Louisiana capitolian., 1880-01-03

! Wub IVUuN VI VWoIIty .VWV UuIWJb
last night, and you are .j,,stas positive
tlIat no ono entered my room during
the night. You nre bound to believe
me, and must not doubt you. Very
well. Now tonight ! shall try this
nocturnal scamp once more. | shall
place the money in u spot where no
one would, with the widest stretch OF
imagination, suppose any person would
possibly hide any valuables. Even
you shall not know where III place II.
Then II find Il missing IN the NOM
ing, shall certainly believe IN witch
craft"
The detective heartily commended
her proposed plan, and they sclmm-
ted for the day, he promising 10 return
NJ nine tI,nt evening, which he did,
secretly us on tho previous occasion.
Somewhere during midnight he
again heard her door open, and saw
her Issue from tho room with u light
cd lamp in her hand. He thought II
strange that this should occur twice
In two consecutive nights, md great
ly wondered ut her nocturnal prVpen-
stiles; but from motives of delicncy
as before, 10 iorbore mentioning IL IN
the morning when she electrified him
will, tho fact that the money l'nd been
taken FROM l,er m.ck laiv, during her
sleep, and iu tho morning when she
awoke, she found her Digl,t.cap on her
head Just as she had adjusted and
tied It the night before; her |'nir was
done up also In tho style she usually
observed in that process, yet iD the
face Of al this, the money was gone.
"Now, even II u thief could l'nvc lAd
access to tho roon,," added sl,o IN con-
clusion, chow in heavens name could
he know where placed the money,
for ] mentioned II to no one, Nnd did
up my hair In the dark! !"
Varnoe could not doubt that she
spoke the truth and l,c was solely
perplcxcd. He assured her 'bat he
never came across anything t',nt puz-
zlcd him SO completely in all his pro
fessionaI career.
They discussed tho matter tbor-
oushly---,lissected it inch by inch, but
could arrive at no conclusion.
"No one entered your room during
your temporary absence during the
night 7" sni,l he, "bcsi,les you locked
tho door after you p added he.
"Mr. Varnoe," asked she, IN sur
prise, "do you alludo 10 last night, or
night before I"
"Botl'," replied he. "You must he
aware that you le'tyou, room the ;irst
night | was here"
"Ycs," she admitted, "w|'cn ! spoke
to you about what james bud been
telling me-"
"Bnt, madam" persisted he, "you
left your room ~ second lime aud pass
ed down stairs with u lighted lamp,
remaining absent about Ten minutes;
do you not recollcct"
"Ymn are certainly Mistaken re-
joined she, ~ never lei my room
again when ! returned 10 il after
speaking to you."
"But um positive, madam, " reit-
cra,cd he. "lf It was not you IL must
have been your ghost"
"Sir," cried she, "you have been
hoodwinked Ivy " clever diet. THAT
persoa was not myself, Of that / nm
positive, hence IL must have been tho
mysterious tI'c; gotten up to person :
nc nc IN order tO avert suspicion ON
the pa,t Of any secret watcher. AID
t;'is wasrcpcatcdlast night, you say 2"
"It was" responded he, regarding
her curiously.
"I|cn the way is clear before Us.
We shall not puzzle our brains about
the mode of lns entrance to my room
let tl,ar pass-but tonight when
you sec me-lct that l,a! ia (! when l
repeat this midnight promenade, ;"l-
low the promcnadcr and ascertain
what his object is in thus leaving and
returning tO an apartment where he
, or she has no right h trcsspass."
~ shall certainly do so,'' was his
positive Wjoinder.
"Can it be one or bOtl, Of my SER
wants, after all ~ murmured she, rs il
to herself. 81 cannot persuade my
self TO that belief: however, we shall
sec who it is tonight"
That night the same ding occurred.
Mrs. So,did, or her ,lorble, again
emerged from her room, and Varnoe
had u full view other face by il,c light
of the lamp she carried, it was Che
lady herself and none other; CHS was
Varnoc's mental assertion. He 81
lently followed her and she |el him
inio the cellar kitchen. He seated
himself on the top step in the shadow,
where he could see all IlermOvements,
himself unObserved.
There was an old fire place there
which had been ont of use for many
years. Mrs. Sorlid reached her arm
up the chimney, and when she with
drew it again she held an old segar
box in her had. This she placed on
an inverted empty flour barrel, and
then, lifting the lid of the box, she
dropped u parcel into it again. Then
she returned the box to its hiding
place, and prepared to leave the Gel
lar. He at once grasped the situation.
Mrs. SOr,lid was Il somnambulist, and
hid this money while in that state,
but never remembered the act when
awake.
He permitteller topass upstairs nm
molestcd, and, when her footsteps had
died away, he descended to the cellar
and drew forth the box lie placed it
under his arm and quietly returned to
his room. Here he first locked the
door-no need Of any further watch
ing nOw-tl,en drew the slide Of his
dark lantern and began to examine
the contents of the treasure box. He