Year: 1874

Inc IaOleS screamed; the handsome
passenger lost his self-possession, and
ran hither and thither.


The cool behaviour of the little lady
in black contrasted strangely with the
agitated demeanor of those around her


There she stood calm and immovable,
her bright steel-blue eyes fixed upon
the, handsome stranger, of whom she
did not lose sight for moment.


keep quiet, ladies and gentleman!
sang out the captain" keep quiet, and
don't crowd around the boat so! There
will be room for you all, and besides
there is schooner coming to our as
sistance," pointing to vessel bowling
towards us before the wind.


There was, however, a panic among
those addressed. The moment the
boat was lowered, into it they all bun
died, among them the handsome pas
senger.


A huge sea coming along, roaring
like thunder, parted the tackles, tear
ing the boat from the steamer before
the lady in black and I could enter it.
The handsome passenger, losing his
balance fell over the gunwale, and be-
ing unable to swim, wildly threw up
his arms.


must acknowledge that I was so
engrossed with the. perilous situation
of my fair companion and myself-now
the only two passengers left aboard the
steamer-that paid little attention to
the drowning man.


The steamer was, in fact, going down
fast-was already engulfed in the
stormy waves, her heated and half sub
merged boilers kissing as the steam
came gushing out like the spout of a
whale.


was advancing to throw an arm
around the little lady, fearing to see
her washed away, when quietly mo-
tioning me back with one hand, she
seized coil of rope and threw the end
to the handsome stranger. He caught
it, when turning to me, the lady re-
quested me to help haul the man
aboard, I complied, marveling at the
love and devotion thus shown by a
women to an acquaintance of an hour.


His power over the female sex must
be great, I thought. He is conceited,
but not without reason.


The idea flashed clearly across my
mind in spite of my danger. The
schooner, however, was very near, and
I had every reason to believe that we
should be picked up.


I was right. We were all taken
aboard the schooner, the handsome
stranger among the rest. Then the
lady in black pulled forth revolver,
pointing it at the head of him whom
she had rescued.


"Out with that red cigar-case!' she
said sternly. "I would like to see
what Monsieur carries in it.


"Why-why," stammered the stran-
ger; WHAT'S"


Before he could say another word,
the little amazon thrust her disengaged
hand in his pocket, pulled forth the
red cigar-case, and opened it, ring
dropped to the deck.


The ring she picked up, and holding
it up before us all, exclaimed


"I have found it at last. The jewel
ler assured me that it was the only one
of the device in Paris-a chariot-wheel!
This person is the murderer of the
Countess de Marville!"


The handsome stranger stood as il
frozen to the dock, making no resis-
tance as the lady in black slipped a
pair of handouts over his wrists.


"By what right" he then stam-
mered, do you-"


He paused as the other threw of her
dress and false face, revealing the per-
son of a slender man with delicate,
girlish features.


lam Jean Mosqueau, the detect
ive~ he quietly remarked, "and I
robbed the sea of this man that the
scaffold might not be cheated"
There is little more to add. The
main proof having been obtained,
other proof on the prisoners trial was
brought forth, showing him guilty be.
yond doubt.


Long before the execution his name
was ascertained.to be Louis Rosseneau,
a noted adventurer and gambler, who
however, by cool effrontry and win
ming address, backed by his good looks,
had been enabled to move among the