The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1895-05-04
A NIGHT THIEF.

JUST returned from d tour Vi Ln6 WOrlu
ON their yacht, during which they had
paid flying visits to Africa, America
and O~ceanica, and they had celebrated
their home coming by gathering together
all their friends and relatives at their
beautiful country house.
Among the guests was old DIR. Cor
nabuc, an illustrious member of the
Academy of Metaphysical Sciences, so
original, so absentminded, SO venerable
in his blond peruke and his costume of
the fashion of 1870. Then there was
Mime. de Lartigues, an old school friend
of the marquise, a brilliant and coquet-
fish Parisienne. And there was Miss
Hawthorne, an English maiden lady
with youthful ~propensities. And there
were many others, all of whom found
plenty of amusement to their hearts
content at Kerdall.
Outside of the ordinary pleasures of
life there were some, unusual attrao-
tions. In the first place the host and
hostess had seen and experienced 80
much that was novel and startling
that their conversation was always fas-
cinating, Then the rooms Of the castle
constituted d veritable museum, being
stocked with rare and curious objects
from two continents. And finally q
managerie had been created in one COR
ner Of the park and stocked with the
various animals which M. de Kerdall
had picked up during the voyage and
brought back to France for purposes Of
acclimatization. There were gazelles,
a~ntelopes, Tibet goats. Nile ibises, rose
famingoes. opossums, beavers and an
Asiatio ape of the mandrill species, as
mild as q lamb, but as mischievous as
all his kind. An iron lattice cage had
been built for him close to the conser-
vatory,
As will be seen. the Chateau de Ker-
dali was a veritable Eden, but this fact
did not prevent little Mime. de Lartigues
from .dreadinR the isolated position Of
the place among, the wide expanse Of
woods and fields.
81 should be afraid to live here all
the year round, !" she said.
Afraid Of what, my dear?" asked
the marquise.
"Oh, Of robbers. They would fairly
revel here.'''
Robbersi In this mansion filed to
the caves with guests and servantsi
Everybody Knocked at the young wom-
an, and old DR.. Cornabuc told horrible
stories about burglars and assasains I'M
til Mime. de Lartigues, ashamed Of her
chimerical fears. was the first to laugh,
and when the retiring hour came she
mounted to her sleeping apartment ON
the second floor supplied with q goodly
stock Of heroism. Within a short time
all the occupants Of the chauteau were
In the land Of dreams.
How long Mime. de Lartigues slept
she knew not. She was awakened by o
rafting at her window, which she had
left half open on account of the heat.
What was her terror when In the
feeble starlight she saw a form climbing
noiselessiy through the window. She
tried TO scream, but her throat was
parched with fright. aud she could not
utter o sound.
The man had entered the chamber.
Then the poor woman hastily buried her
head beneath the bedclothing. Half
dead with fear. she could hear her moo
turnal visitor going and coming across
the carpet with muffied steps. It seemed
"a though he must have removed his
shoes in order TO tread softly. Bathed
with oold Precipitation and her teeth
~chatteFjng she awaited the mortal blow
from the invader. But it did not come.
After about q quarter Of an hour she
timidly peeped out. She could see and
hear nothing. Slightly treasured. she
recovered the use of her voice and start
cd u series Of shrieks. 80 sharp, piercing
and terrible that in an instant the entire
chateau was turned topsy turvy. Every
body rushed into her chamber with
lights In their hands, NJ. and Mime. do
Kerdall at the head.
What, Is iti. What's the matteri''
they cried.
She recounted her horrible vision.
They would not believe her. She had
been dreaming. Who could have climb
cd into this chamber, so high above the
ground, without Q LADDER. y
"Did you see him plainly" asked
the marquis, with q touch Of suspicion
in his voice.
"As plainly as / see yon, and II even
seemed'- She hesitated.
"What2"
ut seemed as though I could recog-
nize DR.. Corabuo In his blond wig and
redingote."
Everybody laughed. What DR.. Cor
nabuol A man Of his age and character
scaling windows at midnight! 1t was
certain now that Mime. de LartiRues had