The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1874-07-09
" Madame. / will watch here nightly

1t IS quite useless, monsieur ! ""i
no coward, and have already tried that
plan, and, strange to say, my cabinet
remained intact both times"
"Perhaps Mamemoiselle de Cry sus
pected your Intentions" replied.
"This time we must guard against the
possibility. Aud now, if you please, l
will take a few more details. About
what time do these robberies take
place."
"AlwGys between midnight and day
break. / seldom retire til twelve /
o'clock, and on the night of the first
theft it was considerably later. re-
member distinctly; for by singular
coincidence Mademoiselle De Gray and
| sat here discussing the possibility OF
the very event which occurred. The
recent Madworth robbery bad impressed
MS both deeply, and as we left the room
I bade mademoiselle lock the door,
"Did you lock the other?" | asked,
indicating one had noticed awhile be-
fore.
"That is only store closet.
at might secrete burglar, how
ever"
"Yes, monsieur but it did not.
was in there n very few minutes before
we retired" -,
"And the key of the door herc--dld
mademoiselle know where you put 1t :?
Certainly, monsieur.
"And since that night @
"Alas monsieur, | have hidden my
keys in vain"
After some further conversation l
took my leave, promising to return
about midnight.
I did so. Mademoiselle and the ser
wants had retired, and, as previously
arranged, madame answered my light
tap herself She ushered me into the
private room, and soon bade me good
night.
After short absence she returned
with a steaming cup OF coffee and a
plate Of Dutch cake.
; 81 always take Il crp before retIr'
ing, she explained, "and thought you
might find one acceptable" .,
And with final good night she lett
me. Feeling both chilled and thirsty,
| emptied the cup almost at a draught'
h Then wheeling chair behind the cur
taips draping bay window, | extln
guished the light and sat down to awal
n the appearance of the unknown thle'
!, But | saw nothing. Just at daybreat
madame softly entered the room an'
n spoke to me. | rose unsteadiIy to my
l. feet and stepped from behind the cur
Il tans. She gazed at me IN surprise 10
:. moment, and then smiled little IRON
e ically -
r " Monsieur slept well, perceive
. eyes. madame, If well means sound
is w." replied. "The coffee was drug
n ged. ,..;,
:" "Drugged!" she echoed, staggern
d. back pace or two.
eyes, madame. Permit me to as
4, who made it?'
G. She covered her face with her han'
:" for an instant, and then drorplng the
he reeled over to the cabinet. In a mlnu
she was beside me again.
-. "Who made it?" she repeated
III deep hollow tones. MademoIsei
he De GRAY And-ana, monsieur, u
money is gone"
7 Bat, answered, in some vexatlo
madamGisclle. of all others, shou
.o not have known OF my presence here
"Ah, monsieur, was most carelml u,
nd returned madame, sorrowiully'
a mystery how she gained her know
,cn edge" r,.
~" 6Well, madame, / answered, after
m few minutes deliberation, "Wc W
~ 80 meet mademoisele on her own groun
-" 'n' Permit her, if you please, to prep'
oa ,en another emp of coffee to night. she W
tL vs. no doubt count upon its effects.
u" And that night I received anoti
steaminr cup. Bat it was received on
." c jnsequently WIS not Lonad nappil
=; I had watched patiently for two ho'
~ or more, when the door softly open
and pa'e, slender little old won
NV wrapped in n crimson dressing GOV
"n and about whose bare head iloate'
NV few scanty gray locks, stole noiseles
ona into the room.
''' She carried bunch OF keys an
,.r lighted taper in a small bronze cane
~ ~, l stick. Closing the door carefully
to;n t, hind her, she proceeded at once TO
r.II cabinet.
"Can this wcird-loOklt & Old WOr
.,,d he Mademoiselle De Gray - thoul
ynr w gazing after the singular apparlt,l
I,n, "No. it cannot be. Certainly mad
oiselle il young. This must be be, ~
, no, old relative or friend OF madame.
i,n ano Onicklv as noselessly she approac
In' I tbe cabinet and in Il moment it was
'ray locked, and the secret compaf'h
nv open. n,o,
- ,'$ ;n' deposited there by madame lew III
nao1 u 80, previous, she snapped the spring
na'I ,'r reclosed the desk. Then turning ql
pM iv oway. she went over to the st
closet.
for I now left my hiding place and
with tiously followed. When reacheu
, her door she was in the act OF removing
20 to false bottom from large lapanned
q 7 in one corner. Dropping 1t on the
N in he ide her. she took from the box
'noas. ~ of notes. and after adding hc one
''" stolen. returned til bundle to ITS
6 ebc amin. Then hastily restoring the
t0 its former order, she rose ana t'
is so away. ,r;t,
ful y L Steppeu "e0N f,,to;Ia tbe ~
know design oi SeiH'l9 hei o,'noarad o.',,, and
fronie me. aud for the first time
ore ] tanned a lair vie" VI '',, ',,,l ,i;smav
:, ard instead OF the noitot .i',t;n, "n,' w1s tn
sc my had peeI ahllo' at 'i'''''Do'
My outstretc4ed arm, dropped = p
eyes less as, Ti'h swllt ire'iI' I ort "u Of the
I'd, al she swept piS2 IL. .,a ''-, soln.;on :" I
hat /, And th!S lS ''tt Il, h-eath If
neither tered, drawing d 1,,p ,pon ber q
,e fac, will madame say? Wil sue a', II
.;nss 10 So q, "redit the report | must give
"a !. without decidirg the question