The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-02-22

Il 81: ],,'c i, siis
The doctor again! This time no
body laughed. Corpabac was looked
for among the persons who had beer
attracted by the. excitement; but he
was not there. He was the only occu
pant of the chateau who was missing
Come, let 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-s
weird procession.
| Upon the entrance OF the crowd, the
doctor hurriedly wrapped himself in
the bed. clothes, his wrinkled counte.
nance alone being visible over the top,
and this conulsed by anger into com
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
outcry, and was about to inquire into
it".
You must come and join us doc
tor" said Kerdall,
"And how shall do it ?" cried the
doctor, furiously. Some rascal has
run off with my clothing, and in ex-
change he has left me this" and he
savagely hurled 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 one final grimace, ducked
beneath the bed-clothing, like the
clown going through a trap door in the
marionette theatre.
They did not know what to think.
The mystery was growing more COM
plicated. 1t certainly looked as
though II robber had entered the cha
teau-perhaps whole band of burg
lars and assassins. Nine. de Lartigues
imag ineI a 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 sa-
loon, but it wa 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, 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 thithcr, aud 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 barricaded themselves in the
saloon and anxiously awaited the result
of the chase.
1t was about an hour later, in the un-
certain light which precedes the ris-
ing of the sun, that a servant discover
ed the mysterious stranger ensconsed
among the branches of a 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 do
mestic hurriedly pulled his arm and
said:
DO not fire, monsieur. It is DR..
Cornabuc |"
Aud sure 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
quis suddenly broke into fit Of cXplO-
sive laughter, and, as his guests gaZed
up into the tree, they could not keep
from following his example.
The Ape
Every rning was explained. The
animal bad 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 himself in the doc
tors effects and then wandered over
the house at his own free will
He was put back into his prison af-
ter some little trouble, and at break.
fast the party enjoyed "a 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 .ng
leave.
Since this episode he has mover set
! foot at kerdall, and he has never lost
Il feeling of deep antipathy to Nine.
de Lartgues and Miss Hawthorne.
How could they have mixed me up
with monkey ?" he wants to know.