u
UMll'-L I.. . l - m .I...
SHie (Jolumbfon,
AK INDEPENDENT JOUBNAI,
ti WDUMlBft fiTKltV DATUIIDAT, IN
nloonnbHrKi Columbia t'OnUty, l'a,
i:n.t&
Two DoUnra u year, lu advance. If not i,oid In
ndvnnoo, Two Dollars mul Fifty CVriU.
Address (if) letters Ui
UtiOltOIi It. MOOHK.
IMltor of tho CuLL'SiniAN,
UloonisburK, Columbln County, Tn.
uuisi ui. (-aiaiiiiiiuiu.
ti
CAPTAIN DRAY'S LOG-BOOK,
ltovmt nnd ragged as i hcnr-sliln,
Hut as warm, was Captain Ilfoy,
rJlttluir In tho cony cnbln
Of bin little Hchooncr Fiiy,
Bnioothlng out n wrinkled vohnno
With a wondrous careful hand,
Becmlng not to feci tlio dlstmica
Wo were rolling from tho laud.
Now ho nods nnd smiles nnd whispers
Whllo his eyelid overflow j
Cnptnlh, pardon us for asking
What ttlnso hieroglyphic, show f
And tho Captain drew hi coat-slssva
O'er lit face, nnd ans'flfl slow,
" Well, thin Utile pile lf pnper
is Illy log-book, you nlust know,"
Oftnii had' llMi'il ol iog-booki
Writ by sailor on tho deep j
But within the myMIc volume
Never chnnced to Kct n peep i
flo wo crnvod this lion of Neptune
I,ot ui turn lilt voluuio o'er:
Ijol 'twin tilled with rude, misshapen
Inky daubs, nnd nothing moro!
"Ah 1 to yon," ho said, " they mny bo
llloti nnd scratches on tho shoot;
Hut to mu they speak n language
Kver eluquont and sweet j
For they bring mo tu my cottage",
Wbcrs tho (Ire In burning bright
Whcro my lltllo one la lisping
Prayers for mo, this stormy night.
" Very precious Is this rolnmo
Full of houses, trees, nnd men ;
Nee this picture of u sailor;
Don't yo know It? Iiook again I
Can't you see mysolf dopletedi
And tho child upon my kni'o
Is my little nmld my Nnttlo
Who did everything you see.
" Kvory scratch nnd mark nnd plctur
Is tho work of Nntlle's hand
Not a brighter little lassie.
Lives, I vow, lu nny land!
Why, I never cross tho ocean
Hut alio adds a sheet to this,
Covor'd with her cunning pictures
Every plcturo Is a kiss I
"Not a time I turn them over
Hut I feel her velvet chi nk
l'resslug mine ' and here tho Captain
Grow ho hoarse ho scarce could speak;
" Ah 1 you do not know what comfort
From theso leaves I always reap,
When between mo nnd my Nnttlo
Ilolls the cold and lonely deep I"
THE ARREST.
"Ah! M. Vlbert!" exclaimed the
porter, as the agent of tho secret police
returned home. " There Is a letter for
you 1"
Vlbert took the letter. Its printed
heading showed that it came from tho
Commissary of Police of tho First Ward.
It ran as follows :
Mr DBAU VtniBT, Whllo you wcro employ
ed lir'thls otllce, your attention wns called one
day during my nbscncu to nn escaped convict
named Langlade, and to a tall red-haired girl
known by the nickname '.Holcll L'ouchaut.' The
rrefectureof Xllco has requested me to furuhh
nomo Information about thcra parties, who were
bcllevod to bo in Knglnud, who are in 1'iirN, but
who havo heretofore escaped, notwlthstandliigall
tho etlbrtsmado to arrest them. I know nolnnly
but you who enn givo lnfonustlon uhtmt these
two people. Will you bu so good as to cull at
l'refecture of Police to-morrow morning nudgUo
it all tho Information you possess ?
Your old muster, DonncL.
" I will t?o to-morrow morning," siiid
Vlbert to himself, its ho put tho letter
In his pocket and went up stairs.
Ho went tho next morning to tho
Prefecture of Police, and was shown in
to tho office of one of thes Superintend
ents. While ho was waiting his turn
to speak to the Superintendent, ho
overheard tho following dialogue be
tween tho fornler nnd an agent of tho
Bccrct police.
' And so ' Soldi Couchant' lias not
only been arrested and brought here,
but has given important information.
Do you beliovo what she says'.'"
" Yes, bceauso it is her interest to tell
tho truth."
" And if slio is to bo credited, T.an
glndo will sleep to-night in the Kue
Croix ties Petits Champs'."'
