The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-08-27
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tired.
aAnd the key of the door here-did
Mademoiselle know whore you put it,"
Certainly, Monsieur"
"And since that night"
"Alas, Monsieur, have hidden my
keys in vain"
After some further conversation took
my leave, promising to return about mid
night. did SO. Mademoiselle and the
servants had retired. and, as previously
arranged, Madame answered my light tap
herself. She ushered 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.
81 always take cup before retiring"
she explained, land thought you might
find one acceptable" And with q final
good night 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 l extinguished the light and sat
down to await the appearance of the un-
known thief.
But saw nothing. Just at daybreak
Madame softly entered the room and
spoke to me. l rose unsteadily to my
feet and stepped from behind the cur
tains. She gazed at me in surprise for a
moment and then smiled little irOni-
cally:
Monsieur slept well, perceive"
"Yes, Madame, if well means soundly,"
replied. 1.-THE coffee was drugged."
! "Drugged" 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 minute
she was beside me again.
"Who made it," she repeated in deep,
hollow tones. Mademoiselle de Gray!
And-and, Monsieur, the money is gone"
But" answered, in some vexation,
"Mademoiselle, of all others, should not
have known of my presence here"
"Ah, Monsieur, was most careful"
returned Madame, sorrowfully. ITS
mystery how she gained her knowl-
edge"
"Well, Madame" answered, after a
few minutes deliberation, we will meet
Mademoiselle on her own ground. Per-
NIT her, if you please, to prepare another
cup Of coffee tonight. She will no
doubt count upon its effects"
And that night l received an
other steaming cup. But it was
received only. Consequently 1 was
not found mapping. had watched
| patiently for two hours or more when the
door softly opened and a pale, slender,
little, old woman, wrapped in crimson
dressing gown, and about whose bare
head floated few scanty gray locks,
stole nOiselessly into the ROOM She
carried bunch of keys and lighted
taper in small bronze candlestick.
Closing the door carefully behind her
she proceeded at once to the cabinet.
"Can this weird looking woman be
Mademoiselle De Gray?' thought, gaz-
ing at the singular apparition; mo, it
cannot be. Certainly Mademoiselle is
young. This might be some old relative
or friend Of Madame" Quickly and
noiselessly she approached the cabinet,
and in moment it was unlocked and
the secret compartment open.
After carefully Withdrawing the notes
deposited there by Madame few hours
previous, she snapped the spring and re-
closed the desk Then turning quickly
away she went over to the store closet.
now left my hiding-place and eau
tiouslv followed. When l reached the
door she was in the act of removing the
false bottom from a large japanned box
in one corner. Dropping it on the floor
beside her she took from the box roll
of notes, and, after adding the one just
stolen, returned the bundle to it's place
again. Then, hastily restoring the box to
its former order, she rose and turned
away.
stepped back 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 oh.
tanned fair view of her features. But
instead of the horror and dismay which l
had been anticipating was the one to
fall back aghast. My outstretched arms
dropped powerless as, with swift tread
and strong gaze, she swept past me and
out of the room.
And this is the solutionp' muttered,
drawing a deep breath Of relief as the
door closed upon her "What will
Madame says Will she readily credit
the reports must give?"
Without deciding on the question /
dropped on the sofa and made myself
comfortable for the remainder of the
night. AS on the previous day, Madame
sought me early. She looked at me
scrutinizingly
"Ah! Monsieur has had another good
night, without the aid of drugs" she re-
marked, somewhat tartly.
eyes, Madame, very good one,"
replied; "but first earned the right
"Ah" calculated Madame again; but
this time very TREMENDOUSLY. "Then you
have-you-"
"Yes, Madame" answered, finding
she could not finish the sentence. "And
now will you kindly allow me to see
Mademoiselle De Gray?"
"No, Monsieur! not" she replied, with
hasty emphasis. my poor Antoinette
has sinned, no doubt; but she shall be
protected. You shall not see my poor
child, Monsieur" she concluded, pas
sionately. Heaven and l will make
good woman of her yet!'
My dear Madame, you quite mistake
me- | answered, feelingly. "Mademoi-
selle is innocent" l was hardly pre-
pared for the little Frenchwoman's out
burst of joy.
MY Antoinettc! My pure darling!
My white dove! My wronged angel!
Sweet heaven, thank thee" she cried,
tearfully.
And before could say any m ore she
had darted from the room. In few
minutes she returned leading tall, ele-
giant, golden-haired girl, whose proud
eyes glittered with tears. This fair
vision of youthful beauty left Madame's
side and came to me. II thank you,
Monsieur" she said, with simple, earnest
dignity. 81 thank you most truly"
60 have done little or nothing to en-