The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-07-17
WHO ROBBED MADAME?

/ OAOWA 4OCho CluSbcIluS5 III a PAOoSJ WI
fusion of short curls about her Torches
proclaimed her no longer young, thoug
the fair blooming face and shapely for
were far more suggestive of youth tha
of old age. Altogether, Madame il
roux was a lady of most attractive al
pearance.
She approached me with nervor
haste, her eyes fixed on mine.
"I sent for-you are" she faltere
almost inaudibly, and then paused in
pitiable state of agitation, her slende
fingers slowly INTERVENING themselves
and her whole frame trembling.
Detective Ashton" I responded
hastily, drawing forward chair.
She sunk into it, and by silent ge,
| ture invited me to be seated. Present
ly she murmured in a low quiverin
voice:
Monsieur, I am in great distress
Ny" and again paused, overcome b
her emotions.
WAITED minute in expectant silence
and then said
&c A case of robbery, 1 understand
madame. Permit me to ask whethe
your servants are entirely honest ?"
Entirely" she answered, brokenly
"They have served me for twent
years"
"And your pupils p
"Not a shadow of suspicion may toucl
them"
"And the resident teachers ?"
She gasped once or twice, and thel
| controlling herself with a mighty effort
answered tremulously:
Pardon my agitation / am worl
with trouble and anxiety" adding pres
emily, in more even tones, "I will tel
you about it, monsieur. My school is
as you doubtless know from report, tn,
best, and, consequently, the most -four
ishing in the city. take much money
and often keep large sums by me. Thii
is my private business room, and in yon
der cabinet 1 store my surplus funds.
A rather unsafe place" 1 commen
ted.
Not at all, monsieur, she answered,
decidedly. at is furnished with a Sc.
cret receptacle. Discover it, if you can. ,
And rising, she led the way TO the
cabinet, and threw open the desk.
But / exhausted my wits to no pur-
pose. Madame looked on in silence till
[ drew back and folded my arms. She
then quietly asked
" You would not suspect the fact
have stated ?"
If the secret compartment is here,
most certainly not "
" 1t is here" she replied, briefly and
emphatically, as she closed the desk.
4" How many times have you been
.obbed ?"
&c O;o.LLIr- e.. a. 3. - --o,1 >, l. -..
swered, excitedly, ga large amount
was taken the first night, but since then
only a few counterfeits which l depos-
tied in hope of detecting the thief with
out assistance.
" Has any one under your roof a
knowledge of the secret of the cabinet ?''
I inquired, after little interval of 81
lencP.
"But one !" she cried, bursting into
tears, and wringing her hands in an
agony of distress. "But one but one,
alas p'
again deliberated moment, and
then said firmly:
" Madame, l have not doubt that I
can, in time, clear up this matter with
out assistance, but it is no less certain
that perfect candor on your part will
greatly aid me-"
1t was some minutes before she could
compose herself sufficient to answer.
When she did it was in heart broken
tones:
You ATE right, monsieur. I must
tell you. My suspicious point to one
who has for years been my all namely,
MademOiselle De Antoinette De Gray.
Mademoiselle De Gray has been my
protege since the death of her parents,
which occurred while she was yet an in
FAINT. In her 1 have hitherto reposed
the most unlimited confidence now I
am distracted with doubts it is impossi-
bic to silence"
But, monsieur, l have not sent for
you to unravel this web of mystery with
any intention of giving publicity to her
guilt. Heaven knows I only desire to
learn the truth for her own sake. I
would not wrong the innocent even in
thought; the guilty 1 would unceas-
inRly labor to restore"
Then with q sudden burst of grief she
exclaimed
MY poor Antoinette /! She is so
young so winningl and so beautiful I"
Does Mademoiselle de Gray know
of your suspicion ?" 1 inquired, as a
deep, sob choked her utterance.
"She does. A few hours before I
sent for you told her of my loss, and
ontreated her to confess and receive my
forgiveness r'
with what result?"
"She gazed at me with startled eyes
for a moment, and then in proud, al
most scornful accents, replied, that /,
above oil others, should know whether
she was capable of such deed"
And is she acquainted with the fact
Of your having secured her services ?"
"Oh, yes, monsieur. / hoped il
would frighten her into a full confess
sion."
"Your servants %
"They know nothing whatever. For
de Gray's sake I have
kept these startling robberies a pro-
found secret"
After few minutes serious consider
alton said
Madame, 1 will watch here nightly
until the mystery is solved"
Madame shook her head despond-
ingly.
1T is quite useless, monsieur. am
no coward, and have already tried that
plan, and, strange to say, my cabinet
intact both times.
Perhaps Mamemoiselle de GRAY sus.
pesSted p st your Intentions" I replied.
This time We must guard against the
possibility. And now, if Won please,
Will take few more details. About
what time do these robberies tako
Always between midnight and dav-
break. seldom retire t;Il 1tvaIgo
o'clock, and on the night of the first
theft it was considerably later re-
distinctly: for bv a sinou1ar
Mademoiselle De Gra9 and
I sat here discussing the possibility of
the very event which occurred Tba
recent Madworth robbery had impressed
us both deeply, and as we left the room
1 bade mademoiselle lock the door,
"Did yeu lock the other ?" 1 asked.
indicating one / had noticed awhile be-
fore.
"That is only store closet"
"It might secrete a burglar, how
ever"
Yes. monsieur but it did not. I
was in there a very few minutes before
we retired"