"Shu says it is more than probable lie
will sleep there."
" Very well, then, nothing can pre
vent your arresting him to-morrow
morning?"
" If I can find men willing to under
take tho Job."
" What is to prevent you from find
ing all tho men you want'.'"
" Langlado's terrible reputation. He
has already escaped twice from tho
hulks of Toulon and lire-it. lie is ti
Hercules in size and strength. Ho
never sleeps without loaded pistols by
his bedside. Tho first man who enters
Ills bed-chamber is sure to bo shot down.
My men know all tills, and I am afraid
thoy will hesitate."
"They arc cowards, then !" suddenly
exclaimed Vlbert from his seat.
Tho Superintendent of tho Secret Po
liso and tho other agent turned round
with astonishment to see who spoke.
"Ay, thy aro cowards!" repeated
Vlbert. "Should ti pollco agent draw
back from a malefactor? Should a po
jlco agent hesitate when lio knows ho
jms It in Ids power to rid society of a
Klespcradt) covered with crimes ?"
" Ah, Vlbert!" exclaimed tho Super
intendent, recognizing his agent.
' I should liko to sco you do it," said
Xho other agent.
"Xothitig Is easier than to. gratify
your doslro. You huvo but to walk bo-
Jilnd mo, if I am authorized to arrest
Ijancliulo to-morrow morning at Ills
lodgings in tho Ittio Croix des Petit
Champs."
"Aro you in earnest?" usked tho
.Superintendent.
" Assuredly I am."
" Dut," exclaimed tho other pollco
Agent, "you really don't know what
wort of man tltla Lungludo is."
" You aro mistaken. 1 had Langlade
In my hands when I was Secretary of
tho Commissary of Police In the Hue
St. Honoro. He dared couio ono day to
ask mo to glvo III in u passport for 1-hig
laud. I had him followed and arrested.
Kinco then ho has escaped a becond time
from tho hulks whither I wnt him,"
"Asyouuroto familiar with him,'
VOL. l.-NO. an.
saitl tho other agent, " I am astonished
mat you aro not moro afraid of him.
Surely, you must remember what a
giant ho is I never saw a moro stal
wart man."
" Perfectly well. I am a dwarf by
tho sldo of a great many persons : I am
a more pigmy compared to hlin.'.'
"How many will it require?"
" None."
"Surely you do not pretend to say
you mean to arrest him unaided?"
"I certainly do. What uso would
your men bo to me, since you yourself
say ii'ioy would be afraid of him ? They
would oniy bo in the way."
" Do you want to be killed ?"
" That's none of your business. Tho
question Is, how shall a dlfllcult task be
performed? Everybody declines at
tempting It. I volunteer to do it."
" cry well, then," said the Superin
tendent, once moro taking part In the
conversation, "I will givo you all tho
information you may requiro to enable
you to undertake this Job or, rather,
go Into tho next room and call Jr. Lav
elr.irlo to put you in possession of all ho
knows, and to let you question ' Solell
Couchant,' If you please."
At half-past ilvo o'clock the next
morning, Vlbert with a determined
step went up tho staireaso of tho house
In the Hue Croix dm Pctlts Champs
where Langlade lodged. After hunting
in vain for a bell-rope at tho door which
the porter told him was Langlado's, he
boldly rapped.
" Who is there?" cried a voice from
tho chamber.
"An agent of tho secret polico who
has come to arrest you," replied Vlbert.
"Shut up, you joker! Were you tin
agent of the secret polico you would not
let me know it. They take rather more
precautions than that before they wake
up this passenger. It is you, Crampln,
isn't it?"
" Yes; come, open quick."
" Kgads! old fellow, it is hard to tum
ble out of bed in such cold weather at
this early hour; but for a friend I sup
pose I must, although 1 run the risk of
catching cold ; but I warn you 1 hop
back to bed again !"
The key had scarcely been turned and
the bolt had hardly ceased to grate
when Vlbert, who stood near the door,
shoved against it with might and main,
darted into the chamber, made for tho
bed, seized the revolver lying on tho
table near it, and aiming at Langlade
all which was done as quick as thought
eald, "If you budge you are a dead
man !"
iV thousand thunders!" screamed
tho escaped convict. "Hang meif 'ti
not an agent of tho secret police."
' Didn't I tell you so, you numskull?
Come, you are caught. Surrender."
" Never !" exclaimed Langlade, foam
ing with rage. "I'll devour you fht,
you mean scoundrel ! You havo my re
volver, but I have hands strong as nny
vico blacksmith ever saw, and teeth
sharp as steel."
