The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-27

cupboard cautiously opened. man put I
his head ont and glanced round. Percetv-
ing no one, be darted into the adjoining I
ehnt .nd looked behind him. But not s.
him. By Madame Lucca. When she left /
the room she did not proceedtwo PAGES; ahe |
stood outside listening. AZ ahe was ia the
darkness she could, without being visible
herself. zee an that was passing N her BED.
his hiding-place and dart into the adjoin-
ING room. She glided after him with the
stealthiness Of tiger and the courage Of
heroine. The reader knows what followed.
.'Caught!' she cried, rushing across the
Il can't find any" began Editha en-
terinp the chamber. But Madame Lucca,
pushing her on one side, disappeared.
Editha looked after her with mute aston
ishmeut, and remained as though rooted to
the spot, till her mistress re-entered. re-
"Oh! your ladyship. what's that2" in
quired her maid. with q strong presentl-
ment that all was not right:
1.-THE baron's revolver, thank Roodnessv'
replied Madame Lucca.
"Why thank goodness your ladyShapF
inquired the maid.
Madame Lucca pointed to the door. Some
one on the other aide was turning the han
die. Edltha turned deadly pale, and
dropped the lamp she WAS carrying. Pres
emily there was knocking. and voice ex-
s.Open the door directly. Or
The rest WAS inaudible. Editha's
screams drowned all else. Madame Lucca
waited until the girls first stock OF breath
was exhausted, and her second not yet ar
"Editha, il you are not quiet will begin
by shooting you.
mistress was in earnest, for the poor girl
Immediately rammed q large portion OF the
nearest towel into her mouth, and restrict
bing violently. The knocking recon-
menced, but the door was massive oak and
immovable.
my friend" cried Madame Lucca in a
loud voice, ''you are Gagged. The garden
door is fastened as tightly as this one, and
open the latter, for am going into the
garden, and the instant that see you try
to escape, You are a dead man.
Flinging open the door which led to the
verandah, she went out, followed by Editha,
who had succeeded in pushing more of the
being drawn was heard.
''Stand aside, my friend?' said Madame
Lucca, ''or you are dead man.
A sharp report followed, accompanied by
the sound Of crashing wood and spllntered
glass.
"There! That ia one barrel out OF six.
That is merely to show that / am armed.
You had better reraain quiet"
The visitor also was seemingly OF this
opinion, for he did not renew the attempt.
When the servants returned next morning
they found Madame Lucca quietly reading
under the verandah before the window.
They were rather surprised. however,. on
perceivin9 that she had six-barrelled re-
volver in her hand, and Editha with what
appeared to be the end Of towel sticking
"a l~4~ ~ ESnNwz rIU Inn mad
the whole affair, and in about an hour after
wards the would-be thief, who, as it was
proved, would have been ready to turn as
sassin as we'll, was safely at the nearest
polizeibureau.
he concluded the story, twas not the strata
gem of the jewels, by which Madame LUG
ca lured the thief into the room destined to
be his dungeon, a magnificent idea2 Moltke
himself never did anything to beat thai"