The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-02-19

All at once another cry was heard, q
piercing shriek coming through tho
stiffness OF the night. It appeared to
emanate from Miss Hawthorne's cham
Der. There was q rush for her apart
ment, aud the English lady was found
standing iu the middle OF the room,
with frightened eyes.
There there !" she cried, pointing
to the window. "a man BE es-
capped, but / recognized him."
"Who was it
DIR. Cornabuc I"
The doctor again! This time no
body laughed. Cornabuc was looked
for among the persons who had been
attracted by the excitement; but he
was not there. He was the only occu-
pant OF the chateau who was missing.
"Come, lot us go to the doctors
room" said the marquis, knitting his
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 bed clothes, his wrlnkled counte-
nance alone being visible over the top,
and this confused by anger into q COM
ical grimace. The candle light was
reflected from his bald pate, which
shone like old ivory.
SIS this some ill-timed Joke P" he
stormed. What is going on ? Is the
chateau on ireP L heard q terrible
outcry, and was about to inquire into
it".
"You must come and join us doc
tor" said Kerdall.
"And how shall I do /. ?" cried the
doctor, furiously. Some rascal has
run off with my clothing, aud in ex.
change he has left me this" and he
savagely hurled a white object into
the middle Of the floor.
my corsets !" murmured Miss Haw-
thorne, modestly lowering her eyes.
And this" continued the doctor,
wildly brandishing another article,
my hat !" cried Nine. de Larti-
CUES.
This railery passes all bounds"
howled the doctor, whose shining
head, with n final grimace, ducked
beneath the ~bed-clothing, like the
clown going through a trap door in the
m~arionette theatre.
They did not know what to think.
The mystery was growing more COM
plicated. 1t certainly looked as
though q robber had entered the cha
teau-perhaps q whole band of burg
lars and assassins. Nine. de L~artigues
imagined a troop Of brigands armed to
the teeth.
Let US hope they have no gums"
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. It was
certainly the piane-tn n erreeepttiiea .sa-
loon, but it was surely being PLAYED by
gooun 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, excepting DR..
COrnabuc, close behind him.
They hastily penetrated the saloon.
1t was empty. The mysterious visitor
was 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 win
dow into the garden.
This time we've got him |" he
cried.
The men seized guns and knives
from a hunting-rack in the vestibule,
and started across the garden and park
in pursuit of the fugitive, while the
women b%arricaded themselves in the
saloon n a~nxiously awaited the result
Of the chase.
1t was about an hour later, in the I'M
certain light which ~precedes the ris-
ing OF the sun, that a servant discover
ed the mysterious stranger %ensconsed
among the branches of @ large oak,
Al his call the marquis and his guests
FASTENED to the spot.
Come down :" commanded M. 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 do.
nestle hurriedly pulled his arm and
said
DO not fire, monsieur. 1t is DR..
Cornabuc !"
And sur enough, the blonde wig
and long redingote could now be seen
among the leaves.
But at this moment the first ray of
sunlight cleaned in from the east and
the oak was illuminated. The mar
gus suddenly broke into a fit of explo.
sive laughter, and, as his guests gazed
up into the tree, they could not keen
from following his example.
1.-THE Ape I"
Everything was explained. The
animal bad escaped from his Gage the
previous evening and had managed to
effect an entrance into the chateau.
Animated by his instinct of imitation,
he had first attired himself in the doc
tors effects and then wandered over
b hous at his own free will.
He was put back into his prison az
ter some little trouble, and at break.
fast the party enjoyed q hearty laugh
at the adventures of the night.
But DR.. Corna5uc did not appear at
the table. He left the chateau at az
early hour, furious and without tax ing
leave.
Since this episode he has never set
foot at Kerdall, and he has never lost
a feeling Of deep antipathy to Nine.
de Lartigues and Miss Hawthorne.
- ntu rn,,1l A1@-. 49,