Year: 1859




the slope Of. the Barjois mountains, and
soon afterwards entered the wood. ] now
began to be 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
lone, verged so closely upon the marvel
Gus, that a sort of superstitious dread at
tached to it. Had the victims been shot
or run through with sword, or had their
throats 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 dull silence. Yes, when | reasoned
upon the subject, felt sure that the mur-
derer 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 a manner.


| had crossed the little cascade of st
Esprit, and was descending short, steep
hillside, when saw boy by the roadside,
at the foot of the descent, engaged in
whipping m ule. B was slightly built
fellow, not more than fifteen years Of age,
and his coarse garments were covered
with meal. knew that there was a mill
upon the branch of the Verdon, not far
back, and supposed he might be the
miler's boy. As I came nearer, l saw a
large sack upon the ground, close by where
the mule stood.


What's the matter my boy ?" l asked,
as I drew up near him.


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


"Are you hurt ?" | continued.


My left shoulder is hurt" he said
land 1 can't lift this sack again. If
Monsieur would help me | would be very
grateful


Until this m oment the idea of suspect
ing the boy had not entered my head
but the suspicion dashed upon me now.
He was altogether too keen looking fel-
low for niller's apprentice. He gave
me glance from a pair of quick sharp
eyes, that meant more than what he had
spoken. And then if l had not been very
much mistaken, l had seen him holding
his mule firmly with that left hand.


I leaped from my saddle, and moved
toward him 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" He lifted
at the other end, and pretended that it
hurt his shoulder and he begged Of me
to lift it on alone.


professed to be willing to comply, and
stopped down for that purpose, keeping
my head in such position that l could
watch him by a sidelong glance. AS l
bent over and took mold of the sack, | saw
him carry his hand to his bosom, and
draw something out. | saw his dark eye
} fash and head his quick eager breathing.
In an instant l seized his wrist, and bent
it upward and as l did so, heard sharp
report, like the explosion of percussion
cap, and saw tiny wreath Of smoke curl
J from the hand l held. He struggled to
free himself from my grasp but | held
} him with a grip of iron, and fastened my
gaze upon him.


/ 81 have found you, have l ?" l said
= drawing one of my pistols and cooking it
81 will simply inform you that l an Of
: fcer of the Prefecture, and have beer
hunting for you. Just offer a particle
more of resistance, and bullet goes thro
: your brain.-Now give me that weapon.
} The boy was frightened and tremble(
, quite violently.


e " 1t is only tobacco pipe he said a
+ he gave it to me.


n And certainly it looked like nothing
: more but l had seen enough of it Il
f know that evil was in it.-It appeared t
e me to be an ordinary meerschaum pipe
the bowl being colored as though by Ion
:. use-only the amber mouth piece wa
o missing. did not stop to examine
It then, but turned my attention to its owner
e l saw that he was still trembling wit
d fear, and I knew that now would be th
1 time to work upon him.


e $50 you are selling your soul to MOI
'e sieur Louis Cazaubon !" remarked, b
= way of letting him know that | w'
E. thoroughly informed.


1t He started very plainly, and | sa
T that he knew just what l ment but
!" tried to recover himself, and clumsily a
ID serted that he did not know anythir
l..