Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-03-15

robberl
! The laughing suddenly ceased, aud
Troy locked at one another in consterna.
tion.
All at onoe another cry was heard, a
piercing shrek coming through the still
ness Of the night 1t appeared TO ema
pate from Miss Hawthorne's chamber
There was q rush for Ter apartment
and the English lady was found stand.
ing in the middle of the room, with
frightened eyes
There, therel' she cried, pointing
TO the window. "A mani de escaped,
but recognized him. -
WHO wss iti''
"DT, Cofnabuol''
The doctor again This time nobody
laughed CorDabuo was looked for
among the persons who had been nc
tfRotod by tho excitement, but he was
not there He was tho orly occupant Of
the chateau who was missing
Come, let us go to the doctors
room. " said tho marquis, knitting his
brows. He will doubtless solve the
mystery for us -
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 bedolothes, his wrinkled
countenance alone being visible, over
the top, and this conyulsed by anger in
to oomioal grimace The candle light
was reflected from his bald-pate. which
shone like old ivory.
us this some III timed joker" be
stormed. "WhaS is going ony Is the
chateau on fre1 / heard o terrible out.
cry and was about to inquire into II. -
"You must como aud join us, doc.
tor, said Kerdall.
'And how shall | do it?" cried the
doctor furiously. "Some rascal has run
of with my clothing, and in exchange
has left me this, and he savagely hurl.
ed white object into the middle of the
room.
my corsetsr' murmured Miss Haw-
thorne, modestly lowering her eyes
"And thisp' continued the doctor,
wildly brandishing another article.
MY hatP' cried Mme de Lartigues.
"This railery passes all bounds,
howled the doctor, whose shining head,
with one final grimace, ducked beneath
the bedclothinR. like the clown going
through a trapdoor in the marionette
thester
They knew not what to think. The
mystery was growing more complicated.
1t certainly looked as though robber
had entered the chateau - perhaps a
whole band of burglars and assassins.
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 strange sound was heard
coming from the ground floor. 1t was
the piano in the reception
salon. but IL WAS surely being played by
goblin fingers, and SO furiously that it |
seemed as though the keys must be bro
gen.
''This is too muchp cried the mar.
luis, rushing toward the staircase, with |
all the crowd. except Dr. Cornabuc,
,lose behind him.
They hastily penetrated the salon. 1t |
Vas empty The mysterious visitor was |
gone. but he could not be far away. Tho |
rash of china and glass announced his |
presence IN the dining room. Every body |
,ushed thitbor, and the marquis, who |
was in the lead. dimly saw form es-
iaping through the window into the
garden.
This time we've got himp" he cried.
The men seized guns and knives from
! hunting rack In the vestibHls and start.
I'd across the garden aud park la pur.
Iu!t OF the fugitive. whil0 the women
)arrioaded themselves in the salon and |
InKi0usly awaited the result OF the
'base. II was about an hour later. IN
he uncertain light which preoedes the
Using OF the sun, that servant discoy'
'red the mysterious stranger ensoonoed
lmong the branches OF large oak. AZ
ais call the marquis and bia guests has
ensd to the spot
"Coms downp' commanded M de
kerdall, but tho bandit oDly settled
limself deeper among the foliage aud
made 10 response,
Come down, 0F | will shooti"
And, as lbeFs was still no reply, he
fitted his gun and already had bis tn'
ger upon the trigger when tbs domestic
luFiedly pulled bis arm and said
"Do not hre, monsieur u 10 Dr. Cor
lAbuoW
And, sure enough, ths blond wig and
OnR Teding0te could h0w bs seen among
he leaves But ~ tbia moment the hrsl
Iay ~ sunlight CLEANED IN from the
,Asi, and tbs oak was illnminaled The
aaTquia suddenly broke into nc ~ eE
,losiye laughter aud, as his guests gased
NJ into tho Tree tbey oould not keep
Iom following bis eEalapls
The apef'
EgaTything was esplsined, Tho ani '
aal bad escaped fr0la bis cage tho pro
ll0ps oYsBiRs spd bad managed 90 "
SOC aD aDiTaDes Into the chateau All
mated by bis lgsfinet " imitation, be
lAd nTsl atliTed himself M tbe aQoiQg'f