The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-04-05

the men following her.
Each person with whom they met wa!
closely questioned, but not one had seen oil
heard any thing unusual No vessel hat
left the harbor since noon. Those that were
lying there were only fishing smacks, a
belonging to the village No strange vesse
was seen along the coast recently-certain
ly during that day.
Lydia realized that the search was hope
less.
The abductors might have gone TO St
Malo: or they might have taken the opposite
road leading along the western coast. Ger
tain it was that men who SO cleverly
planned and SO skillfully concealed thcil
plans would by this time have made good
their escape.
1t was now long after nine o'clock. and
Lydia's carriage had arrived. All she could
do was to go back, so she wrote a hurried
note to the head of the police department q,
st. Malo. and another to the chief police Of
fetal at st. Brieux, stating clearly and con
ciscly all she knew about the matter: giving
descriptions of the stranger, the hunter
and the Princess herself. and setting forth
her own views of the matter.
These notes were Immediately dispatched
post-haste TO both cities, while Lydia re
turned home
Passing once more through the village oil
T., she found the place ablaze with excite
ment. Around the inn was gathered q large
crowd. Baudray. the landlord, saw Lydia.
carriage driving by, and ran out toward it
holding an envelope III his Outstretched
hand
Said he:
My little girl has number Of pet doves
which she always shuts up in the doye-cott
at night. She missed one this morning. anC
thought it had been killed; but few mo
ments ago she heard a tapping at her cham
Der window. which looks over the roof OF
the porch 1t was the lost Baba fluttcrine
at the window-pane, and apparently ex
hausted This little note was fastened to
the bird. It is addressed to Chateau Dor
Lydia tore it open. 1t ran thus:
Agreeable to our promise, we send the
first message. Naturally, the Princess was
somewhat alarmed at the outset, but has
quite recovered from the shock, and, al
though failing to discover why she should be
held in durance vile, is reasonably happy
and perfectly well, as hearty meal she
has just completed, can testify. More
anon
If not so worried about her friend, Lydia
would have laughed outright. The idea OF
purloining a Princess and afterwards send
ing comforting notes in this chatty, conf
Dental manner was extremely absurd and
well-nigh incredible. However. here was
the note. and no doubt Natalie was safe.
Lydia breathed more freely. and actually
began TO almost enjoy the novelty Of the
situation. She felt inclined to lie on her
oars. as il were. and await the next deyel-
opmcnt IN the case.
WHO could have stolen the pigeon
asked she of Baudray. WHO has gone
away from the inn.
My only guests who have left are Mon
sieur Fairfax and Monsieur Oxford and his
valet. Monsieur Fairfax left two days ago,
and sailed from Havre TO America ycster-
day. Monsieur Oxford and his valet left
last night. and after they had gone. my
little one counted her birds and locked them
securely i'll the dove-cote. They We're all
right in number last night. and this morn
ing the door was still locked: but yet one
was gone
The mystery began to deepen.
tAh. clever Fairfax Observing that an
ordinary paddock secured the door Of the
doye-cote, on the morning after the ball at
the Warehouses. when he arose SO early,
he experimented,with his bunch of keys up
or the lock. aud found one that would I'M
lock it. Driving through the village with
Dick two nights afterward. he paused be
fore the inn. and requested Dick to hold the
rens moment. Richard. now having
learned to acquiesce, did as he was told,
and asked no questions Jean, the watch
dog, was inclined to bark. but recognizing
Fairfax's voice. approached the latter, wag-
ging his tail propitiously. From a capacioIs
coat pocket Fairfax produced little basket,
and. unlocking the door of the dovc-cote,
quickly seized the first inmate upon which
nc could lay hands. and thrust it into the
basket jean looked on with interest, i'm
ayining it might prove a meal for
him. Fairfax flung hi. some tid-bit from
his pocket: the dog took it. and lay down
con,entedly to eat it. Every one was asleep,
and the pair departed as they came-unob-
served.
LYDIA drove toward the chateau once
more. and for the first time became aware
OF the fact that she was extremely hungry,
having eaten no dinner.
Over y has,ily-prcpared tea. she and
Madame X. discussed the situation, and
both came to the conclusion that there was
really nothing to be done.
Meanwhile. the surrounding gentry-who
had but just heard the ncws-from all
sides were beginning to flock towards the
chateau. The two ladies found themselves
holding AN impromptu soi,se.
BY virtue Of his age and Nataiic's friend
ship for him. the old Marquis was spolzes-
man Of the party, and. although there were
as many opinions as people present, he,
after perusing the several notes, and learn
ing every thing from Lydia, succeeded in
convincing all assembled that nothing could
be done. and that Natalie would. undoubt-
edly. receive no harm.
The mystery surrounding the affair still
afforded ample topic for conversation, and
il was not until long after midnight that
the extemporaneous gathering was broken
up.
What remained now was TO place the
matter in the hands Of the detectives and
to notify the parents of Natalie.