Year: 1859

!.
had some renown as successful rogue
catcher; and had some experience, too.-
My field of operations as usual thing, Law
within the confines of the Department of the
Lower Alps and though | served under
the Sub Perfect of the Third ACCOMPLISHMENT,
yet the Prefect of the Department called on
me when he chose. One morning-it was
in the latter part of May received note
from the Prefect, ordering me to come to
Digue, and see him with all possible dispatch.
The missive came through the office of our
Sub Perfect, so had nothing to do but get
ready and start. l took an early dinner,
assumed the dress ola peasant, Drowned my
face and hands, and set forth. | reached
Digne just at nightfall, and as soon as it was
dark, waited upon tie Prefect. Heappear-
ed to be relieved when he saw me, and at
once took me to his private closet.


"Now,' said /, have you got work for me-


Yes he replied. ....


"Sit down and listen" .-


We sat down, and having tasted glass
of wine, he proceeded: ....


within few months past, there have
been some of the most mysterious murders
committed in this Department, and in the
Department of Var, that have ever come under
my notice. They are done, mostly, on the
road from Castellane to Aups. The first
victim was a Marseillies merchant, who had
come up to Castellane to purchase preserved
fruits. His body was found by the roadside,
near the line between the two Departments,
and at first it was supposed that he must
have fallen there in fit, as no marks of
violence could be found upon him. His
pockets had been rihed, however The next
one was found near Annot, and under the
same circumstances. He was merchant
also, and from Nice. Since then five or six
more have been found on the road and in
the same mysterious way and no marks of
i'll usage have been found upon any of them;
but they have all beer robbed ....


'Haye most ofthem stopped in Castellane?
| asked.


''rhe Perfect told me they had"


"And | suppose they must have put up at
some inn there?' remarked.


Yes said the Prefect.


| then supposed that some of the landlords
must be concerned. But my companion
told me that they had been narrowly watched,
and that no shadow of evidence rested against
them.


But" said I, is there not some poison in
this matter? Some inn keeper may admins
ter the potion, and then send an accomplice
after the victim


'No,' returned the Prefact with a shake
of the head. Experienced physicians have
eXamin ID the stomachs of several of the
dead men, but no trace of poison has been
found. 1t is n mysterious affair. The Sub
Prefect has done all he could, but without
effect; and now we mean to give the whole
thing into your hands. You must go to
Casteane at once, and there you can get
such further information as the Sub Prefect
can give YOU


After comforting while longer with the
Project he let me have suit of ordinary
tradesman's clothing; and thus habited, |
went to a hotel and put up for the night In
the morning procured horse and set out,
reaching Castellane before noon. During the
day pretended to be doing business. |
went to the woolen factory and examined a
lot of stuff; and also visited places where
preserved fruits were put up. l learned
that most ofthe people who came there on
business stopped at an inn kept by man
named Juan Fontaix; so / left my horse
there and engaged lodgings.


After dark called upon the Sub Prefect.
He told me he had used all the means with
in his power, but had not been able to gain
any clue to the guilty party. Most of the
murdered victims had been from Marseilles,
and the excitement in that city was intense.
Gendarmes had been sent out upon all the
roads, and secret police had also been upon
the watch. The last victim had fallen only
four days before, and the deed was done
fifteen minutes after the policemen had pass
ed the spot.


asked the Sub Prefect If he had any
suspicious. He answered that all the suspi.
cion he had held, was fastened upon Juan
Fontaix. the inn keeper. Nearly all the
murdered men had stopped at his house
and he must have known something abou,
their business.


babe the officer keep perfectly quiet, and
not even to let one Of his own men know O
my presence. Then returned to the inn
and finally entered into conversation with
my host upon the subject of the mysterious
deaths. He pronounced it wonderful, and
assured me that it had injured him more thar
he could tell.


''Parbleuf he muttered, they'll be sus
pecting me next, if they have not done SC
! already


was soon satisfied that Juan FontaiS
knew nothing of the guilty party. He was
very fearful, and at times blanched and trem
bled at the thought of being apprehended fol
the crime. Most people would have seen ii