The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-07-19

brows. He will doubtless solve the
mystery for U.S.
All followed Kerdall, the men half
dressed, the women in their white
night robes, all carrying candles-a
| weird procession. Upon the entrance
of the crowd, the doctor hurriedly
wrapped himself in the bedclothes,
his wrinkled countenance alone being
visible over the top, and this convuls-
ed by anger into a comical grinace.
The candle light was reflected from
his bald pate, which shone like old
ivory.
is this some ill timed joke - he
stormed. What is going on? Is the
chateau on fire? | heard a terrible
cutlery and was about to inquire into
it,
You must come and join US, doe
tor" said Kerdall.
And how shall do it ?'' cried the
doctor furiously. "Some rascal has
run off with my clothing, and in ex-
change has left me this" and he saw
agely hurled white object into the
middle of the room.
MY corsets ~ murmured Miss Haw-
thorne, modestly lowering her eyes.
And this - continued the doctor,
wildly brandishing another article.
MY hat ~ cried Nine. de Lartigues.
This railery passes all bounds, !"
howled the doctor, whose shining
head, with one final grimace, ducked
beneath the bedclothing, like the
clown going through a trapdoor in the
marionette theatre.
They kneY not what to think. The
mystery w56growing more eomplieat-
ed. 1t certainly looked as though u
robber had entered the chateau-per-
haps a whole band of burglars and as
sassins. Nine. de Lartigues imagined
troop of brigands armed to the teeth.
Let us hope they have no guns"
said the marquis, to raise the hopes of
his guests.
There was no echo to the pleasantly.
Suddenly a strange sound was heard
coming from the ground floor. 1t was
certainly the piano in the reception
salon, but it was surely being played
by goblin fingers, and so furiously
that it seemed as though the keys
must be broken.
This is too much ~ cried the mar
quis, rushing toward the staircase,
with all the crowd, except DR.. Corna
buc, close behind him.
They hastily penetrated the salon.
1t was empty. Thesinysterious WISH
tor had gone, but he could not be far
away. The crash of china and glass
announced his presence in the dining
room. Everybody rushed thither,
and the marquis, who was in the lead,
dimly saw a form escaping through
the window into the garden.
This time we've got him ~ ne cried.
Io IL
from a hunting rack in the vestibule
park in pursuit of the fugitive, while
the salon and anXiously awaited the
result of the chase. 1t was about all
hour later, in the uncertain light
which precedes the rising of the sun,
that a servant discovered the myster-
ious stranger ensconced among the
branches of IL large oak. At his call
the marquis and his guests fastened
to the spot.
Come down ~. commanded NJ. de
Kerdall, but the bandit only settled
himself deeper among the foliage and
made no response.
Come down, or will shoot ~
And as there was still no reply, he
lifted his gun and already had his fin
ger upon the trigger when the domes-
tic hnriedly pulled his arm and said ::
do not fire, monsieur. t is DR..
Cornabucn
And, sure enough, the blond wig
and long redingote could now be seen
among the leaves. But at this mo-
ment the first ray of sunlight CLEANED
in from the east, and the oak was il
Illuminated. The marquis suddenly
broke into Il fit of explosive laughter
and, as his guests gaZed up into the
tree they could not keep from follow
ing his example.
1.-The ape"
Everything was explained. The
animal had escaped from his cage the
previous evening and had managed to
effect an entrance into the chateau.
Animated by his instinct of imitation,
he had first attired himselfin the doc
tors effects and then wandered over
the house at his own free will. He
was put back into prison after some
little trouble, and at breakfast the
party enjoyed II hearty laugh at the
adventures of the night.
But Dr. Cornabuc did not appear at
the table. He left the chateau at an
early hour, furious and without TAX
ing leave. Since this episode he has
never set foot at Kerdall, and he has
never lost feeling of deep antipathy
to Nine. de Lartigues and Miss Haw-
thorne.
How could they have mixed me up
with a monkey :" he wants to know.