The National tribune., 1891-12-17


further conversation on the subject, "one OF
these gentlemen desires an explanation. IL IS
perhaps the only way by which can avoid
arrest and possibly imprisonment"
" Is that so 2" inquired the beautiful woman,
addressing me in an anxious manner.
YES" answered. "A simple breach Of the
peace might be overlook d, but this was grave
OGense. man was knocked down in the
highway and robbed of a valuable miniature"
:" Is this tho one?" inquired the lady, taking
from her bosom a miniature cased IN gold and
suspended by golden chain"
~ am not sure" said /. "bnt this resembles
the one Of which the man was despoled."
1T is the very one" said she. Look at IL"
She turned the faco toward me, and beheld
In the picture an exact likeness of herself
you see" she added, +" that il is my prop
erty, or at least something which no other per-
son should have without my permission?"
could not gainsay her assertion. so allowed
it TO pass with a nod of acquiescence.
"Yon think" she continued, presently, THAT
what you saw this morning was very great
outrage?"
81 cannot deny. madam, that such was my
impression"
This miniature" said she. "hss been the
occasion Of much greater violenee."
The smile on her lips had already disap-
peared, and now the color left her cheeks and
tears bedimmod the luster of her eyes.
her head drearily. " j could not relate it with
out n little reflection"
Choose your own time madam" i returned.
AT 10 o'clock, then, tomorrow morning"
she replied quickly.
She drew meaning from my words which
they were not designed 10 convey, but one that
was not altogether unwarranted. j intended
her to have time, but not beyond the limit of
that interview.
But your-ahem this gentleman2p /
stammered. "What Of him in the meantime"
Leave him to me-" replied the lady through
her tears. " pledge you my word OF honor
that you will find him here at the hour men.
toned"
When Dilingworth aud 1 returned 10 the
Prentiss House we found his patient, in drawers
aud slippers, walking up and down the room
in high state of excitement But he made
no resistance when the Doctor led him back 10
his bed, aud offered him no explanation when
he chided him for his imprudence.
In the meantime had ascertained from the
servant that his excitement bad been occa-
stoned by a highly perfumed tiny note. in a
pink envelope. received a few moments before
our arrival. 1t was brought to him by bell
boy Of the Washington Hotel. aud was adj
dressed: ITO the man knocked down and
robbed in front Of the Prentiss House."
He read the note in silence and without emo
ton, and TO the boy, who waited his reply, said
distinctly. yes" Bat when the boy had gone
he got up and partially dressed himself and
paced the floor excitedly until the arrival Of
! the Surgeon. To the remoBstTance Of the SER
want he paid no attention.
IF you would escape inflammation and pos
sibly fever" said the Surgeon, "yOu must re-
main quiet"
81 crave your pardon" said he, humbly. at
was surprised into the excitement Won have
! witnessed"
perhaps ought to adopt measures to pre-
vent another surprise2" suggested the Sur
geOn.
alt is unnecessary" said the patient; ait
! viii not occur again"
shall / leave you another opiate?" in
quired the Doctor.
No." answered the patient but shall be
obliged IL you will leave me some chloroform."
"Chloroform2 Why, that is a subtle agent,
and dangerous in the hands Of the iae1peri-
enced."
Yes, know" said the patient "But
J am not one OF that class. j am martyr TO
neuralgia. and IL is my usual remedy"
After two or three Inquiries satisfied that
! his patient understood the qualities Of the med
! icine and how % use il TO allay pain or excite
meut, Dillingworth left him small bottle Of
! chloroiorm. But he instructed the servant. If
] he observed anything unusual in the manner
Of the patient, awake or asleep, to aequaint
| him without delay.
IT was nearly midnight when Dillingworth
and / repaired 10 our respective apartments
and retired for the night Immediately there
after, the stranger directed the servant 20 turn
/ down the light aud leave him 10 himself The
servant obeyed tho first order. but fingered at
the door, reluctant 10 take bis departure.
Observing his hesitation, the stranger said
Come back in half an hour. III am awake
then you can sit by me. but if asleep you can
20 10 your own room, as shall not stir until
! morning
Al the end Of half an hour the servant re-
turued, and found the patient in what ap-
peared 10 DO a natural sleep. But 20 make
sure, lie turned up the light and covcrtly ex.
amined the bottle Of chlOrOlOrm. the contents
| Of which had not been disturbed. Satisfied
that nothing was amiss, be stole away 20 bis
own room, and throwing himself on tho bed,
I fell into sound sleep, from which he did not
awake until the guests Of the hotel were reused
TO breakfast
At the FIRST sound Of the gong, he leaped from
his bed and IAN quickly 10 the room Of the in
valid, 10 resume bis neglected duty: bat 10 his
/ great CONSERVATION, the apartment was de-
serted, and all property Of the occupant in
! Guiding tho bottle 0f chlorOfOrIn, carefully re-
moved. Fearing the wrath oG the Surgeon. lie
brought the ill-starred news 10 me- and letter
10 my address, which he had found pinned 10
the pillow.
Immediately opened the letter. which was
written in plain penmanship aud cOuehed in
choice language but unsigned IL thanked
me for my kindness, aud Enclosed a fifty dollar
bank bill 10 defray the expenses incurred on
his account, and remunerate the Surgeon for
his services.
Ii was useless 30 seold tho servant, so called
! the Surgeon, 20 consider with him what should
next be done. We made inquiry al the Office
but the stranger had not been observed 70 pass
out, yet could not be found after a careful
search on and abou, the premises.
Our next inquiries were made az the Wash.
ington Hotel for we had no doubt that the
periumed note in the pink envelope had come
from the lady IN whose possession we had seen
the stolen miniature.
"PieTre LeBlond and Wife, New Orleans
was the entry Ia the register. Pointing TO IL, ]
inquired II they were in their apartments
No." said the clerk. "They are gone"
"Goneg" repeated, in a tone Of surprise.
Yes" he answered. "They left this morn.
ing at five o'clock, on the Great Republic"
My first impulse was 10 invoke imprecation.
upon my own head, for having yielded 10 the
request Of the woman, with no other surety
than her own word Of honor. But before had
time 10 recover from my surprise, the seen,
was changed. A ehamberfnaid called TO IN,
clerk from the head of the stairs that Their,
was dead man in one Of the rooms
Dillngworth and l followed the clerk IN
stairs 10 the room occupied the evening befor,
by the man and woman registered as Pierre IA