"lVhaw!" quietly replied Vlbert,
"you can uso neither unless you get mo
in arm's reach; and you know if you
stir so much as a hair's breadth I'll put
a pistol-ball through your body."
Tho escaped convict stood likea statue,
half naked, foaming with rage, but
afraid to move a step. They eyed each
other for an instant, ono ready to leap
on tho other, tho other ready to firo tho
revolver.
Then Vlbert said, in a Jeering tone:
"I thought you were going to eat me
up. Have you abandoned that idea?
It Is a pity; 1 wanted to dio tin original
death."
"It must be confessed you aro a bold
fellow to dare to come in here," ex
claimed Langlude, becoming calmer,
and looking in every direction to sec if
ho could not discover tome object which
would servo him as a good weapon.
" Nonsense ! Folks think you much
moro terrible than you really are. Come,
now! conio! don't bo moving in that
way, or I shall be obliged to break ono
of your legs In order to keep you quiet.
What do you wnnt? What aro you
looking for? Yoursllppors, eh? Your
feet aro cold. Here they are. O, 1 am
a good-natured fellow I don't watityou
to catch cold."
Vlbert, holding tho revolver so as to
check any movement of Langlade, pick
ed up with his left hand a pair of shoes
which lay at tho foot of the bed, anil
throw them to tho escaped convict.
"Thank you," said Langlade, whose
wonted assurance had now completely
returned. "A follow is more solid on
Ills feet when he has his shoes on."
" To bo sure ho Is, thercforo I gave
you yours. Would you nuo to nave
your pantaloons, waistcoat, and frock
coat? Don't stand on ceremony witli
me. I havo them within reach."
"If you will bo good enough to givo
them to mo, 1 shall bo vory glad to re
ceive them," replied Langlade, astound
ed by so much kindness.
Vlbert gave Langlado tho desired
pantaloons, waistcoat, and frock-coat,
taking, however, the same precautious
ho had used when ho gavo him the
ihoe.s. Whllo Lnnglndo rapidly dress
ed himself, Vlbert asked: " if I am
not Indiscreet, will you tell mo what
you intend doing when yon nre
dressed
"Iteally. I don't know yet. 1 have
been thinking over tho matter, but I
cannot conio to any decision. 1 believe
I'd leap on you and give you a taste of
my strength and teeth but for that eon
founded revolver, which Is it little in
tho way."
" Would you like to havo tho rovolv
or too?"
BLOOM SB UEG,
" I should say I would j but thoro Is
no chance of that "
" Do you think not ? That's not so
certain. What would you do with it
woro I to givo It to you ?"
" Do with It? I'd blow your brains
outlnnjliry!"
'"Really?"
" Just as certain as you aro standing
thcrol"
"At tho first shot?"
" At tho very first shot, for I would
aim at tho temple."
"Vory well, then, old fellow. Uo
sure you aim with a steady hand. Hero
is your rovolvcr."
Vlbert, as he spoke, quitted his Rcat,
went to Langlade, gavo hlin tho revolv
er, turned around, and quietly went
back to tho bed; ho sat on It, folded
his arms, .mil said, " Well, lire!"
Thoescaped ponviet was confounded.
Ho exclaimed, " I'll bo hanged If you
belong to tho secret police!"
" You thankless dog! I behave my
best to you; I treat you like a son, ami
you aro so ungrateful as to rcfuso to
givo ino my titles !"
" Do you mean to tell me you really
arc a detective?"
I'm nothing else. What in tho
world do you think I am? You don't
take me for a peer, oh ? I'm not such n
fool; tlmo hangs too heavily on their
hands. I am a detective a real detect
ive. What do you call these things 1
am drawing from my pocket? Look
nt'em! Aren't they handcuffs? They
aro the only professional objects I
brought with me when I camo to see
you: 1 left oven my sword-cane at
home."
" You aro ahold fellow !"
" Jly dear Langlade, this Is the second
time you havo used that expres'Ion. I
confess to you I hato repetition."
" And do you really think I am going
to let you handcuff mo?"
You aro going to do one of two
things: you are going either to kill me
or to let mu handcuff you. Detwceii
you aud me, which you choose is a
matter of perfect indifference to
but cliooso you ohall."
" Don't you prize your life?"
" If I prized my life, should I
me
have
come hero to wake you up this morning?
Do you prize life?"
" Why, yes; juatnow I must say I do,
I am loved."
"You aro loved I really? Lucky
dog!"
"Am I not?" exclaimed Langlade,
straightening himself up with u self-
sutMicd air.
