Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1874-07-16
WHO ROBBED MADAME?

nad waited but few minutes when
Ehe tasteful ioap3 surmounting the
hh.oWT locks clustering in q pretty con-
fuslonspiSShort curls about her forehead
prQeSFA her no .vngo. young, though
blooming face I'd shapely form
were faF moro suggesti' esof youth than
OF old age Altogether, Madame JIe-
roux was lady of most attractive ,ap-
pearance. o-s
sShei approached mo with nervous
haste, her eyes fixed on mine.
81 sent for-you are, she faltered
almost inaudibly, and then paused in "a
,pitiable state of agitation, her slender
fingers slowly INTERVENING themselves,
and her whole frame trembling.
detective Ashton" I responded,
hastily, drawing forward chair.
She sunk into it, and by silent ges-
ture invited me to be seated. Present
ly she murmured in a low uuivering
voice:
Monsieur, I am in great distress
My and again paused, overcome by
her emotions.
r-s1F Iwaited q minute in expectant silence.
and then said: 49,
"A case of robbery, I understand,
madame. Permit me to ask whether
= your servants are entirely honest ?"
Entirely," she answered, brokenly.
"They have served me for twenty
years"
t"And your pupils?" 't,I0 A'
e mot shadowof suspicion may touch
them"
"And the resident teachers ?"
She gasped once or twice, and then
controlling herself with mighty effort,
answered tremulously:
Pardon my agitation IT am. worn.
with trouble end anxiety, u %.sd ding 5proo.s4
emily, in more even tones, Il will tell
! you about it, monsieur. My school is,
:" as you doubtless lno " from report, the
best, and, consequently, the most flour
ishing in the city. / take much money,
and often keenlarge sums by5me. This
is my private business room, and in yon-
der cabinet store my surplus funds"
"a rather unsafe place." I commen-
ted.
Not at NIL, monsieur" she answered,
decidedly. "It is furnished with Sc
cret receptacle. Discover it, if you can"
And rising, she led the way to the
cabinet, and threw opensthe 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 I
have stated %
"1f the secret compartment is here,
most certainly not"
4 &" 1t is here" she replied, briefly and
emphaticalIy, rs she closed the desk.
",HoW many times have you been
"Nightly, for the past week." she an
awered, excitedly, GA large amount
was taken the first night, but since then
/ only q few scounterfeits which aepos-
tied in hope of detecting the; thief with
out assistance"
"Has any ono under your roof a
knowledge of the secret of the cabinet 2"
inquired, after little interval of ST.
lence.
'But one!" she cried, bursting into
tears, and wringing her hands In an
of distress. :" But one but one,
alas !"
IL again deliberated n moment, and
then said firmly:
madame, l have not doubt that T
can, IN time, clear up this matter with
ont assistance, but it is no less certain
that perfect candor on your part will
greatly aid me-
itwas some minutes before she could
compose herself sufficient TO answer
When she did it was in heart broken
tones:
You nre right, monsieur. I must
tellsyou. My suapioions point to one
who hast for years been my all namely,
Mademoiselle' De Antoinette De GRAY.
Mademoiselle DE Gray has been nv
1'rote1e since the death Of her parents,
which occurred while she was yet an in.
FAINT. In her I. have hitherto reposed
the most unlimited confidence now I
am distracted with doubts it ia impossi-
bile to silence"
But, monsieur, have not sent for
yon to unrayel 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. J
would not wrong the innocent even in
thought the guilty I would unceas-
ingly labor to restore"
Then with sudden burst of grief she
exclaimed 4i
MY poor Antoinette She ia so
yonno 80 winning aud go beautiful ~
Does Mademoiselle do GRAY know
of your suspicion 2" I inquired. as n
deep sob choked her utterance.
i ."She does. a few hours before 7
Z. sent for you I told her of my loss, aud
entreated her to confess and receive my
forgiveness r.,
"With what rosult?"