The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-09-23

theft it was considerably later.
remember distinctly; for, by a sin
gular coincidence, Mademoiselle De-
GRAY and | sat here discussing the
possibility of the very event which
occurred. The recent Madworth rob-
berry had impressed us both deeply,
and as left the room, bade Made
moiselle lock the door,
"Did you lock the other?" | asked,
Indicating one l had noticed awhile
before. at might secrete burglar,
however. That is only store clos
ct"
"Yes, Monsieur; but it did not, ]
was in there very few minutes be-
fore we retired"
"And the key of the door here-did
Mademoiselle know where you put
it?n
"Certainly, Monsieur"
"And since that night?"
"Alas, Monsieurl have hidden my
keys in vain"
After some further conversation
took nv leave, promising to return
about midnight. / did so. Made
moiselle and the servants had retired,
and, as previously arranged, Madame
answered my light tap herself. She
ushered me into the private room,
and eoon hade me good night.
After short absence, she returned
with a steaming cup of coffee and q
plate of Dutch cake.
"I always take a cup before re-
tiring," she explained, "and thought
you might find one acceptable" AND
with final goodnight she left me
Feeling both chilled and thirsty, l
emptied the cup almost at draught
Then wheeling a chair behind the
curtains draping bay-window, ex
tinguished the light and sat down t.
await the appearance of the an
known thief
But l saw nothing Just at day
break Madame softly entered th'
room and spoke to me. L ros'
unsteadily to my feet, and stepped
from behind the curtain. She gazet
at ME in surprise for a moment, ant
then smiled little ironically;
Monsieur slept well, | perceive.
ayes, Madame, if well means
soundly," / replied. "The coffee wal
drugged,"
"Druggedl" she echoed, staggering
back pace or two;
Eyes, Madame. Permit me to asl
who made it?"
She covered her face with he
hands for an instant, and then drol
ing them, reeled over to the cabinet
In minute she was beside mi
again.
who made it," she repeated, il
deep, hollow tones. "Mademoisell'
DeGrayl And-and, Monsieur, tn
money Is gone"
But" l answered, in some vexa
ton, "Mademoiselle, of all othe.
should not have known. of my pres
ence here"
"Ah, Monsieur, | was most careful,
returned Madame sorrowfully. "Ti
mystery how she gained her knowl
edge"
"Well, Madame" / answered, al
ter few minutes deliberation, "w
will meet Mademoiselle on her owl
ground. Permit her, fyou please, t
prepare another cup of coffee tonight
She will, no doubt, count upon it
effects" And that night l receives
another steamiug cup. But it wa
received only. Consequently l wa
not found mapping. l had watches
patiently for two hours or more
when the door softly opened, and
pale, slender little old woman, wraT
ped in a crimson dressing-gown, an
about whose bare head floated fey
scanty gray locks, stole noiselessly in
to the room. Size carried a bunc
of keys and lighted taper in q sma
bronze candle stick. Closing tn
door carefully behind her, sh
proceeded at once to the cabinet
"Can this weird-looking women b
Mademoiselle DeGray?" | though
gazing after the singular apparition
"No, it cannot be. Certainly, Made
moiselle is young. This must b
some old relative or friend Of Mac
ame." Quickly and noiselessly sh
approached the cabinet, and in q mC
ment it was unlocked and the seert
compartment opened
After carefully withd awing th
notes deposited there by Madame
few hours previous. she snapped th
spring and reclosed the desk. The
turning quickly away, she went ovC
to the store closet.
now left my hiding place an
cautiously followed. When / reacl
ed the door she was in the act of r
moving the false bottom from lare
ljapanned box in one corner. Dro
ping it on the floor beside her, 81
took from the box roll of notes, an
after adding the one just stolen, T
turned the bundle to its place agai
Then hastily restoring the box to i
former order, she rose and turnt
away.
i stepped back pace or two vii
the design of seizing her outside Il
closet.
| In a moment she appeared and co
fronted me, and tor the first time
obtained q fair view of her feature
But instead of the horror and disms
which had been anticipating, l WI
the one to fall back aghast. My ou
stretched arms dropped powerless q
with swift tread and strong gaze, 81
swept past me and out of the ROOF
And this is the solution" !" mt
tered, drawing a deep breath of I
; lief as the door closed upon her,
What viii Madame say? w
, she readily credit the reports mu
give?"
Without deciding on the quests
/ dropped on the sofa and made m
self comfortable for the remainder