Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-06-07

sadly, and then said:
"Ah, madame, your coming may do
great things for him; you will be able
to ease the poor mind that runs on moth
ing but money, money, day and night,
without ceaslng."
She barred the door by which we had
entered, and then preceded me up
broken staircase. The house sounded
hollow, and our footsteps echoed dreari-
ly as we went Presently we stopped
before the door of room which imag-
inc to have been at the back OF the
house, and the woman, entering 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
ele-ncsal fire wGs 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 mysteriously to visit.
Suddenly from behind me cloth was
tied tightly over the whole Of my face,
strange burning sense Of suffocation
overspread my senses, and remember
nothing more; all was silence, darkness
hideous blank, until awoke in my
bedroom at the Hotel de L., with my
head aching strangely and benumbed
sensation pervading my whole frame.
My maid, an English doctor with whom
was slightly acquainted, and another
doctor who was 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 res
cued from that horrible house and
brought back to the hotel in safety.
The story was soon told. The night
porter, coming on duty at l o'clock, had
found me lying on the steps leading to
the hotel, which opened into an unfre-
quented passage or street Finding [
was unconscious, he had summoned the
day porter, who was waiting for him, to
render assistance, and this man know
ing me by sight, identified me as lady
staying in the hotel. He at once rous-
ed the honse. My maid (who was wait
ing up for me, wondering and alarmed
at my prolonged absence) speedily pro-
cured the services of two medical men
from the adjoining neighborhood, and
they had since been using every method
to restore 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 | 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 unhappy
brother. The money had, of course, all
been taken; also the rings, brooch, and
locket l had worn. My 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 accomplice 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 l could plainly see that, not
, withstanding all his civilitv, his sus
picions pointed at once to my brother
as chief agent in the case. l could
swear to the signature being genuine
the handkerchief, too, | recognized
Alas, it really seemed only too certain
that my brother had at all events beer
the companion of these people, ant
must have discussed our affairs freely
with them, even if he were not crimi
nally concerned in the dark transac
tion.
. The Partisan police made every effor
to trace the offenders, but in vain
r house after house was searched in tn
quarter to which | believed myself t
, have been taken, but no trace of th
woman or child could be found. AM
so for time the matter dropped.
PART II-TRACKED.
!, Two years passed, and the night c
b my strange adventure in Paris had be
| come almost like dream to me. W
d left France after my husbands retur
/ ! frsm abroad, and, on his quitting th