The Republican journal., 1874-05-21


81 did not know there was a recognized
leader" remarked
lie drew u large book from his desk
Here said he, ''is the full testimony in
all five cases. Run your eye over it, and
you will see that the general facts all CO.
incide. The small man gives directions
and leads every body
"Probably some London cracksman'
Belts nodded, winked, then leaned for
ward and whispered in my ear, Il suspect
its q woman"
"lmpossible no woman has the nerve
"A she-devil, then-something in wo-
mans form, at all events Now for the
facts on which | base this belief The
rest of the gang are as free and easy with
each other as you please, vet no one ever
lays Il finger on this little one, but all draw
back to let him pass. He gives orders,
eNerts himself when ingenuity is required
but when strength is needed he looks on
while the others tall to work. Besides,
young Stewart, who was brought down
stairs in his night-shirt the night of their
robbery, told me iokingly that he believed
there was II woman among the thieves.
for one of them took offence at his bare
legs, and ordered them covered up with
the piano spread
Still 4 very airy hypothesis this about
the woman"
You have to Jump at conclusions some
times, and find facts to suit. As soon as
| had mastered these details, was i'm
pressed by the conviction that one OF the
thieves had been on the premises before.
At Nh SteWart4 for instance, the safe was
built into the wall, and q false panel in
the wainscot is the only opening to II
yet the first place the burglars approach
ed was the panel, which the little fellow
slid aside at once 30 set to work look
ing for Il suspicious character in the house,
and found all satisfactory TIL came to Il
French GoycrnesS who staid with them
sin weeks last spring. Now, sir, in each
house entered by these masked devils
there has been during the past twelve
months some similar transient inmate. At
Wardells it was French cook, in white
cap and apron; ut the Lewis's, the young
lady's page, Il clever Buttons; ut the
Pratt's a protege Of the children. 4 nand
some vagrant Italian boy with Il violin.
And now, Mr.. Powers. continued Belts.
bringing his hand down heavily upon my
knee. Il am ready to swear that you have
this dangerous inmate under your own
roof. in the character of your wites maid.
started as if had been shot.
.'Impossible " gasped; ''impossible!!" :"
But why, sir, impossible?N
The idea is monstrous. Marie IS q
sweet little girl, playful as q kitten
But, Mr., Powers, you are man OF the
world. and know that a woman is not
proved honest because she bewitches you.
But, Belts. admit that though am an
old fool, my wife is a thorough woman,
and, as q rule, suspects all her own sex,
vet sle is positively tond of Marie
Marie is a clever little puss. Where
ever she has lived, as man or woman. the
whole family have adored her. | have
always thought he went on. with sort
of chuckle, THAT no fact about woman 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 10 play the devil. Has Marie shown
an interest in these burglaries -
There could be no doubt of her having
questioned me concerning them with in
tense cagerness, and if spoke to my wife
about any apprehensions while She was
present, Marie never lost u word.
'DoCs she know about Your silver? Has
She any charge OF Your wite's diamonds ?"
| started That very morning | had
shown her my safes behind a false book
case in my study. and asked hen opinion
whether any one could mistrust those IN
nocent-lool,ing encyclopedias, or suspect
the existence Of closet six feet square
between my room and the library. | was
ashamed Of my own greenness but made
a clean breast Of it TO Belts, who was
good enough to refrain from any expires
sion of his opinion of my discretion.
My word ior it, he cried, ''she has
been waiting to find out that secret, and
now she will leave your house within
tortv-eight hours. Hex preteNt will be p
reasonable one, and she will promise to
return. but when she does return she will
bring her gang at her heels 10 rob your
house for YOU
The idea of connecting our pretty Marie
with such outrages filled me with horror
rejected it strenuously.
''Beieye or not as YOU like, he returned
with shrug $50 long as You only follow
my advice just out of curiosity, take
home little dog with YOU, and see if
Marie does not set to work to beWitch it
at once. Then the moment she speaks OF
leaving your house. telegraph to me"
Oar interview lasted another hour
When left him went to the dog-tancier's
and bought a little yelping black-and-tan
spaniel. and carried him home with me.
1t was approaching dinnertime when |
arrived, and my wife was in her room sit
ting before the mirror with Marie bralding
her hair. | entered as was my habit, and
sat down by the fire and let the girl draw
off my boots and bring my slippers in her
usual way 1t seemed an unmanly treason
to suspect her as she moved about me with
her bright smile and easy grace, rarely
spoke, unless actually addressed, but her
intutions Of any ones wishes amounted
absolutely to genius
''Whom did YOU see in town. inquired
my wife"
"Don't speak OF it," said |, looking fear
fully about as if the walls had ears "but
was with Belts, the detective. You must
not repeat what say, Marie
Never, monsieur" cried Marie
''Ihe fact is proceeded. sinking my
voice into sepulchral whisper, that gang
of masked burglars nave been traced to
| New Orleans, and may be arrested by this
time"
"Ihcn hope dear, sad my vile laugh
ing, "that You will again sleep soundly in
your bed After you had got up last night
lor the fourth time to promenade about,
pistol in hand, decided it might be better
to eat off pewter and wear French gilt
lewelry than to lead such life"
|, too, laughed and stretched my legs
comfortably. .'Yes, mean to sleep like a
Christian hereafter. besides, i have brought
home a dog"
"A dog" exclaimed Marie, startled.
Yes" | turned and looked at her At
tentively. "Do you like dogs?"
She protested vehemently that she loved
dogs better than anything in the world
and when Jingle, the spaniel was pro-
duced, it was so pretty a sight to see hel
playing with him that | was freshly in
censed with Belts for putting his cursed
suspicious into my head She took the
little beast to bed with her, | believe, and
next morning he would obey her lifted
finger.