The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-07
LITTLE DETECTIVE.

Wncn made my rounds. L left Marta
to the last, as | felt that on dreary day
like this she would be more than ever
glad of chat.
had not sat beside her for five min
utes before found that she was in Il
highly strung condition, her eyes were
so bright, her skin dry and her pulses
quivering with their rapid beats. After
few commOnplaccs l said: "W!lat is
it, Marta? What is the matter today?
You have 10 now pain-no fresh trou-
ble?"
No, monsieur" she answered, sit
is that cannot still my thoughts. To-
day is IN anniversary And she stop
ped. Her beautiful gray eyes wero full
of tears, and shc was trying hard to OK
ercise self control.
Tell me, ~ said, "all about tho an
nivcrsary."
lit was - years ago today since 1
met my husband Jean Louvain," she
began eagerly, and our meeting was a
strange one indeed. was in search Of
clover forgcr-whom the police be-
lievod to be woman-and l had to 20
to tho Riviera in search of her l had
been in the Hospital of st. jacques to
see man whom thought could give
mo information, and it occurred to me
suddenly that the dress of % Sister of
Mercy would he good disguise | Left
ParlS III time to reach Marscillcs early
one lovely morning, and going to the
house OF friend, [ changed my clothes
and scarcely recognized myself rs look
cd in the great glass at the railway sta
ton. No hair could be seen, and the
largo collar and winged cap gave me
quite ~ different expression. / had
bought small bag, exactly like those
the sisters carry, to hold tho things |
needed, and had my papers sewed i'll
side the dress 1 wore. I was young then,
| and the cases that interested me occu-
pied me so entirely that l became sleep
less and suffered mt times from sudden
faintness, which would be succeeded by
violent pains i'll my head. TO alleviate
these troubles l carried always u bottle
of ether and tiny vial of chloroform.
both wrapped for safety i'll !. square Of
| jewelers. cotton.
"Ah, 1 sect" interrupted I. "Your
forgor found them and used them TO
stupcfy your
Pardon. monsieur she returned,
my tale is better than that! At Mar
| settles L got into compartment whence
several people descended, and man,
who WAS its sole occupant, tried to pre-
vent my entrance, as if unconsciouslv
But looked sharply at him and got in.
He then placed his arms on tho door
way and blocked the window until tho
train left the station. Then ne threw
himself on the seat i'll the corner farthest
from Inc on the opposite side and flung
off the largo cloak he was wearing.
TO my surprise and horror, SAW he
was partly dressed rs Il woman, and he
took from beneath the seat Il bag like
those i'll which workmcn carry their
tools and quietly continued his toilet
Naturally watched him. Ho was small
and slight and very fair, and when he
took off his coat and waistcOa,, collar
and tie, SAW Il great scar from beneath
tho lett ear going right under his chin
Il knew him instantly. He WAS Du-
rette, the man whom / believed safely
III prison at TouloD, who was the most
ingenious and cruel of gang Of thieves
who had infested Paris for three years,
and who had been cleverly captured
three months before. Tho captor had re-
ccivcd 5000 francs, and now Durctte
was at large again, and here before mo
III this narrow compartment. He stop
ped his toilet and said to nc in the
quiet, clonr voice which / knew to be
one of his characteristics My sister, /
ain running for my life. My life is dear
to ne, and nothing shall stand in tho
way Of my freedom Do you understand
-nolhing:'
AS he said this he took from his
bag large, sharp knife, such as Shoe
makers use, and laid it on the seat BE-
sido him. Judge, monsieur, how felt.
Thought is quick, and my brain had
travelled far in the few minutes Of tho
journey. Here was Durettc. If only
could capture him, the reward would
make my dear invalid mother rich for
tho rest Of her life. would try Iwould
think. would not quail But first 1
must act. | shran!i into my corner at
his words and trcmblod and let the tears
fill my eyes Is l looked up appealingly
at him.
&" Fear not, dear sister, he said mock
ingly. If you do rs 1 say, you have
nothing to dread. / shall quit the train
at Toulon, and you must talk to me as
If were going homo to my family and
you had made acquaintance with me at
Lyons
"Of course promised, and he went
on arranging himself His hair was
short, and he put on woman's black
wig and earrings in his ears. He had IA
skirt twisted round his waist, and this
he lot down. Then he made me faston
white chcmiscttc. and he put on
bodice, which laced. Judge how Twas