Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1885-05-14

ed, "you really are mistaken. The
lady undoubtedly is the actual indi-
vidual she claims to be"
"But repeat she is an impostor,"
the lady said vehenpently, and rising
from her seat as she did so, lifted the
veil that concealed her features. "She
can be nothing else, for | am the wo-
man she pretends to be. / am Made
moiselle Maurin.
For few moments the superinten-
dent was too much surprised to speak.
AT last, however, assuming his most
official manner, he requested her to
give him proofs Of what she said.
The first part Of her story differed
but little from that told by the first
claimant, She had awoke to find her.
selfthe captive ofthree men wearing
black masks, and who, from the slang
and patois of their speech, she knew
at once to belong to the lowest class
Of Paris. AZ a
All her offers flarge rewards, how
ever, had been rejected with disdain,
and herself taken to an old, half.ru-
nous house on the edge Of the river,
where she had been kept close pris-
oner until the preceding day, when
she had managed TO make her escape.
Here certainly was complication
Of affairs. How to decide which was
the real actress, and which was the
impostor, was dilemma. The words
Of the lady before him gave him an
idea.
Bring me face to face with this
woman" she said. "Place her with
me upon the boards, and let the pub.
lie be tie judge whether she or / am
the Maurin they used to know"
Pardon me a moment, mademoi-
selle," he said, as touching the bell an
attendant entered, and after having
given him some instructions, in low
voice, be,s9ain turned 10 the lady.
II am at your service now, made
moiselle," he said, ito try the test you
suggested
Without any further delay they en-
tered a carriage and were driven to
the actress house.
As they entered the hall, man,
very fashily dressed, came down the
stairs, and the lady caught the super
intendent by the arm.
"That lie one Of the men, she whis-
pered, hurriedly. "His mask slipped
off as be lifted me in his arms, and /
am sura BIO is the same"
H3rdly had the words been spoken
than the superintendent had stepped
into fhe doorway, barring the mans
egreds
"Pierre Roughe," he said, II want
you. You are my prisoner"
The mans only answer was re-
volver that flashed like lightning from
his breast, and buried bullet in the
door casing, an inch from the officers
head.
Before he could again discharge the
weapon, however, the superinten-
dents fingers had closed on bis throat
like a wise, and the next moment
pair Of handouts were locked secure
ly on his wrists.
"Your game is up, my good Peter"
the officer said in his calmest tones.
ut was very clever conspiracy in
deed, and you deserve credit for its
ingenuity. 1t is matter for twenty
years at the galleys, however, unless
you save yourself by turning State
evidence"
The rufiian was coward and
traitor, as such ruffians always are.
Once prisoner himself, he was only
too anxious TO have his accomplices
share his own fate, and he there and
then made a full confession. Al
though their object in the first in
stance had been merely to procure a
subject for the physicians, no sooner
had they remarked the singular re-
semblance between the actress and
girl Of their own class, who was wal
tress in a low wineshop which was
their usual resort, than the scheme Of
inducing her to impersonate the ac-
tress, and thus secure her property,
entered their minds. 1t had only
failed because they had not put her
to death, instead Of keeping her
prisoner. In consideration Of this
fact, and at the earnest solicitation Of
Mademoiselle Manrin, their sentences
were made lighter than they would
otherwise have been. AS for the ac-
tress herself, she resumed her place
on the boards, where she continued
to reign the fsvorite Of the public for
years after the 80 nearly successful
and remarkable imposture was forgot
ten.