Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-07-29
A Clever Little uoman.
Neeeeeeeeeeseeeeeeeeeee

THE rain was dashing against the
| hospital window one afternoon in
March when made my rounds. left
Marta to the last, as I felt that on a
dreary day like this she would be more
than ever glad of q chat.
had not sat beside her for five min
utes before / found that she was in a
highly-strung condition. her eyes were
SO bright, her skin dry, and her pulses
4uivering with their rapid beats.
After few commonplace, said:
What is it. Marta? What is the mat
ter to-day? You have no new pain
no fresh trouble?"
mo monsieur" she answered, "it is
that cannot still my thoughts to-day
| is the anniversary" and she stopped.
Her beautiful gray eyes were full of
ears. and she was trying hard to exer-
Else self control.
"Tell me-" ! said. ''all about the an
niversary."
1T was 12 years ago to-day since
met my husband, Jean Louvain," she
began eagerly, "and our meeting was
! strange one indeedl 1 was in search
If clever forger-whom the police be-
lieved to be woman-and l had to go
10 Riviera In search of her. had been
in the Hospital of St. Jacques to see
man whom thought could give me in
formation, and II occurred to me sud-
denly that the dress of a Sister of Mercy
would be good disguise. left Paris
in time to reach Marseilles early one
lovely morning, and going to the house
of friend ] changed my clothes. and
scarcely recognized myself as / looked
in the great glass at the railway station.
No hair could be seen, and the large
collar and winged cap gave me quite
different expression. / had bought
small bag, exactly like those the sisters
sarry, to hold the things l needed, and
had my papers sewn inside dress /.
wore. was young then and the cases
that interested me occupied me SO en-
tirely that became sleepless and suf-
fered at times from sudden faintness,
which would be succeeded BY violent
pains in my head. To alleviate these
troubles carried always a bottle of
4ther and a tiny phial OF chloroform,
both wrapped for safety in square of
jewelers. cotton"
''Ah, | see!" interrupted /. Your
forger found them. and used them to
stupefy you'll"
Pardon, monsieur" she returned,
my tale is better than that! At Mar
seilles got into compartment
whence several people descended, and
a man. who was its sole occupant. tried
to prevent my entrance, as if uncon-'
sciously; but looked sharply at him
and got in. He then placed his arms on
the doorway and blocked the window
until the train left the station; then he
threw himself on the seat in the corner
farthest from me on the opposite side,
and flung eff the large cloak he was
wearing.
ITO my surprise and horror, saw
he was partly dressed as woman, and
he took from beneath the seat bag like
those in which workmen carry their
tools and quietly continued his toilet.
Naturally Watched him. He was small
and slight, and very fair, and when he
took of his coat and waistcoat, collar
and tie, saw great scar beneath the
left ear going right under his chin.
II knew him instantly; he was Dru-
cite, the man whom believed safely in
prison at Toulpn, who was the most in
genious and cruel of q gang Of thieves
who had infested Paris for three years,
and who had been cleverly captured
three months before. The captor had
received 5000 francs, and now he wac
at large again. and here before me in
this narrow compartment, He stopped
his toilet, and said to me, in the quiet,
clear voice which knew to be one of
his characteristics:
"My sister, am runniAg for my life.
My life is dear to me, and nothing shall
stand In the way of my freedom do
you understand? Nothingl"
AS he said this he took from his bag
a large, sharp knife, such as shoemakers
use, and laid it on the seat beside him.
Judge, monsieur, how felt. Thought
Is quick, and my brain had travelled far
in the few minutes of the journey. Here
was Durette; If only / could capture
him-the reward would make my dear
invalid mother rich for the rest of her
life! l would try, / would think; I
would not quail. But first must actl
shrank into my corner at his words
and trembled, and let the tears fill my
eyes as looked up appealingly at
him.
Fear not, dear sister, he said mock
ingly; If you do as say, you have moth
ing to dread. shall quit the train at
Toulon. and you must talk to me as If
| were coming home to my family,
and you hed made acquaintance with
me at Lyons
"Of course I promised, and he went
on arranging himself. His hair was
short and he put on black wom-
ans wig and earrings in his ears; he had
q skirt twisted around at his waist, and
------~ - - -