The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1874-09-10

earn the truth Ter her OVID uetAi SAM
would not wrong the innocent even 10
thought; the guilty [ would uneeasihsly
labor to restore
Then With sudden burst of grief sac
exclaimed
MY poor Antoinette She is so young
so winning and SO beautiful
Does Madamoiselie De Gray know OF
your suspicious p [ inquired, as oeep
sob broke her utterance.
''She does. A few hours before sent
for you ] told her of my loss. and en-
treated her to CO Mess and receive my tor
giveness.
wv result?''
''She gazed at me with startled eyes
for moment, and then in proud. almost
scornfal accents, replied that L, above ali
others. should know whether she was
capable Of such a deed. l."
"Oh, yes, Monsieur, hoped it would
| frighten her into confession.
Your servants?
They know nothing whatever. For
Madamoiselle De Gray's sake, have
kept these startling robberles profound
secret"
After few minutes serious considera-
! ton / said.
MADAME, I will watch here nightly
until tie mystery is solved.
Madame shook her head despondlngly.
cit Is quite useless, Monsieur. L am
no coward. and have already tried that
! plan, and strange to say. my cabinet re-
NAMED intact both times.
''Perhapt Madamoisele De Gray sus-
pected your intentions, L replied.
! This time we must guard against posst-
bility. And DOW, if you please. will
trouble you for a few more details.
About what time do these robberles tahe
place p
Always between midnight and day
break. | seldom retire till y O clock,
and on the night Of the first theft it was
considerably later. I remember distinct
": for By d singular coincidence, Mad
emoiselle De Gray and sat there dis
cussing the possibility of the very event
| which occurred. The recent Madworth
robbery had impressed us both deeply,
| and, as [ left the room, babe Madamois-
ellie lock the door
Did you lock the other ?" I asked,
indicating one I had noticed awhile be-
! fore
1T might secret burglar, however.
That is only store closet.
Yes, Monsieur; but it I'D not L
was ID there few minutes before We re-
! tired.
"And the key of the door here-did
! Madamoiselie know where you put it -
| Certainly, Monsieur
And since that night? p
"Aias Monsieur, [ have hidden my
keys in vain
After some further conversation | took
my leave, promising TO return at mid
night. ] did So Madamoiselle aud the
servants had retired, and as previously
arranged, Madame answered my light
tap herself She u5hered me into the
private room, md soon babe me good
night.
After short absence. she returned
with steamiug cup Of hot coffee and
plate of Dutch cake.
Il always take cup before retiring"
che explained, land thought you might
find one acce ptable." And With final
goodnight she left me. Feeling botk
chilled and thirsty, [ enptied the cup
almost az drouth. Then wheeling a
chair behind the curtains draping a bay
window, [ extinguished the light and sat
down TO await the approach of the IN
known thief.
But saw nothing. just at day break
Madame softly entered the room and
spoke to me. [ rose unsteadily TO nv
feet, and step from behind the curtains.
She gazed at me in surprise for a mo-
meBt, and then smiled ironically:
Monsieur slept well, perceive
Eyes. Madame. if well means soundly,
| replied. The coffee was drugged.
"Drugged !" she echoed, staggering
back a pace or two.
Yes, Madame. Permit me to AJAX who
did it %
She covered her face with her hands
for an instant. and then dropping them,
reeled over TO the cabinet La a minute
she was beside me again.
Who made FTP she rereated, in deep
hollow tones. 'Madamoiselle De Gray !
And-and. Monsieur. Hemoney as gone' |
But" | answered, in some yeZation,
"Madamioselle, Of all others should not
have known that | was here
"Ah, Monsieur, | was not careful,
returned Madame. sorrowfullv. '"Tis |
mystery how she gained her knowledge.
Well Madame I answered, after
few minutes deiiberation. 1--WE will meet |
Madamoiselle or her own ground. Per-
mis- he. if you please, re prepare aDoth- |
other cup Of coffee to night. She will. |
no doubt. count upon its effects. And |
that night [ received aDothe steaming |
cup. But it was received only. Conse
quently was not found mapping [ had |
watched patiently for hours or more. |
when tie door opened and q pale slender, |
little old woman, wrapped IL a crimson
iressng-gown. and about whose bare
head Coated few gray locks, stole noise
it-esly into the room. She carried bunch
Of keys and lighted taper in g small
bronze candIesticb Closing the door
carefully behind her. she proceeded at
once to the cabiret- Can this weird
looking woman be Madamoiseile De
Gray ?" [ thought. gazing at the sin
gular apraration; Nc, It cannot be- Ger
tain'v, Madamoise is young. This
might he some old relative of Madame.
Quickly and noiselessIy she approached
the cabinet. and in moment it was I'M
I ! I