The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-09-10
"Always between midnight and dag.

| ana Oh the ulSul VI Iue III SI LueIC IL was
considerably later. l remember dis
tlnctly; for, by singular coincidence,
Mademoiselle De Gray and | sat here
discussing the possibility Of the very
event which occurred. The recent
Madworth robbery had impressed us
both deeply, and. as l left the room,
babe Mademeiselle lock the door,
"Did you lock the other % | asked
indicating one had noticed awhile be-
fore.
ut might secrcte burglar, however
That is only a closet"
eyes, Monsieur but it did not.
was in there very few minutes before
we retired.'
'And the key Of the door here--did
Mademoiselle know where yon put it z
Certainly. Monsieur"
! "And since that night a.
| "Alas! Monsieur, I have hidden my
keys in vain.''
After some further conversation
took my leave, promising to return
about midnight. l did so. Mademoi
selle and the servants had retired, and
as previously arranged, Madame ans.
wered my light tap herself. She ush'
cred me into the private room, and soon
babe me goodnight.
After short absence, she returned
with steaming cup of coffee and a
plate of Dutch cake.
Il always take cup before retiring >
she explained, "and thought you might
find one acceptable. And with final
goodnight she left me. Feeling both
chilled and thirsty, emptied the cup
almost at draught. Then wheeling a
| chair behind the curtains draping bay
window, extinguished the light and
! sat down to await the appearance of the
unknown thief
But | saw nothing. Just at day
break Madame softly entered the room
and spoke to me. arose unsteady to
my feet, and stepped from behind the
curtains. She gazcd at me in surprise
| for moment. and then smiled a little
ironically:''
Monsieur slept well, perceive.
"Yes, Madame, if well means soundly, -
replied. THE coffee was drugged.' -
"Druggedf y she echoed, staggering
back pace or two.
Eyes, Madame. Permit me to ask
who made it.
She covered her face with her hands
for an instant, and then dropping them,
reeled over to the cabinet. In a min
ute she was beside me again.
"Who made it :" she repeated, in
deep hollow tones. 'Mademoiselle De
Gray! And and Monsieur, the money
is gone! y
But" l answered, in some vexation,
"Madenoiselle, of all others, should not
have known of my presence here
"Ah, Monsieur. was most careful, ;"
returned Madame sorrowfully. 'Tis
a mystery how she gained her knowl-
edge" ''W ell Madame" / answered,
after few minutes deliberation, 1--WE
will meet Madamoiselle on her own
ground. Permit her, if you please, to
prepare another cup Of coffee tonight.
She will, no doubt, count upon its eff
fects. And that night received an
other steaminS cup. But it was re-
ceived only. Consequently | was
not found mapping. had watched pa
tiently for two hours or more, when
the door softly opened, and a pale,
slender, little old woman, wrapped in a
crimson dressing-gown, and about
whose bare head hoated a few scanty
gray locks, stole noiselessly into the
aoom. She carried bunch Of keys
and lighted taper in a small bronze
candlestick. Closing the door care
fully behind her she proceeded at once
to the cabinet.
Can this weird-looking woman be
Mademoiselle De Gray!' l thought,
gazing at the singular apparition mo,
it cannot be. Certainly Mademoiselle
is young. This might be some old rel
alive or friend of Madame. Quickly
and noiselessiy she approached the
cabinet, and in moment it was I'M
locked and the secret compartment
open. ,-
After carefully withdrawing the
notes deposited there by Madame few
hours previous, she snapped the spring
and relocked the desk. Then turning
quickly away she went over to the store
closet.
| now left ny hiding place and eau
tiously followed. When reached the
door she was in the act of removing
the false bottom from large japanned
box in one corner. Dropping it on the
foor beside her. she took from the box
a roll of notes, and, after adding the
ones Just stolen, returned the bundleto
its place again. Then hastily restoring
the box to its former order, she arose
and turned away.
stepped back a pace or two, with
the design Of Selling her outside the
closet.
In moment she appeared and con-
fronted me. and for the first time OBJ
tanned fair view of her features. But
instead of the horror and dismay which
l had been anticipating, l was the one
to fall back aghast. My outstretched
arms dropped powcrless as, with swift
tread and stronggaze. she swept past
me and out of the room.
And this is the solution - / NUT
tered, drawing deep breath Of relief
as the door closed upon her. 'sWhat
will Madame say. Win she readily
credit the reports I must give p