The Press., 1883-06-14

Towards plebeian acquaintances, was ev- idently ignorant of the 11Odus OperGnda of Mays abduction.
 Until one morning she stumbled upon clue in the shape of torn envelope, which Marie had written and discarded ,and which was addressed to one Jacques LavallIe, Jersey City. Pursuing her investigation still farther, she found scrap of partly burned letter, which contained the words ssa check for''-s' drought her here, and part of the signature, s'vaille."
 Placing these in Bert Staples hands, that gentleman started at once for Jersey City, on a quest for Jacques Lavaille, whom he had no difficulty in finding. He was villainous looking Frenchman, addicted to drink, and it was not long before the de- tective made his acquaintance, and was sshail fellow" with him, treating him to the best liquor the place afforded, which dential and gathering from his maudlin conversation that he was not very flush just then, but was expecting large amount of money from up river.
 ''You think Marie Is sure to se''d it, do you ?'' asked the detective, at venture.
 "Oui. Marie she say if keep girl she gif me half"
 'sHalf? that's too much. She says you didn't earn 1t.
 '.Ha! What you say? Me no earn 1! By gar, you know not Me git girl. Ar dell, she go in carriage, have bottel-gif girl what you call -sleep-come home girl all time weep, weep. You see Marie p he asked, a little suspiciously.
 ''Yes," said the detective; ''she told me to soe you and find out how the girl liked her new quarters, and what you had to say about it."
 ''Girl no like; weep. say, Marie, send one thousand dollaire, or me send girl home. " ."All right; I'll tell her," said the detective, as he went out, leaving Jacques happy over his fifth glass.
 little inquiry informed Staples that the Lavaille residence was in an obscure quarter of the city, and enlisting the services of po- iceman he went immediately to the house, meeting stout, dark-browed woman at the door, whom he addressed
 ''Are you Mrs. Jacques Lavaille?"
 "Yesh," !" answered the woman, with stare.
 'I have come for the young girl who is here. Will you show me her room ?" asked the detective, stepping inside the door, the policeman at his heels. .-
 She looked at him defantly for a moment, then with motion of her hand, indicating the filthy apartment, she exclaimed
 ''No girl here. You see?''
 ''I see she is not here But perhaps this is the room," crossing the floor and opening a door into a still filthier place, which was evi- dently used for sleeping accommodations.
 ''Whew!" said the detective, as with a searching glance which convinced him of the absence of living humanity, whatever else it might contain, he closed the door quickly, and turning to the woman said, in stern voice:
 "I know that you have young lady in your charge. Lead the way to where you have her confined, or it will be the worse for you. I have seen Jacques, and he said the girl was here"
 Her countenance changed as she answered :
 ''You seen Jacques? Fool; why you no told me before Come" And, leading the way, she soon reached small underground apartment, which was always in semi-dark- ness, and in which May was confined.
 The poor girl was almost wreck of the May of five weeks before, loneliness and con- tinual weeping having worn her almost to a shadow. And thrill of indignation against her prosecutors passed through the habitually storical heart of the detective as he gazed up- on the pale, worn face and realized the suf- fering that must have accompanied the change May rose languidly as her jailor en- tered the room followed by the two men, and holding by chair looked questioningly at them, a frightened expression growing in her eye, which looked larger by contrast with her pale, thin face. Stepping in advance of his companions, the detective said:
 ''You are Miss Mabel Charming, are you not ?'
 'I am," answered May, simply for she was undecided whether they were friends or foes.
 ''I have come to take you to your friends. Can you go ?''
 "Oh, yes," exclaimed May, springing a step forward; "I can go now; wish to go now-this moment"
 ''Very well," said the detective. Put on your things at once. We have no time to spare" For Staples, now that his object was accomplished, wished to get away from the vicinity before Jacques return. As he had nc orders to arrest the abductors, he did not wish any altercation with them if it could be avoided. -..
 In five minutes more they were on the street, MT. Staples taking May to hotel, where she was made comfortable, and utiliz. ing the time in sending telegram to Howard ''The lost found. RiH come oss the 6:3O.''
 .. . (To be Continued.)