Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-12-11
A DETECTIVES STORY.
The Abduction OF an Actress-A
Thrilling Incident OF the Cress
cent City-A Tell-Tale
sN q .f EARRING

vi du lncluenC tDat occurred many
years ago. 1t possesses to me now, AZ
! think Of 1t, all the vivid interest IL
had then. 1t was among the first
cases entrusted to Mr.. l. and. my
self, and we devoted to it an unweary.
ing patience and assiduity that fitted
us Tor their exercise many O time
afterwards. It was in mid-winter
that the circumstance / allude to oc-
CURED. The theatrical season was OF
its height. The st Charles was
nightly thronged with the beauty
and fashion Of the city. A new star
had appeared on its boards, exciting
an interest prevalent and absorbing.
Her beauty, grace and accomplish
room,I7thes one subject that engaged
the attention Of all the youth In the
city Her name was Adele Larondu.
Very ,young- scarcely twenty--and
very beautiful with this young girl,
around whom web of mystery was
woven that seemed to defy human
ingenuity.
1 say she was beautiful, but that
word does not convey an adequate
idea OF her exceeding grace of mind
and person. Petite In form, tho slen-
der ngure was exquisite In nsymmetry.
A wealth ofbright golden hair shaded
a face rosy with health and brilliant
with genius. The clear, hazel eyes
flashed with intelligence, and the
delicate curve of the exquisitely chis-
eled lips expressed hatred or scorn, or
intensified emotion. ...E Fe.i.
NIGHT affar u;ubk t1,o xl,oo@o. ,.,o :.
filled with her admirers. Passion in
every phasc-the very well-springs
and impulses of our nature-seemed
to find In her an interpreter that
never erred. Her analysis of charac-
ter was pefect; 1t was true to nature,
and therefore perfect. .a.
The night of which I speak had
witnessed her greatest triumph
She seemed inspired, and the feel
ing and emotions of her audience
appeared as absolutely under her con-
troll as If she welded the wand of All
enchantress. The curtain fell on the
last act Of the tragedy and the
audience dispersed. Some mesmeric
power held me to thespot, and ling
gered around the entrance of the the
ater.
An hour must have passed by and
the last of the company crept out of
the narrow isle leading to the stage,
and sought their homes. Still the
actress fingered; her carriage ut the
door-the driver inpatient. Sudden
ly from behind the scenes--echoing
along that narrow isle--camea scream
SO piercing, that 1t cut to the heart
like dagger. 1t chilled my blood
! stood rooted to the spot; anguish,
horror, grief were in its tone.
In moment more / dashed open
the door and rushed into the thcater.
Close at my back came Mr.. Il, the
driver, and the porter Of the establish
ment. The light in the Green Room
was still burning. The large mirror
that hung from the wall refecfed nom
tho opposite sofa the tinsel and mock
jewelry of a queen. noticed this as
! dashed open the narrow door that
lead to the dressing room assigned
the actress. 1t was empty. i called
her by name. / shouted until the
walls of the vast building echoed back
my voice. Wesearched everywhere,
underneath and above the stage, even
among the rolled curtains In the loft,
and the narrow apertures between
the scenes--in vain. The actress had
disappeared. The screams that had
so startled us were not repeated
There was no avenue of escape, still
she was gone.
Mr.. I-visited her apartments at
the hotel. She was not there. The
gas was relit in the theatre and our
search resumed. She was not to be
found. Her friends were visited; the
most transient acquaintance called on,
with n like result.
Each hour instead of revealing the
mystery, only deepened 1t. In the
light OF the morning we confined the
search. A single object was discov-
cred, which could possibly afford a
clue to the missing girl. On the floor
of the dressing room was a diamond
1t looked rs If 1t had been
torn from its place. 1t was not such
an one ks was worn by the actress
1t established beyond question the
presencc OF another person In her
room, gnd that person female. This
was al. The mysterious interview
and II, termination were shroudcd In
a veil of f,darkness our ingenuity could
not penetrate. III the earth had
opened and swallowed her, her disap-
pearaice could not have been more
utterly maccountable.
WhN was to be done? We knew
she wak u native of France, brought
thenceih childhood. Her relatives
had died, her friends knew nothing,
save that she was an orphan. Genius
hg aided her rise, industry had
SECURED her fame. The architect of
nd own fortunes, she had climed
al9ne the steep whose ascent is de-
vtus anu hard to surmount.
LDays went by. Friends interested
themselves In the search, and large
rewards were offered for any intelli-
gence OF the missing girl. All was
lneffectual. Not even trace of her
could be found. Still had not given
up; at my heart felt that we would
yet succeed In finding her.
One day stood leaning negligent
" ON the counter of fashionable |
cwelcr. love TO gaze upon the
brilliant gems that strewed the case,
md filled Ii with weird, flashing
light. My attention absorbed In |
them, l did not notice the |
Of a lady--her foreign accent
N addressing the jeweler caused me TO |
urn around. She held an earring In |
ler hand, and was inquiring the cost
" one, ifmade to match II. The first
glance 1 had of IL made the blood |
cap like fire In my veins. Ii was the
Of the one found in the
heater.
You may imagine I did not lose
light Of that woman. / knew l had
truck on the right clue.
i traced her home. The panther (
lever stole on his victim more silent
y than 1 In the footsteps of the
lark-browed stranger.
scarce knew how / got back TO
he Office. seemed 10 have triumph