. dl