Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-07-18
plans would by tits tine have made good

plans would By tits tine 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 q hurried
note TO the head of the police department at
St Malo, and another TO the chief police Of.
acial at st Brieux, stating clearly and con.
c:sely 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
postrhaste 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 if,
holding an envelope in his outstretched
hand.
Said he:
my little girl has number of pet doves,
which she always shuts up in the dove-cots
at night. She missed one this morning, and
thought it had been killed; but few mo-
ments ago she heard a tapping at her cham
ber window. which looks over the roof Of
the porch 1t was the lost Baba fluttering
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 q hearty meal she
has Just completed, can testify. More
anou.''
If not SO worried about her friend, Lydia
would have laughed outright. The idea of
purloining 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 it Were, and await the next deyel-
opment in the case.
who could have stolen the pigeona'
asked she of Baudray. .sWho 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 yester-
day. Monsieur Oxford and his valet left
last night, and after they had gone, my
little one counted her birds and locked them
securely in 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.
(Ah, clever Fairfax Observing that an
ordinary paddock secured the door of the
doye-cote, on the morning after the ball at
the Marchioness', when he arose so early,
he experimented.with his bunch of keys up
on the lock, and found one that would un-
lock it. Driving through the village with
Dick two nights afterward, he paused be-
fore the inn, and requested Dick to hold the
reins q 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
Fairfaxs voice, approached the latter, wag-
ging his tail propitiously. From a capacious
coat pocket Fairfax produced 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 a meal for
him. Fairfax flung him some tid-bit from
his pocket; the dog took it, and lay down
contentedly 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 hastily-prepared 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 news-from all
sides were beginning to flock towards the
chateau. The two ladies' found themselves
holding an impromptu soiree.
By virtue of his age ard NataIie's friend
ship for him, the old Marquis was spokes-
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
it 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.