Vibert took out his green eye-glasses
and eyed the escaped convict from head
to foot, then said: "Tho truth if , your
father and mother did not play the
churl with you when thoy introduced
you to life. They gave you good meas
ure. You fill a largo space on earth. 1
can understand how it is women should
adoro you they havo sucit wretched
taste !"
Then, changing his tono suddenly,
and turning his back to Langlade, he
said: " It is rather cold here. You for
got to light your llro this morning. Let
us lie moving. They aro waiting for
us."
"Where?"
" At the jail. I believe you will bo
better off there than anywhere else. In
the first place, you will get there in time
to bo examined to-morrow. Anil rest
nsniired, as you tire.an old hand, you
will bo treated with all proper tittentiou.
You will not bo mixed up with tho
small fry. You shall havo a cell to
yourself."
Aro you making a butt of me?"
bawled Langlade.
" Don't scream so loud, man ! You
will wake up all your neighbors. Jtecol
lect, it is only six o'clock in tho morn
ing."
Tho report of tho revolver when I
blow out your brains will wako them
up still moro effectually."
" Hu-h ! hush ! hush ! hush ! You do
nothing but menace ; execution is not
your part."
Vibert, as lie mado this remark, fell
back and Jay stretched at length on
Langlade's bed. Tho escaped convict,
exasperated beyond all bounds, sprang
toward tho bed, and placed tho muzzle
of tho revolver on Vlbert's temple.
The detective looked steadily at Lang
lade. They remained In their respect
ive positions for a minute. Then the
escaped convict lowered his eyes, let
his revolver fall on tho bed, and drew
hack, exclaiming: "A thousand thun
ders ! I dare not kill him, after all P
" Well, after all," said Vibert, rising
from the bed, and adroitly slipping
the revolver into his pocket as he rose,
' you will not kill me. 1 must still 11 vo
and hiill'er."
Aro you unhappy?" asked Lang
lade, coining up to him.
" Ay, most wretched. So wretched 1
would gladly change places with you
and make you the detective, could I bo
thoescaped victim carried back to tho
hulks. Hut 1 did not conio hero to con
fess my griefs to you. Let us be going
"Go, if you please. I will not kill
you, but hero 1 btay."
" That is impossible, my dear Lang
lade. 1 have pledged my word of honor
to bring you to tho Jail. Now don't put
on any airs. ou tiro a gootl fellow ; m
am 1. Let us coma to an iiudcrtnudiii
at once. Your mlstroi-.s is a tall, red
haired girl, named Stephanie Cordu, and
nicknamed Solid Couchant. ls'nt slio '."'
" How in tho world did you find that
out?"
" My dear boy, we know everything,
it Is our trade. Dut if you want it)
know the full particulars i will tell you,
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, .18(5(1.
for 1 can refuso you nothing. It was
Solid Couchant herself who told us
where you were to sleep to-night."
" It is n llo!" bawled Langdalo.
" It is every word true. Were It not
true I would notnmuso myself by giv
ing you useless pain. 1 respect a man's
affections, and hold It cowardice to tell
a man his mistress betrays him when
slio is true. It would be less cruel to
plunge a dagger to his heart."
"Ah! Indeed It Is," said tho escaped
victim, while two big tears rolled down
his checks. Then ho fell back on his
chair, murmuring to himself: " That is
tho reason I havo not seen her these two
lays gone. Oh, tho vile woman ! And
yet 1 madly loved her. She was tho
only thing on earth I did love." He
turned toward Vlbert, his face bathed
In tears, and, stretching out his arms at
full length, said : " I surrender. Here,
handcuff mo."
"What sort of a fellow do you take
mo to be? Do you think I am a man
to take advantage over your weakness?
Never! When you nre calmer we'll
talk over matters."
The giant sat In a corner and sobbed
like a child.
Vibert walked up and down tho room
for a moment or two, then ho went up
to Langlade, and laying his hand on the
convict's shoulder, said, "Conio with
me, I will carry you to Solid Couchant."
Langdatc sprang to his feot and said,
" Do you know where she Is?"
" To bo suro I do. Slio was arrested
yesterday, and is now in Jail. She be
came frightened ; she saw herself mix
ed up in bad business, imprisoned for
the rest of her life, nnd she gavo you up,
in order to win tho favor of the prison
authorities."
" The vile creature ! Do you offer to
carry me to her?"
" Jtight away."
" Dut I will kill her if I get near her."
" That is none of my business. All I
havo to tlo is to arrest you, and you will
bo arrested the moment you enter the
jail's portal. So, if you have a fancy for
killing Solid Couchant, I do not care a
snap of my fingers. Ono woman more
or less in the world is mt a matter of
much moment."
" I tun ready ; let us be off."
"Agreed!"
