The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-07-10

back OF the house, and the woman, GU
tering first, beckoned me to follow her.
In one corner of large, almost emp
ty apartment was bed, shrouded by
thick, dark curtains; in the CRATE low
charcoal fire was burning. [ made at
once for the corner where the bed was,
and was about to undraw the curtains
which concealed from my view the
poor boy had come so mysteriousiy TO
visit. Suddenly from behind me cloth
was tied tightly over the whole OF my
face, strange burning sense OF suttoca-
ton overspread my senses, and re-
member nothing more; all was silence,
darkness, a hideous blank, until awoke
in my bedroom at the Hotel de L., with
my head aching strangely and be-
numbed sensation pervading my whole
frame. My maid, an English doctor
with whom 1 was slightly acquainted,
and another doctor who was a stranger
to me, were anxiously watching for my
return to consciousness. 1t was quite
light, and the sun was shining into the
room. AS one by one the events OF the
preceding night rose before my mind,
was utterly at loss to imagine how |
had been rescued from that horrible
house and brought back to the hotel in
safety.
The story was soon told. The night
porter, coming on duty at one O'Clock,
had found me lying on the steps leading
to the side-door of the hotel, which
opened into an unfrequented passage or
street. Finding L was unconscious, he
had summoned the day porter, who was
waiting for him, to render assistance,
and this man, knowing me by sight,
identified me as q lady staying in the
hotel. He at once reused the house.
My maid (who was waiting up for me,
wondering and alarmed at my pro-
longed absence) speedily procured the
services of two medical men from the
adjoining neighborhood, and they had
since been using every method to re-
store me to consciousness, when | might
perchance unfold the mystery of my
strange return.
There was no trace of any violence
having been used, nor any proof by
which they could discover where l had
been. The only thing they found upon
me, which was not my own, was hand
kerchief tightly clasped in my hand, on
which were embroidered my brother
Richards initials, and which [ at once
recognized as having been worked by
me some years previously for my I'M
happy brother. The money had, of
course, all been taken; also the rings,
brooch, and locket l had worn. NV
wedding ring was left, and the bag in
which l had put the money was still
hanging from my arm.
AS soon as was able told the doc
tors all [ could remember of the past
nights experiences, and, at the conclu-
sion of the recital, they both advised me
to put the matter into the hands of the
police. entreated that this might be
done as privately as possible; my broth
er's name being so much mixed up in
the affair that outsiders would most
probably be led to believe that he was
an accomplish in the robbery, though in
my own mind | felt certain he was more
sinned against than SHINING.
The Sergeant of Police who waited on
me showed great interest in my adven-
ture; but | could plainly see that, not
withstanding all his civility, his sus-
picions pointed at once to my brother
as chief agent in the case. I could
swear to the signature being genuine;
the handkerchief, too, l recognized.
Alas, it really seemed only too certain
that my brother had at all events been
the companion of these people, and
must have discussed our affairs freely
with them, even if he were not crimi-
nally concerned in the dark transaction.
The Partisan police made every effort
to trace the offenders, but in vain; house
after house was searched in the quarter
to which believed myself to have been
taken, but no trace of the woman or
child could be found. And so for time
the matter dropped.