Year: 1866

| was very fearful and sometimes blanched
and trembled at the thought. Most peo
pie would have seen in this signs of guilt
but thought differently.


spent all the next day in the town,
ostensibly engaged in business with the
factories, but in reality hunting after
some clue to the object of my mission
Night came again, but had found moth
ing new. was perfectly satisfied that
the murderer had laid his plans so deep
ly that no circumstantial clue could be
found. If would find him must catch
him With the guilt upon him.


had given an assumed name at the
Inn, and stated that belonged to Touln.
On the next morning called for my bill
and informed my host that was off for
home. Then l went to the fruit preser-
ver's and told him the same, stating that
l must confer with my partner before 1
concluded my bargain. After this went
to the wooden factory aud saw the busi-
ness agent His name was Louis Cazau-
bon, and had come to Castellane about a
year before. He seemed to be a straight
forward business man, and yet he was
the only one / had seen whom l had
thought of suspecting. In conversation
about the murders he had been a little too
free and of-handed, treating the subject
more cody than man with heart
would be apt to do. But still / had been
thus far unable toprove anything against
him. On the present occasion | told him,
as had told many others, that l must
return to Toulin.


IF you have not money with you we
can give you credit he said.


l told him I had plenty ofmoney, but
was not fully prepared to pay the prices
he demanded. He said very well,' and
added that he should be very happy to
sell me when came again. 1 babe him
good day and then departed. AS soon
as L was alone l began to suspect Mon
sieur Cazaubon in earnest. When told
him that l had money, but did not pur-
chase because he charged too much, why
didn't he banter me ? Simply because he
wished me to leave town with the 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 a little while. So / rode to an out
ofthe-way place and left my horse, and
then returned and concealed myself in a
position where could see the movements
of Louis Cazaubon.


In few moments he came out of the
factory and walked away. His step was
hurried and eager. felt sure that he
was not the man that did the direct work
of death. The plot was deeper than that
and he would have been discovered ere
this. So resolved to wait awhile, and
sec if he returned. / would have follow
ed him if could have done so with safe
ty; but he would have detected me and
that would not do. However, in less than
fifteen minutes he came. He walked now
with sober, innocent air.


saw Cazaubon at his desk 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 mo-
tion, and the next development would
have been upon the road. | examined
my pistol and then left the town, taking
the road along the river, towards the
Alps


At the end of half an hour came to
the slopes of the Barjois mountains, and
soon atterward entered the wood. ] now
began to be careful, and kept my eyes
about me. | will not say that | was
wholly without fear, for the mysterious
manner in which the murders had been
done verged so closely upon the marvel
ous, that a sort of superstitious dread
attached to it. Had the victims been
shot or run through with sword, or had
their throats cut, | should have 10 sort
of dread. But this was new ground
Death had come here nobody knew how.
1t might have come from TN invisible
hand and in dead silence. Yet when
reasoned upon the subject, felt sure that
the murderer must approach very near
to his victim ere the blow was struck,
since it must be some direct and powerful
agent that could produce death in so
strange a manner.


Esprit, and was descending short, steep
hillside, when | saw a young man by the
roadside, at the foot of the descent, en-
gagged in whipping a mule. He was a
slightly built fellow, and his coarse gar
lnents were 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 l saw large sack lying upon the
ground, close by where the mtile stood.


whats the matter?' asked, as went
up near him.


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


'Are you hurt p continued,


MY left shoulder is hurt he said, 'and
l can't lift this sack again. If monsieur
would help me, l would be very CRATE
full


Until this moment the idea of suspect
ing the young man had never entered my
head; but the suspicion dashed upon me
now. He was altogether too keen Q
looking fellow for miller's apprentice
He gave me glance from pair ot
quick, sharp eyes, that meant more than
he had spoken. And then, if had not
been very much mistaken,I had seen him
holding his mule firmly with that LEFT
hand.


/ leaned from my saddle, and moved
towards him, being very careful to watcf
his every movement