A Startling Adventure.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 305, 22 December 1894, Page 4 (Supplement)

A Startling Adventure.

I was a medical student in Paris at the time tHa etririeo and startling adventure happened which 1 am about to record. Tired with hard study, I was oub one evening., for ; ■#.- walk in the .fresh .air.. It was a pleasant night in mid-winter, and the cold, bracing air, as it touched my,feverish brow» caused a grateful' sensation. Passing through a lonely street near the river, I was surprised at meeting a young and pretty girl—at leaßt, she appeared so in the dim light of a distant street lamp—who carried in her hand some three or four bouquets, which sha offered for sale. •Will monsieur have a bouquet?' she asked, in a sweet, musical tone, holding out to me a well-arranged collection of beautiful flowers. *

' They are very pretty,' said I, taking them in my hand ; and then, somehow, I could not help adding, ' and so is their fair owner.'

'Monsieur will purchase and assist me?' she'said.

1 Do you, then, really need assistance, mademoiselle?'

' Why else should I be here ab this hour of the night, monsieur?' 1 And why hero at all? This is an unfrequented street—about the last in the world 1 should have selectod for disposing of a luxury most suited to wealth and fashion.' She sighed, and reached out her hand for the bouqueb I held. • What is your price ?' 'Five francs.' ' A large sum.' • Monsieur will remember it is winter, and flowers ara scarce.' • , I handed her the requisite eilver coin, saying, 'To aid you 1 will purchase; for though I love flowers, I would not otherwise indutge in the luxury at euch an expense.'

She thanked me, and seemed about to pass on, bub hesitated and said, ' Could monsieur direct me to the house of a good physician, who would turn out to-nighb to see a patienb for a small sum ?' 4 Any friend of yours III'?* •My mother,' with a deep sigh and a ; downcast look. 'W here does she live ?' • Only a short distance from here.' ' What is the matter with her V • A fever.' • When was she taken ?' ' She came down last nighb, and has not left her bed since.' ■ Why did you nob send for a doctor at once; mademoiselle ?' ' We hoped she would geb better soon, and it is so expensive for poor people to employ a physician.' • I am a medical student, with some experience among the sick of the hospitals. If you care to trust the case to me, I am at your service without charge,' I said, feeling already a deep interest in the fair girl. •Oh, how shall I thank monsieur?' Bhe cried, with clasped hands and an upward, grateful look. ' Pray follow me, doctor.' She turned and moved at a rapid pace down the street toward the Seine, in the direction I was taking, when we met. In less than five minutes we had entered a dreadful quarter, among narrow streets, old buildings, and squalid-looking people, 6ome of whom glared at us as we passed. 1 Is it much further ?' I inquired, beginning to feel uneasy. 1 Only a step, monsieur.' She now turned into a covered passage. A distant lamp just served to make' the gloom visible, till she suddenly stopped and opened a door into total darkness. ' Your hand, monsieur,' she said, at the same time taking it, and leading me forward. Wo now went through a long narrow passage in total darkness, and, after two or three short turns, began to descend a flight of creaking stairs. 'Is it possible you live in a place like this ?' I said, wishing myself safely out of it. 'In Paris beggars cannob be choosers,' replied the girl. We had now reached the foot of the etairs, and my guide pushed open a door into a-small', dimly-lighted room, and I followed with some misgivings. There was a bed in one corner, and on it appeared to be a human form lying very still. • I have brought a doctor, mother,' said the girl, closing the door. There was no reply, and she turned to mo, saying—' Will you be seated doctor ? I think mother is asleep.'

'I have bub a fow:minntes' to 8t«^! mademoiselle,' said I, shortly °P«r«(< ' Monsieur ahall noti be detained W k, mo,' rejoined the girl, .PMihg out of£ ' • room by another door. I did nob tit a but walked over to the bi^K*"?' patient was lying very still— B o still Yi* deed, that I could nob detect any breaHr ing. A woman's cap was on the head avi the end of a eheet concealed the face I ventured to turn this down' carefully '«n^ beheld the eyeless sockets and-'eririnin ■ teeth of a human skull. I started baH horror, and at the same momenb the door b* which the girl had left was thrown ocen and in marched, one after another, four tali ;. human figures in black gowns and masks? T knew at once, then, that I wae to be fobbed and probably murdered. I woreahekvv diamond pm and ring, carried aValnabfe gold watch, and had in money about m, person some 500f., bub not a single weaDoa of any kind. Resistance being ther«fo» out of the question, I felt that my chance—if, indeed, there was a chancaZ was to conciliate the ruffiians, and buy myself off. With a presence or mind for which I still take to myeelf considerable credit, I said ab once—■• I understand it all gentleman, and you will find me a very liberal person to deal with. There is one thing £ value very highly, beeau'se it'i^ the '' only one I have, and I cahnob replace'^ that is my life. Everything else of mine is at your service, even beyond what" I have I with me.' ' '■ ■ - , A