They wentdown stairs together. Lang
lade seemed unconscious of everything.
Plunged in Ills own thoughts, his head
drooped on his breast, he followed Vl
bert mechanically, Just as a dog follows
his master. Solid Couchant had betray
ed him ! What cared lie for nfiglit else?
Nevertheless, when they readied the
door, the cool morning air for a moment
recalled him to himself. He nil-cd his
head, looked around, and said to Vibert,
"Where is your carriage?"
"My carriage? I don't keep a car
riage." " Dut tho carriage with your men?"
" 1 have no men with me."
" You don't mean to say you came all
alone to arrest mo?"
"Why, great heavens! man! how
often do you have to bo told the samo
thing? Do you think 1 ought t he ac
companied by a squadron of cavalry?
My dear boy, 1 am accustomed to do my
business by myself, and I manage it all
tho better alone. Aro you vexed be
cause you don't see at your door three
or four detectives, with frock-coats but
toned up to their chins, and looking like
undertakers? I never go on the street
with such fellows. Dut if their nbaciico
vexes you, I can order thorn to bo sent
around."
"No; it is useless."
"Don't ue any ceremony with me,
my dear fellow. If you desire a first
class funeral, say the word; it shall bo
yours."
" No, I don't want them."
A hack passed by. Vibert engaged it.
" (Jet in," said ho to Langlatlo. Ho or
dered tho driver to go to tho Hue do Je
rusalem, drive into the court-yard of tho
1'refccturo of Police, and stop in front
of tho great staircase.
Tho rido to tho Prefecturo was mark
ed by no incident. Langlado sat in ono
corner wrapt in Ills own thoughts. Vi
bert kept attentlvo watch on him, nnd
had ono hand on his revolver to lire at
the least nttempt at escape. Ho was
determined his prisoner should not
givo hlin the slip at tho entrance of the
haven.
As tho hack rumbled up tho Hue do
Jerusalem Vlbert said, " Dcforo wo part,
bo good enough to givo me your hands."
"What for?"
"What for?"
"To put fetters on them."
" Oh, I will not harm anybody hut
Solid Couchant," replied Langlado.coiu-
pletely conquered, and as gentle as a
child.
" My dear fellow," responded Vlbert,
in tho samo honeyed tone, "siuco we
have been together I think I havo con
clusively demonstrated to you that I am
not afraid of you. But wo shall now
bo alono no more. I am going to carry
you up staircases, down passages, Into
offices where you will bo mot by a great
many people who know you by sight
of reputation, and In whom you Inspire
fear, which 1 grant you is greatly e.a;
geretl, hut nevertheless very fcerious. 1 1
is fur their sako I propose this little
measure of precaution."
Langlado rejoined, in an Ingenious
unil very gentle voice, "Dut If l urn
hand-culled I can never kill Solid C'oti
chant."
"There you aro mistaken. Tho hand
cuirs will not prevent you from raising
your arms and letting them full on her
head: witli your strength this baro mo
tion would tufflco to rid you of half a
dozen Weak women. Moreover, as So
lid Couchant'sllfo or deiith Is a matter
of perfect indifference to me, 1 promise
you, if you wish it, to havo your hand
cuffs taken off when you nro shown into
her company."
" Very well, then, put them on," said
Langdalo, holding out ills bands.
Pive minutes afterward Vibert enter
ed the officu of the Superintendent of
the Secret Police with his prisoner. Ho
went up to the Superintendent ami said,
I havo kept my promise. Hero is
Langdalo."
"Did you nrrest him?"
" Yes, nil alone. Didn't I so prom
ise?"
" You havo dono ui a signal service.
I shall see the Prefect of Pollco in an
hour, and I promise I will speak to hlin
about you."
" I havo ono request to make of you."
" It is granted in advance."
The Superintendent ro.-o and talked
with Vlbert in the recess of the win
dow. At last tho Superintendent said,
It is agreed. In truth, 1 am of your
opinion ; prond.-es made to these men
must bo kept. They fear us, hate us,
kill us, but are obliged to esteem us. 1
will havo Langlade sent to a cell by
himself, and givo the necessary orders
about Solid Couchant."
Vlbert bowed antl retired. Agents
summoned by tho Superintendent ear
ned Langlado to jail. This energetic,
brutal, terrible fellow quietly followed
them. He had but ono thought, ono de-
Ire to see Solid Couchant as soon as
possible, lie know anything like show
of resistance would retard tho moment
which he longed for so ardently.
The news of his arrest had down like
wlldllro throughout the Prefecture.
