New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-19

man, OF active habits, with q clear, ehril
| voice."
He stopped and looked at me.
II did not know there was a recognized
leader" remarked.
He drew q large book from his desk
Here" said he, sis the full testimony in
all i've cases. Run your eye over it, and
you will see that the general facts all coin
eide. The small man gives directions and
leads everybody"
Probably some London cracksman."
Belts nodded, winked, then leaned for.
ward, and whispered in my ear, II suspect
it's wOman."
"a she-devil, then-eomething in a
woman's form at all events. Now for the
facts on which base this relief The rest
OF the gang are as free and easy with each
other as you please, yet no one ever lays a
finger Oh this little one, but all draw back
TO let him pass. He gives orders, exerts
himself when ingenuity is required, but
when strength is needed ne looks on while
the others fall to work. Besides, young
Stewart, who was brought down stairs in
his night-shirt the night of their robbery,
told me jokingly that he believed there was
a woman among the thieves, for one of
them took Offense at his bare legs and
ordered them covered up with the piano
spread"
"Still, a very airy hypothesis this about
the womaD."
you have to jump at conclusions some
times, and find facts to suit. AS soon as /
had mastered these details l was impressed
by the conviction that one of the thieves
had been on the premises before. At Mr..
Stewards, for instance, the safe is built
into the wall and false panel in the vain
scot is the only opening to it; yet the first
place the burglars approached was that
panel, which the little fellow slid aside at
once So set to work looking for suspi-
cious character in the house and found all
satisfactory till came to French govern
esq, who staid with them six weeks last
spring. Now, sir, in each house entered by
these masked devils there has been during
the past twelve months some similar tran.
silent inmate. At Wardell's 1t was a French
cook, in white cap and apron; at Lewis the
young lady's page, clever Buttons; at the
Pratts' prOtege of the children, q hand
some vagrant italian boy, with violin
And now. Mr.. Powers" continued Belts,
bringing his hand down heavily upon nv
this dangerous inmate under your roof in
the character of your wife's maid.''
! started as if had been shot.
"Impossible!" / gasped; ''impOssible,"
But why, cir, impOssible?"
1.-The idea is mOnstrOus. Marie is a sweet
little girl, playful as kitten"
But. Mr.. Powers, you are a man of the
world, and know that a woman is not proved
honest because she bewitches you"
"But, Belts, admit that though l am an |
old fool, my wife is thorough woman, and,
as rule, suspects all her own sex, yet she
is positively fond Of Marie"
Marie is clever little puss Wherever |
she has lived, as man or woman, the whole |
family have adOred her. l have always |
thought" he went on, with q sort of |
chuckle, that no fact about women is |
more damning than that the good ones are. |
as rule, the dull ones. Put spirit, sparkle, !
intellect into any one Of them, and she is
certain to play the devil. Has Marie shown |
IN interest in these burglaries!'
There could be no doubt of her having
questioned me concerning them with intense |
sagerness, and if spoke to my wife about |
ny apprehensions while she was present,
Marie never lost word.
"DOes she know about your silver! Has
The any charge Of your wife's diamonds!"
l started. That very morning l had
'hown her my safes behind false book
sse in my study, and asked her opinion
whether any one could mistrust those inno-
encyclopedias, or suspect the
existence of q closet six feet square be-
ween my room and the library. l was
lshamed Of my greenness, but made clean |
,reast of it to Belts; who was good enough
o refrain from the expression Of his opinion
# my discretion.
"My word for it," he cried, "she has been
Waiting to find out that secret, and now she
will leave your house within forty-eight
onrs. Her pretext will be reasonable
ne, and she will promise to return. but
When she does return she will bring her
ang at her heels to rob your house for |
Ou."
The idea OF connecting our pretty Marie |
nth such Outrages filed me with horror, /
elected it strenuously.
Believe or not as you like" be returned,
18th shrug, $50 long as you only follow
~ advice. just ont of curiosity. take ,
ONE little dog with you, and see if Marie ,
pes not set to work to bewitch it at once. 6
hen the moment she speaks of leaving I
our house, telegraph to me-"
Our interview lasted another hour. When ,
left him went to a dog-fancier's and 6
ought little yelping black and-tan | I
'aniel and carried him home with me. 1t | a
as approaching dinner time when I ar {
we'd, and my wife was in her room sitting /
fore the mirror, with Marie braiding her b
lir. entered, as was my habit, and sat d
'wD by the fire, and let the girl draw off n
y boots and bring my slippers in her II
ual way. 1t seemed an unmanly treason G
r bright smile and easy grace. She o
rely spoke, unless actually addressed. Il
t her intuitiOns of any ones wishes d
lOunted absolutely to genius. n
Whom did you see in town ?" inquired s,
7 wife. h
Don't speak of it," said l, looking fear d
ly about, as if the walls had ears, "but tt
vas with Belts, the detective. You must Al
repeat what l say, Marie" %
Never, monsieur" cried Marie. B
The fact is," proceeded, sinking nv X
ice into sepulchral whisper, "that gang W
masked burglars have been traced to
W Orleans, and may be arrested by this it
le" h;
Then l hope DEAR" said my wife. laugh. 10
!, that you will again sleep soundly in in
II bed. After you got up last night for M
fourth time to promenade about, pistols W
,and, decided it might be better to eat
pewter, and to wear French gilt jewelry ell
n to lead such Iife'' Ri
too laughed, and stretched nv legs COM to
tably. "Yes, l mean to sleep like a
ristian hereafter; besides, have brought be
ne dog" mr.
dog" exclaimed Marie, startled. ne ne
Yes" l turned and looked at her atten- IN
sly. Don't you like dogs!' pu
be protested vehemently that she loved Re-
9 better than anything in the world,
when Jingle, the spaniel, was pro- az
ed it was SO pretty sight to see her BI
Eing with him that l was freshly in mr.
sed with Belts for putting his cursed as
picions into my head. She took the lit av
beast to bed with her, believe, and fax
morning he would obey her lifted .
er.
hat very day she received letter from cal
9. DE Sturges, her former mistress, ask. oy
her to come in and pass a few hours
her before she left for New Orleans. of
re carried the letter to Mrs. Powers. on
idame wishes to talk TO me about Mile. Yo
enc, pleaded the GIRL with tears in her wi