Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-05-14

Burglars. Burglars in the house,
walled Martin. .Oh we shall all be
murdered in our bedsp'
BE quiet, Martin said Constance,
in a firmer tone. Don't be foolish;
let us hear what Miss Despard has TO
say. What does 1t mean? What
noises did you hear?'
Send your maid away and | viii
speak to you" said Madeline, in desper-
alton.
II you please, ! feel your presence
some protection -"
Constance
"It is no use addressing me in that
manner, Madeline Despard. am sure
you had no good purpose running about
the house at this hour
You might at least wait until we are
alone before you insult me, Constance. j"
There are some people one cannot
insult" said Constance. looking back
into her room little way. Il don't
know what motive you had for COM
( not like to think"
1T was no unworthy motive" said
Madeline, with dignity Il was an
xious to screen another"
4 Constance hastily interrupted her as
4 If she did not wish to hear more.
81 don't want TO know anything
about 1t. think it would be much bet
ter if you went to your own room and
Martin can go with you to show you
the way Go, Martin; go with Miss
Despard to her bedroom.
This is nonsense" said Madeline,
with energy. How dare you speak to
me so? shall have more to say about
it tomorrow, when I can speak to you
without the presence Of your maid"
Constance's haunting laugh followed
her down the corridor.
81, too. shall have more to say to-
morrow" she called out, but Madeline
did not look back She heard behind
her the stealthy footsteps of Martin,
following at little distance by her
mistress orders, but she did not con-
descend to take any notice. She gained
her own room, where the first thing she
saw was the dark waterproof cloak ly-
ing on the floor just inside her door
How had it come there? Its appear
ance, as we'll as Constance's demeanor
seemed to point to the likelihood that
somebody else inside the house was in
league with Rene de Marsac; and yet
h4e J<oIs IL -,
the mystery. Besides, after all, she
was certain that ii was Constance who
first met him at the door aid led him
into the house
There was little sleep for her that
night She felt herself involved in a
web of intrigue-of secret plotting and
mystery, which seemed to her as dan
gerous as it was disgraceful What
was Constance doing? What Was the
meaning of her most extraordinary
action? She could not surely be as
guilty as she seemed. For If she had
quilted the house, even for few min
utes. enveloped in that long dark
waterproof, why did she pretend that
she had been aroused by noises in the
house and call her maid to her help?
1t was a piece of artfulness Of which
Madeline could not believe her capable.
She went down rather late to break
fast, thereby mourning Lady Eslers
heaviest frown. but Constance was later
still and Lady Esler welcomed her
gracously Miss Esler looked pale and
heavy-eyed and on being questioned de-
clared that she had not slept we'll
she had been nervous-she had thought
she heard noises in the house-she
would tell her aunt everything by and
by Then she looked straight at Made
line and Madeline was aware 1t was to
be war to the knife.
After breakfast, Constance took Lady
Esler by the arm with the touch of
affectionate familiarity which the old
lady allowed from TO one but herself,
and drew her out upon the terrace,
which ran in front of the windows.
Madeline could not help watching; she
felt instinctively that Constance was
talking about her and was detailing
the experiences of the previous night.
She felt very uncomfortable about 1t,
especially as she hardly knew how to
defend herself from the charge of peep
ing and prying. If only Constance
would have been reasonable and let
Madeline speak to her alone.
Lance, who was still staying in the
house, tried to draw her into converse
ton and was surprised to find her so
absent and inattentive. why, Made
line" he said, in her ear--for one or
two persons were in the room and he
could not very we'll speak aloud
you look as though you had something
ON your mind"
$50 have" she said, turning to him
with a quick. impulsiye gesture, but
smiling at the same time, ais II to turn
the statement into pleasantly.
"Tell me what 1t is."
mot just now" And her eyes wan
dered off to Constance and Lady Esler,
vyho had at this moment turned toward