Young clerks, messengers, and some
strangers, who happened to be at the
Prefecture, ran up to tho passage down
which ho was to lie led to jail, lie
glanced with quiet iiidllferenco at this
throng. What cured ho for them? lie
reserved all his wrath for tho woman
who had betrayed him.
Tho agents carried Langlado to a dou
ble cell, whero tho handcuffs were re
moved. Langlado was still us calm as
ever, and had answered quietly and po
litely all the questions put to him.
The youngest agent whispered to tho
other, " He has been calumniated. He is
a perfect lamb."
Tho other agent, who had spent all
his life in prison, shook his head and
replied, " Walt a bit before we come to
any opinion. There may bo flro yet
miller those ashes."
Langlade asked, as he took a seat on a
wooden stool in tho cell, " liy which
door will she enter?"
Tho agent pointed to a door on tho
other side of tiiu stout iron grating
which divided t lie room into two cells.
Langlade leaped from his stool, his
eyes Hashed lire, his nostrils dilated.
He began tosiispect soiiiethiiig, he scent
ed a trap. His voice hud lost .something
of its calmness, when ho said, " But if
she comes In by that door, how can slio
meet me hero?"
" Why, she U not going to meet you
any nearer than thuau iron bars," replied
the youngest agent.
"Ah! she will not come nearer me
than this?"
The older agent, seeing Langlado's
f.ico contract more and more, and wear
an expression of increasing fury, said,
lu a gentle tone, "You can get very
near her, and the grating will not pre
vent your talking to her as much as you
please."
" They have lied tome, then !" scream
ed Langlade.
" You were told you should see her.
She is coming."
Langlade screamed still louder, "They
have lied to mo! She was to be near me
by my side, without a grating between
us. 1 have been deceived ! Had I sus
pected as much, I never should have
been arrested. I would have defended
myself. 1 would havo killed that vil-
l.h
n ! 1 woulii nave Killed every one of
yo ! le aro an a pacic oi internal scoun
drels !"
Ho suddenly walked up to tho older
agent and bawled, " I toll ye, I want to
be by her side. She must bo brought
in here, or I musMm carried in on the
other sldo of tho grating."
Tho agent replied, " My orders on
the subject aro explicit. What you ask
is simply impossible,"
h! it is imptioilblo!" yelled Lang
lade. " Very well, then my surrender
is void ! You have not arrested mo yet.
it is is all to begin over again."
In the twinkling of an eye lie wrench
ed from the wall a wooden bench secur
ed to It by iron plates, hdzed two stools,
three straw chairs, and a small table,
threw them in ono corner of the coll,
broke off the leg of tho toblo to serve
him as a sort of club, stood with his
back to tho wall behind tho sort of bar
icado ho hail made, and yelled in a ter
rible voice, as ho brandished his dub
over his head, "Come on, I am ready
for yo!"
Tho youngeragont ran out of tho cell,
crying at the top of his voice, "The
guard! the guard, ho!"
Tho older agent remained at his post,
and, shrugging his shoulders, looked
calmly at Langdale. The agent's calm
ness exasperated the convict to tho high
est degree, llo leaped hut his barri
cade and advanced toward him, dub in
hand. The agent felt that lie was wan
tonly exposing himself to danger. Fix
ing his eyo on his adversary, holding
tu one hand his hunch of k"y: to find
off the dub, curling his thick gray
niMUstacho with tho other, ho rapidly
walked backward, without Miyins u
IMilCE FIVE CENTS.
word. When lie got near tho door,
which had remained open since the
lllght of tho other agent, ho Jumped
backward Just m Langlado was upon
him, and slammed tho door, it was
a retreat, but it was an honorable re
treatIt was no rout. Langlade was
alone in ids cell.
Meantime tho guard of soldiers, which
Is posted In every Jail, had armed, and
was marching to the double cell. It was
evident that a terrlbloconlllctwas about
to take place. The convict would cer
tainly bo vanquished, after all, by the
number of his adversaries, but it was
certain ho would defend himself with
energy. In ids vigorous hands every
port of a weapon would proven fatal in
strument of defence. Besides, ho might
Jump on tho first soldier who entered
the cell, disarm Him, retreat behind the
barricade, and keep the enemy at bay
for houi?,. Tho soldiers, headed by the
two agents, had ivachcd the door of
the double cell, and wero about to en
ter It.
Vlbert suddenly mado his appear
ance. Ho had heard an unusual noise, had
mado inquiry, and was told what was
taking place. Ho said to hlnisdf, " I
ought to havo expected as much. It Is
my fault, after all. It Is certain Uing
lade hassoino right to complain. I have
not kept my promise strictly. It Is my
duty to repair the ill I have done and to
prevent tho effusion of blond."
