Year: 1859

of handed, treated the subject more cody
than man with heart would be apt to
do. But still, had thus far been able 10
find nothing against him. On the present
occasion I told him, AZ I told The others,
that must return to Toulon.


"If you have not the ready money with
you we can give you credit" he said.


I told him / had plenty of money, but
| was not fully prepared to pay tho prices
he demanded.


He said, "very well" and then added
that be should be happy to sell to me
when I came again. bade him good day
and departed. As soon as I was alone,
I began to suspect Monsieur Louis Cazau-
bon in earnest. When I told him that I
had money, but did not purchase because
he charged too much, why didn't he ban
teri Simply because he wanted me to leave
town with money in my pocket-at least,
so it appeared to me. This was sufficient
ground for me to work upon, and | resol-
we'd to watch the man little while. So
l rode to an cutoff the.way place and left
my horse, and then returned and conceal
ed myself where I could see tho move.
ments Of Louis Cazaubon. In few min
utes he came out of the factory and walk.
ed away. His step was hurried and
eager. felt sure 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 re-
solved to wait awhile and see if he return.
ed. would have followed him if could
have done so with safety; but he mig ht
detect me and that would not do. How
ever, in less than fifteen minutes, he came.
He walked, now, with a sober, innocent
air. 1t seemed to say-"Oh! l haven't
been up to any mischief, as you can see p


I saw Cazaubon at his desk again, aad
then l returned to my horse. l knew
that l had 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 bis
machinery in motion, and the next devel'
opment would be upon the road. | exam.
inod my pistols, and then left the town,
taking the road along the river, towards
Aups.


At the end Of half an hour l came to
the slopes Of the Bauois 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 have been
done, verged so closely upon the marvel
Gus, that sort of superstitious dread at
tached to it. Had the victims been shot
or run through with the sword, or had
their thloats cut, should have felt no
dread. But this was new grouud.-
Death had come here, nobody knew how.
II might have come from an invisible hand,
and in dead silence. Yet when | reason
ed upon the subject, felt sure 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.


l had passed little cascade of Saint
Esprit, and was descending short, steep
hillside, when I saw boy by the roadside,
at tho foot Of the descent, engaged in
whipping n mule. He was slightly
built fellow, not moro than fifteen years
of age, and bis course garments were GOV.
cred with meal. knew that thero was
mill upon a branch Of the Vernon, not
far back, and supposed he might be the
millers boy. AS came nearer, saw
large sack upon the ground, close By where
the mule stood.


whats the matter, my boy9" | asked,
as drew near him.


"This ugly mule has thrown both me
and my bag CT corn from his back" the
boy answered.


"Are YOU hurtw ! continued.


"My left shoulder is hurt! he said,
"and | can't lift this sack again. If mon.
sieur would help me would be very CRATE
ful.


Until this moment the idea of suspect
ing the boy, had not entered my head;
but tho suspicion flashed upon me now.
He was altogether to keen n looking fellow
for miIler's apprentice. Ho gave mo
glance from a pair Of quick, sharp eyes,
that meant moro than bo had spoken
And then, if / had not been very much
mistaken, / had seen him holding bis
mule firmly with that left hand.


| leaped from my saddle, and moved
toward the boy, being careful to watch his
every movement.


"Now," said he, "if you will take hold
Of that end we will pull 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.


i profeGsed to be willing to comply, and
stopped down for that purpose. keeping my
head in such position that could watch
him with sidelong glance. As I bent
over and toole|hoid of the sack, l saw him
carry his hand TO bis bosom, and draw
something out. saw his dark eye flash,
and heard his quick, eager breathing. In
an instant seized his wrist and bent it
upward, and as / did so, / heard sharp
report, like the explosion of a percussion
cap, and saw a tiny wreath Of smoke curl
up from the hand held. He struggled
to flee himself from my grasp, but held
him with grip of iron, and fastened my
gaze upon him.


Give found you, have -" said draw.
ing one Of my pistols, and cockingit 81
will simply inform you that am an officer
Of the Prefecture, and that l have been