The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-09-10
VINO ROBBED MADAME.

Drown lOCAS CAuSIC1AAG III ~ Nsk3 Jul.
fusion of short curls about her forehead
proclaimed her no longer young, though
the fair blooming face and shapely form
we're far more suggestive Of youth than
of old age. Altogether, Madame Lc-
roux was lady Of most attractive ap-
She approached me with nervous
haste, her eyes fixed on mine. 81 sent
for-you are she faltered almost in
audibly, and'then paused in pitiable
state Of agitation, her slender fingers
slowly INTERVENING themselves, and her
whole frame trembling. -
"Detective Ashton" ] responded.
hastily drawing forward chair.
y She sunk into it, and by silent ges-
ture invited me to be seated. Present
ly she murmured in low, quivering
voice: "Monsieur, / am in great dis
tress. Ny" and she again paused,
overcome by her emotions.
waited a minute in expectant silence,
and then said:
"a case of robbery, understand,
Madame. Permit me to ask whether
your servants are entirely honest!''
'sEntirely,' she answered brokenly.
s4They have served me twenty years.
"And your pupils!''
'Not shadow of suspicion may
touch them"
"And the resident teachers?" She
gasped once or twice, and then, con-
trolling herself with a mighty effort,
answered TREMENDOUSLY:
"Pardon my agitation; l am worn
VITA trouble and anxiety adding
presently, in more even tones, Il will
tell you about it, Monsieur. Ny
school is, as you doubtless know from
report, the best, and, consequently,
the most flourishing, in the city. |
take much money, and often keep
large sums by me. This is my private
business room, and in yonder cabinet l
store my surplus funds.
"a rather unsafe place. | COM
mented.
,'Not at all, Monsieur" she answered
decidedly. cit is furnished with a
secret receptacle. Discover it if you
can And, rising, she led the way to
the cabinet and threw open the desk.
But Exhausted ny wits to no pur-
pose. Madame looked on in silence till
I drew back and folded my arms. She
then quietly asked: rG
"You would not suspect the fact that
have stated?' 'If the secret COM
partment is here, most certainly not"
"It is here" she replied, briefly and
emphatically, as she closed the desk.
"How many times have you been
robbcd!'
Nightly, for the past week." she
answered, cxcitedly. "a large amount
was taken the first night, but since then
only few counterfeits which depos-
tied in the hope of detecting the thief
without assistance
"Has any one under your roof q
knowledge Of the secret of the cabinet!''
inquired, after little interval of ST.
lence. "But one!" she cried, bursting
into tears, and wringing her hands in
an agonvof distress.
| again deliberated moment, and
then said, firmly: "Madamc, have not
. doubt that can, in time, clear up
this matter without 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 sufficiently to answer.
When she did, it was in heart-broken
tones: "You are right, Monsieur. l
must tell you. My suspicious point to
one who has for years been my all
namely, Mademoiselle De Antoinette
De Gray. Mademoiselle Gray has
been my protege since the death of her
parents, which occurred while she was
vet an infant. In her have hitherto
reposed the most unlimited confidence;
now am distracted with doubts it is
impossible to silence" w
"But, Monsieur, have not sent for
you to unravcl this web of mystery
with any intention of giving publicity
to her guilt. Heaven knows / only de-
sire to learn the truth for her own dear
sake. would not wrong the innocent
even in thought; the guilty l would
labor increasingly to restore"
Then with sudden burst ofgrief she
exclaimed:
my poor Antonette! She Is SO
young SO winning! and so beautiful!
~Does Mademoiselle De Gray know 81
your suspicious I" I inquired, Is deep
sob choked her utterance.
"She does. A few hours before l
sent Tor you told her Of my loss, and
entreated her to confess and receive my
forgiveness "With what result!'
'She gazed at me with startled eyes
fer moment, and then in proud, almost
scornful accents, replied that l, above
all other., should know whether she
was capable Of such a deed" "And is
she acquainted with the fact Of your
having secured my services!"
"Oh, yes, Monsieur. hoped it would
friehten her into full confession. y
'sYour servants!'
"They know nothing whatever. Fol
Mademoiselle Dc Gray's sake have
kept these startling robberies profound
secret" After few minutes serious
consideration I said:
MADAME, I will watch here nightly
until the mystery is solved" Madame
shook her head despondingly.
'sIt is is quite useless, Monsieur.
am no coward, and have already tried
that plan, and, strange to say, my cabl