Brave and ro-oltito us ho was, he
could not hesitate long. Ilomudohusto
and joined the soldiers anil agents, and
said to them, as tho agent was about
turning the key in the door, "Let me
go in ; I'll settle everything."
" What aro you going to do, M. Vi
bert?" asked the older agent.
"I don't know; but bogin byseiitling
tho guard away, 1 beg of you. It is not
worth while to have the soldiers killed
by this fellow. 1 mastered him this
morning, and I dare say I shall master
htm now. If 1 fail it will bo time
enough then tostinimon the guard. You
know tlio Superintendent is always glad
when you abstain from violent meas
ures." " True. Our orders aro to be as gentle
as possible. But if you could imagine
the state of fury in which this scoun
drel is, you would despair of producing
any effect."
" It coils nothing to try."
" You i Nk your life."
" I hud belter risk mine than risk tho
life of nil these people."
"As you please. Would you have
mo go in with you?"
" No, it is useless."
" I shall remain hero, then, to go to
your u-sistiiuce if necessary."
Vibert opened the door and entered
tho double cell.
Langlade, who had hoard the clatter
of muskets and the murmur of voices,
expected to be attacked, and he had
taken refuge behind his barricade. A
soon as he saw Vibert his fury became
frenzy. Ho made ono leap, jumped on
Vlbert, took him in his arms, and throw
ing him as otiuthrowsu bail,to-.ed him
to tile extremity of the double cell.
Vlbert fell on his knees, rose, brushed
his pantaloons witli his elbow to remove
the dust (for in the gravest circumstan
ces he was a particular man), and with
out waiting for Langlado to lull on him,
he crossed his arms and went up to him
mil bawled in ids face, " You are a cow
ard!"
" And you aro a liar!"
" Why do you call me a liar?" asked
Vibert, without lowering his voice in
the least.
Because you promised mo I should
see her, and I havo not seen her yet."
'She is there, behind that door. They
are only waiting lor you to be calm to
iow her In."
" But she will not enter here. I shall
only see her behind that grating. This
in not what you promised mo."
"i made you no proinl-o whatever
upon thesubjecl. 1 dare you tell mo J
proiiuscu you siiotiui see ner at your
side."
" We did not speak of that, but"
" You ought to havo spoken of it
ouougnt to nave expressed all your
conditions. I couldn't possibly divine
your wishes. 1 huvo faithfully kept
every one of tho promises I made you.
I havo had oven your handcuffs taken
oft'. If you laid not free iiso of your
hands, you would not have been able to
damage this cell, and treat mo as cow
ardly as you have done."
"Cowardly?"
"lo.s, cowaniiy: i am small, you
nro tall. I am weak, you are strong. 1
entered hero alone and unarmed, ti
prevent ti sanguinary struggle in which
you most certainly woulil havo been
vanquished, and you leaped on me like
a wild beast. Isn't that cowardly?"
"Will they bring Soldi Couchant
hero?" asked Langlad.', already a great
deal calmer than he had been. "May
1 see her without being separated from
her by this grating?"
"No. You will sec her and talk to
her through these iron bar-. She made
this request."
" Ah ! these Iron bars aro provided at
her roquet. Why is that?"
" I durusay becau-e she is afraid to be
ncuryoii. Dili's that astonish you?"
"if .-he is afraid, it is because bhe
feds guilty." .
" I'lcir enough ; but that's no reason
why she should desire to ho murdered."
But suppojti I n.ioultl promise not to
kill In rV"
" You cannot make such a proml-i
and bosureof keeping It. You aro too
viuknt. You uuv not tulhcicut ,-olf-
Oni'Hqnnre.onoorliiree Insertions.... .11 SO
Had i fcuhciUcnt lnxitllnn less limn thirteen, M
Olio Hiiiinre omi nwulh. ....., ........ 2 (
Twn .1111
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lccnlor's nnd Administrates Notices.. ....til) Oil
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lilltnrlal Notices twenty null wr linn.
Olhr advertisements Inserted according to spo
rial contract.
comniand. A word orngesturo Is enough
to throw you Inttna frenzy. You even
striko thoso who don't say it word to
you, who do nothing to you."
" Pardon me."
"0, 1 forgive you; but It Is more than
probable that tho Superintendent will
not forgive you for having disturbed tho
quiet which always reigns here, com
mitted deeds of violence, menaced tho
agents, called out the guard "
" What can ho do?"
"llo can rcfuso to allow you to sco
Solid Couchant, even behind that iron
grating."