They were undoubtedly surprised tolear of me apeak in that cool, offhand manner/bud ! they came forward and surrounded me" be- ? foro either uttered a word. f 1 How much havo you wibh you, thenf ' inquired one, in a civil way, bub in a ifa f gruff tone. • ' «•' ' *■< f I immediately mentioned the different I articloa of value and the exaofc amount o£ money. 'All of which I shall be pleased to presenb you with if one of you will be kind enough to escort) me to the street) above,'! Baid. ] • You said you"had more, nionsieur ?' 'Yes, gentlemen, I have ten thousand francs in the Bank of France, and will willinglyl add a cheque " for' half thatt1 \ amount.'; , . ' ■ v : •

•Cheques do not sarve our purpose verywell,'Baid a second voice. * ■ •Then I pledge you my honour thab I will to-morrow draw out five thousand francs, and pay the amount over to any person who may approach tne with tbia ; bouqueb in his hand,'said I, holding oub the flowers, I had purchased of the lair' decoy. " .. ' And have him arrested the next minute, I suppose?' . ; ■ 'No, on my honour, ho shall depart un-! harmed and unquestioned; and nojpliner, human being shall be informed of) :thie,j transaction for & week, or a month, W a: year.' * ' Lat us first handle what you have here, 1, said the first speaker. 1 immediately took oub my pin, took off my ring, drew out my watch, produced my: pocket-book, and purse,'and placedythem; all in his extended hand. ',*■•■' •You mnke me a present of all: these, now ?' he asked. ■"-;' '■'; 1 Yes, on condition that one of ( you will; forthwith conduct me to the street,' I;rq-; plied. ' ; •Monsieur is a very liberal gentleman,; eh, comrades ?'; said the mask, turningVto the others. ■■ "■' A very liberal gentleman indeed 1 "waa . the response. Then they drew off together, Bcrubinisect the articles: by the light bf a smoky lami^ and conversed together in low tones. ( I felt that they werehdlding a conßtiltation thab involved my life, arid to epocik tho honest truth it seemed us if 'every nerve in oa quivered, and ib was with difficulty I could. \ stand. ' , ~ ' ,^" • At length the principal spokkstriau turned ; to ma and said, in a very cool and mothoflical manner—* Monsieur has actod more like; i a gentleman than any other person we"have ever had dealings with, and if we could, consistent with our business, oblige him, we should bo happy to do so ; but, unfortunately, we are governed by a rule which is a law with us, that "dead men tell no ? tales," and we think it will not do to make '■..) an exception in this case. We will, however, in consideration of Monsieur's gentle-

manly behaviour, bo as mild and lenient as possible in doing our duty, and grant monsieur five minutes for saying his prayers,' ' You have, then, resolved to murder mef I asked. •Monsieur uses a very harsh term, butwo will let that pass. You have five miuutea yet to live by thab watch.' ,'

The villain then held my watch to the light, and I felb indeed that the precious minutes of my.life,were numbered; 'A death-like silence then reigned.,'in , that) ~ gloomy apartmenb for seme time, and then one of the .ruffians -bent downward and lifted a trap-door, and from the dark pib. below issued a noisome smell. I beheld ray' intended grave, and Bhuddered and shook like an aspen. Bub why Btand there and die like a dog, without a single attempt ad escape? Ab the worst it could be bub denth, and there was a bare possibility thai. I might gefc away. I fixed my eyes on the door which opened upon the stairway, and with a single sudden bound reached it, bob found it fast locked. Then, as the handeos the ruffians seized me, with murderous intent, I uttered a wild shriek, the door was burst in with a loud crash, and in a memenb the room was filled with gendarmes. I aaff thab I was saved, and fainted and fell. The four masks, the fair decoy, and some; two or three others concerned. in itna« murderous den were all secured that.nightj and I subsequently had the.pleasure or givine my evidence against them, and see- ■ ing them all condemned to the galleys tor life. The place had been for some time suspected, and the docoy marked. Oni tnau night a detective had secretly followed cub : girl and myself, and after -ascertaining whither she had conducted me, hadbasfcmea to bring a body of gendarmes to the place. The delay of the ruffians in their murderous design had bien just sufficient to save me. I scarcely need add that I never again volunteered to accompany, a, distreseßu damsel on a secret adventure while M v mained in Paris.