Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-01-05

ONWARD SHE DASHED.
see by the light of their lanterns. Lydia
perceived that it he'd been the hiding-place
of the abductors.
Onward she dashed toward the sea-coast,
the men following her. -
Each person with whom they met was
closely questioned, but not one had seen or
heard any thing unusual. No vessel had
left the harbor since noon. Those that were
lying there We're only fishing smaclzs, all
belonging to the village. No strange vessel
was seen along the coast recently-certain-
ly during that day.
Ly>.a 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 skillfu1ly concealed their
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 hurried
note to the head of the police department at
st. Malo, and another to the chief police of
fetal at st. Brieux, stating clearly and con-
cisely 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 Of
Y, she found the place ablaze with excite
ment. Around the inn was gathered large
crowd Baudray, the landlord, saw Lydia's
carriage driving by, and ran out toward it,
holding an envelope in his outstretched,
hand.
Said he:
my little girl has a number of pet doves,
which she always shuts up in the dove-cote
at night. She missed one this morning, and
thought it had been killed; but few mo-
ments ago she heard tapping at her cham
Der window, which looks over the roof of
the porch. 1t was the lost Bahia futtering
at the window-pane, and apparently ex-
hausted. This little note was fastened to
the bird 1t 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"
II 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 cliatty, 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 tho
situation. She felt inclined to lie on her
oars, as it were, and await the next devel-
opment in the case.
''Who could have stolen the pigeons"
asked sho OF Baudray. 'Who has gone
away from the innl
'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 HavTe to America vester-
day. Monsieur Oxford and his valet left
last night, and otter they had gone, my
little one counted her birds and locked them
securely in the dove-cote. They were 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.
(Ah, clever Fairfax Observing that an
ordinary paddock secured the door of the
dove-cote, on the morning after the ball at
the Marchioness', when he arose so early,
he experimental with his bunch of keys up
on the lock, and found one that would un-
lock 1t. Driving through the village with
Dick two nights afterward, he paused be-
fore the inn, and requested Dick to hold the
reins moment. Richard now having
learned to acquiesce, did as he was told,
and sized no questions. jean, the watch
dog, was inclined to bark, but recognizing
Fairfax's voice, approached the latter, wag-
ging his tail propitiousIy. From capacious
coat pocket Fairfax produced a little basket,
and, unlocking the door of the dove-cote,
quickly seized the first inmate upon which
he could lay hands, and thrust it into the
basket Jean looked on with interest, i'm
agining it might prove q meal for
him. Fairfax flung him some tid-bit from
his pocket; the dog took it, and lay down
contentedly to cat 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 a hastily prepared tse, she and
Madame \. discussed the situation, and
both came to the conclunon that there was
really nothing to be done.
Meanwhile, the surrounding gentry-who