"See hero," said Langlade, trying to
take Vlliert's hand, " If you will per
suade tho Superintendent to let mo kco
her, 1 promise to put everything hero
back in i t-t place, to present excuses to
tho agents, and to be as calm as 1 havo
been furious."
" Well, I will ttsc my influenco with
tho Superintendent ; but, 1 warn you,
the utmost ho will grant now will bu to
allow you to seo her behind that grat-
IiiB."
"That Is all I ask ! I no longer feel
like killing liur. My anger has spent
itself."
Vibert quitted tho cell. Tho agents
wero at the door, and expressed their
astonishment at seeing him in suck good
condition. He said to them : "Ho is
quiet now. 1 at hint seo Solell Couchant,
as If nothing had taken place. This
evening lie will bo sent to another Jail,
and you will bo rid of him."
Willie Vibert wasspcaklng,astntngu
noiso was heard in tho cell. Vibert
returned and summoned tho other
agents, langlado was lying on the floor,
insensible. The younger agent went
for tho surgeon, who camo only In tlmo
to see tho escaped convict breathe Ills
last. The emotions of tho day had been
too much for tlio giant. His arrest,
olell Couchant's betrayal, his frenzy at
discovering the iron bars and at sight of
Vibert, his fear tho Superintendent
might refuse to allow him so much as
to seo Soldi Couchant again, had
brought on a fit of apoplexy. It proved
fatal before any remedy could bo ad
ministered. nOEItlBLE DEATH-BED SCENE.
A (Ikxtlkman came to tho health
officer at an early hour this morning,
says the Chicago Post, and reported that
a whole family residing at No. tlS Green
Bay Street were lying dead of cholcrain
their house. Officers were at once dis
patched to the place indicated, andtlicro
In held ono of tlio most sickening sights
that has been recently witnessed in our
city. In a small room, about sixteen
feet square, in a filthy condition, and
bearing all tliesqtialid appearance which
usually marks the home of extremo
poverty, lay the lifele-s bodies of a man
ami woman, apparently about thirty
11 vo years of age. Tlio body of tlio man
lay upon the floor, black and distorted,
while tho woman, his wife, lay upon a
rude bed, in a most frightful condition.
Sitting on tho floor, in one corner, alono
with the dead, was a littlo boy about
seven years of age, tho only child of tho
deceased parents. Upon inquiry, tho
littlo orphan stated that ids father and
tiother wero taken sick yesterday and
died last night, just after dark. Tho
poor boy had passed the night in soli
tude and sorrow, frightened by tlio so
lemnity of the scene, but unconscious of
his great loss. It was ascertained that
same relatives of tho family, who lived
near by, had been informed of their siek
nevs, but from timidity or neglect, had
never gono to their assistance. A
physician had been summoned by sonio
lititnano neighbors, but, knowing tho
poverty of the family, refused to attend.
The remainsof tho unfortunate pair wero
decently hurled at ono o'clock this after
noon, aud the little orphan was taken in
charge by ids relatives.
s
THE HOSE.
I saw n ro-o perfect in beauty; It
rested gracefully upon Its stalk, and its
perfume filled tlio air. Many stopped
to gazo upon it, many bowed to tasto its
fragrance, and its owner hung over it
witli delight. 1 passed again, and, be
hold, it was gono its stem was Icallcss
its roots had withered ; tho enclosure
which surrounded it was broken down.
Tho spoiler had been there; hos.awthat
many admired it ; he knew it was dear
to him who planted it, and besides it he
had no other plant to love. Yet ho
snatched it secretly from tho hand that
cherished it; lie woro it on ids bosom
till it hung its head and faded, and,
when he saw that its glory was depart
ed, he thing it ruddy away. But it left
a thorn in his bosom, and vainly did ho
seek to extract it ; for now it pierces tho
spoiler, even In bis hour of mirth. And
when i saw that uo man, who had loved
tho beauty of tho ro.so, gathered again
its scattered leaves, or bound up tho
stalk i hich tho hands of violence had
broken, 1 looked earnestly at tho spot
whero It grew, and my soul received in
struction. And 1 said, Let her who is
fiillof beauty andaduiiration, sitting liko
the queen of flowers majestically among
tho daughters of women, let her watch
lest vanity cuter her heart, beguiling
her to rest proudly upon her owu
strength; let hur rcmcmbur that slio
standf'th upon slippery places, "and bo
not hlgh-inlndcd, but fear." Jra. S'ty.
uttrneii.
A couxi'itY girl, from tho field, was
told by her cousin that slio looked tw
fresh as a. daisy kissed by tho dew,
l Well, It wasii'tany fdlow of that name,
but Bill Juuos that kissed me ; confound
ids pictures! I told him everybody
would find It out."
9