Middletown transcript., 1897-01-02


more definite to 60 upon. Meanwhile
the Pink Sheep, who had finished hi
chapter, took cigar from his pocke'
and was cutting off the end.
''I believe that beastiy German
Sheep is going to smokein the draw
ing roomL Tell him we won't stand it
dear, - cried Mrs. Kibble White.
defense de fumer," said her hus'
band, excitedly, pointing to notice
on the wall.
The Pink Sheep smiled, bowed, and
left the room. Crossing the passage
he walked upstairs. His football was
silent upon the thick carpet, and, on
reaching the first landing he saw fe.
male figure turn out the electric light.
He paused moment; then, walking
cautiously, he went to his room. In
the doorway he met a. woman, and
seiziDg her by the wrist, forced heI
back, locking the door after him.
When he had struck light, he recog.
nized Madame.
81 beg your pardon" she said, in
French. SIT isl dark in the passages
I have mistaken my room; / must com.
plain that they are SO economical Of
the light"
"If you dislike the darkness, why
did you turn out the electric lightp"
81 turn it outl What an ideal You
are dreaming"
"And yet my eyes are.Wide open; but
I am glad you have comei I want a
few moments conversation with you.
"With mel You evidently mistake.
am the Marquise de Montereau, and
do not know you"
"That is possible. but l know you,
and what I want to tell you is that You
must return to Mrs. Yates that twenty
FIVE pounds. suppose the purse is not
now recoverable
"How dare you accuse me of such an
actionp You must be a mailman; for
surely no sane man could be guilty of
such insolence."
She rose to 60, but, with gesture,
he stopped her.
"Call the hotelkeeper," he said,
quietly, "and if you are aggrieved, make
formal complaint against me. In the
mean time, you nay know that you
will not leave this room until you have
restored the money"
She sat down scowling at him, and
threatening eondign punishment for
this indignity.
"Don't be impatient, and will tell
you shortly an experience which hap
pened to me-" he said, establishing
himself comfortably in an armchair.
"You don't object to smoke I thinkP
Very we'll. Two years ago (lighting
his cigar), was in a small hotel in
Lucerne. He looked up suddenly at
her, and the corners of her mouth
twitched iDvoluntarily.
"There were two maiden ladies
there," he continued, "named jackson,
or johnson, travelling with a compan-
ion, Madame Cambria, who had an
sWered an advertisement and accom-
panied them in the capacity of sort of
female courier. She hired the rooms,
looked after the luggage, planned their
route, and, in short, was very useful
to them. Unfortunately, on one oc-
casion when she was carrying a small
bag containing about e40 In gold on a
| crowded steamer upon the Lake of Lu.
cerne, some villain contrived with a
sharp knife to cut a hole in the bag,
through which the money was alb
stracted. She was very unfortunate,
this poor Madame Cambria. Her de-
spair was pitiable; she spoke of the
caTelessness, and promised to work her
fingers to the bone to repay the money
to these kind Jacksons-or was it moi
JohnsonP They, however, did Atheil
best to console her, and being unable
or unwilling to spend any more money
on that tour, they paid for her ticket
back to Paris. and returned home some
weeks earlier than they intended.
did not know all this at the time, ]
only learned it from them about two
days later, when I happened to make
their acquaintance in railway car
riage. Their narrative interested me
much, for it enabled me to explain tbs
circumstances, which had seemed
strange.
"Now, | am going to make con.
fession. did mean thing In thai
Lucerne hotel. I happened to wake ir
the night; noticing an odd sound ant
seeing the keyhole Of the adjoining
room shining like bright spot in the
darkness, I crept SO fly out Of bed ant
looked through. There / saw wo
man in rather scanty clothing. Did
turn awayP On the contrary, kept
my eye at the keyhole. It was indie.
fensible, I admit, but curiosity got The
better of me, and I saw very strang,
thing. On the table lay an open cas-
of surgical Instruments, and this wo
man was cutting part of morocco,
purse into strips, then burning then
one by one in the fame of the candle
It was tedious process, and / nov
got tired Of It and crept back to bed
"All that this story proves is tha
i you are mean-spirited. shameless fel
low, and know not why you wear,
me with it, said Madame, trying t,
look dignifsd.s
II s'But now comes the entertaining
part resumed tbs Pink Sheep, ..for
recognized this woman as Madam,
y