The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1882-07-01

and the porter of the establishment.
The light of the greenroom was still
burning. The large mirror that hung
from the wall reflected from the
| opposite sofa the tinsel and mock
jewelry of queen. noticed this as
dashed open the narrow door that
led to the dressing room assigned the
actress. 1t was empty. I called her
by name. We searched everywhere
In the building, but all in vain. The
actress had disappeared. The screams
that had SO startled us were not re-
| peated. There was no avenue of es-
cape still she was gone.
Mr.. VISITED her apartments at
the hotel. She was not there. The
| gas was relit in the theater and our
search was resumed. She was not to
be found. Her friends were visited;
the most transient acquaintance
| called on, with like result.
Each hour, instead OF revealing the
mystery, only deepened it. In the
light of the morning, we continued the
search. A single object was discovered
which could possibly afford clew to
the mis- ing girl. On the floor of the
dressing room was diamond earring.
1t looked as if it had been torn from
its place. 1t was not such a one as
was worn by the actress. 1t estab.
lished beyond question the presence of
another person in her room, and that
person female. This was all. The
mysterious interview and its termina-
ton were shrcuded in veil of dark
ness our ingenuity could not pene-
| trate.
What was to be done? We knew she
was native of France, brought here
In childhood. Her relatives had died,
her friends knew nothing save that
she was an orphan. Genius had aided
her rise, industry had secured her
fame. The architect of her fortunes,
/ she had climbed alone the steep whose
ascent is devious and hard to sur
mount.
One day / stood leaning negligently
on the counter of fashionable jeweler.
/ loved to gaze upon the brilliant gems
that strewed the case. My attention
was absorbed in viewing them, and I
did not notice the entrance of lady
her foreign accent in addressing the
jeweler caused me to turn around.
She held an earring in her hand, and
was inquiring the cost of one, If made
to match it. The first glance L had of
1T made blood leap like fire in my veins
1t was the counterpart of the one
found in the theater.
You may imagine do not lose sight
of that woman. knew that I had
struck on the right cIew.
1 traced her home. The panther
never stole ON his victim more silently
than on the footsteps of the dark
brown stranger.
I scarcely knew how to get back TO
the office. seemed to have triumpbed
| ONCL opdCO shu NIO1O IlhO u
maniac than detective, I rushed up
to Mr.I-and impaired my intelli-
gence. He was not less excited than I.
We both felt an interest in the beauti
full girl as strong as If she had been
sister. But we knew that our steps
must be wary and our movements
secret as the grave. We had no COM
mon criminal to deal with. If not
the arch fiend himself, we knew she
/ was almost as cunning. The myster-
ious abduction of the actress disclosed
q quickness and sagacity at once in
genious and profound. Tue same spirit
we did not doubt we should have to
encounter again. 1t was not, there
fore, with feeling of success that we
prepared to enter the residence to
which had traced the foreign lady.
1t was not as officers of the law
usually go that we went on the occa-
sion. We employed rather the subtle
cunning and perfect skill of a man
brought up TO the business. For once
his nefarious art helped him to do a
noble. deed. A life of crime was
whitened by single virtue. Before
| the skill of this man the door sprung
back on its hinges and we stood
within the portals where the issues Of
this strange mystery were to be de.
cided. Silently we assembled the steps.
A gas fame flung mellow light along
the stately corridor. At the further
end of the hall door opened into
large apartment. We moved toward
this and as we approached it sounds of
weeping struck on our ears, and then
we beard voice of supplication. Sor-
rowful and sad the strange sweet voice
foated out on the air. 1t was like the
wall of broken heart, that cry of one
in distress. n,s.s
'.Oh, God is there no help p,
1t thrilled to my heart. Even in
| that pitiful cadence knew those we'll