The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-04-13
not be long,"
"No, your ladyship, will not; trust
me for that" said the girl.

"No, your ladyship, | will not; trus
me for that" said the girl.
"Edithal Editha!" cried Madam,
Lucca an instant aftcrward. az hav,
made mistake. The key is in the Bar
on's study. Pshaw! she does not heal
me, she continued, speaking aloud. ''
must go and fetch it myself"
With these words she left the room
No sooner had she done so than the dool
of the cupboard cautiously opened. A
man put his head out and glanced
around. Perceiving no one he dartct
into the adjoining chamber. The mex
instant the door was shut and lockeC
behind him But not by him! BY Mad
anne Lucca! When she left the room
she did not proceed two PAGES; she
stood outside, listening. AS she was il
darkness, she could, without being visi
bic herself see all that was passing in
her bed chamber. She bcheld the stran
ger leave his hiding place and dart into
the adjoining room. She glided after
him with the sleadiness of a tieress and
knows what followed.
" dHrdpfH!' (caughD she cried
rushing across the room with the key
in her hand.
81 can't find any" began Ediths
entering the bed chamber. But Madame
Lucca, pushing her one side, disap.
peared. Editha looked after her in mute
astonishment, and remained as though
rooted to the spot till her mistress re.
entered with revolver in her hand.
ooh! your ladyship; wha-a-a-at's
that? inquired the maid, with strong
presentiment that all was not right.
"The Baron's revolver, thank good.
ness " replied Madame Lucca.
"Why thank goodness, your lady.
ship?' inquired the maid.
Madame Lucca pointed to the door
Some one on the other side was turning
the handle. Editha turned deadly pale
and dropped the lamp she was carrying
Presently there was knocking and {
voice exclaimed: "Open this door di
rectly, Or"
The rest was inaudible. Editba's
screams drowned aught else. Madame
IMcca waited until the girls first stock
OF breath was exhausted, and her second
not yet arrived; then she said will
comic severity, "Editha! if you are mo-
quiet l will begin by shooting you!"
Editha thought, apparently, that hel
mistress was in earnest, for the pool
girl Immediately rammed a large Dor
ton of the nearest towel into her mouth
and restricted herself to swaying to ant
fro and sobbing violently. The knock
ing grew more and more violent, bu
the door was massive oak and immoya
able.
"My friend" cried Madame Lucca il
a loud voice, "you are Gagged. The gar
den door is as tightly fastened as lhi
one, and the window is secured. Do
not attempt TO open the latter, for | an
going into the garden, and the instan
that see you try to escape you are
dead man."
Flinging open the door which led tc
the verandah she went out, followed b,
Editha, who in her despair, had sue
ceeded in pushing more of the towel il
her mouth. The noise of the bolt being
drawn was heard.
"Stand aside, my fiiend!" said Mad
anne Lucca, "or you are dead man 7
A sharp report followed, accompanied
by the sound of crashino wood ant
splintered glass
'"There! that is one barrel out Of six
That is merely to show you that | an
armed. You had better remain quiet
The visitor was also of the same opin
ion for he did not renew the attempt
When the servants returned next morn
ing they found Madame Lucca quietl,
reading under the verandah before The
window. They were rather surprised
however, at perceiving she had six
barrelled revolver in her hand, ant
Editha what appeared to he the end o
a towel sticking ont of her mouth
few words explained the whole affair
and in about an hour aiterward tn,
would-be thief, who, as ii proved, woulC
have been ready to turn assassin as well
was safely at the nearest PoIizeiourean
'Talk ofgeneralship," said my friend
as he concluded his story, "was not tn,
stratagem of the jewels, by which Mad
anne Lncca lured the thief into the room
destined TO be his dungeon, a magnill
cent idea! Moltke himself never di,
anything to beat it,"