The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-03-06
LITTLE DETECTIVE.

to the last, as I felt that OF a dreary day
like this she would be more than ever
glad of a 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
quivering with their rapid beats. After
a few commonplace l said: "What Is
it, Marta? What is the matter today?
You have no new pain-no fresh trou-
ble?"
"No, monsieur" she answered., sit
Is that l cannot still my thoughts. To-
day is an anniversary And she stop
ped. Her beautiful gray eyes were full
of tears, and she was trying hard to ex-
ercise self control.
Tell me-" 1 said, call about the an
niversary."
'tIt was 10 years ago today since I
met my husband, Jean Louvain," she
began eagerly, land our meeting was q
strange one indeed. I was in search of
a clever forger-whom the police be-
lieved to be a woman-and / had to go
to the Riviera in search of her. I had
been in the Hospital Of st. Jacques to
see a man whom l thought could give
me information, and it occurred to me
suddenly that the dress of a Sister of
Mercy would be a good disguise. / left
Paris in time to reach Marseilles early
n lovely morning, and, going to the
house of a friend, l changed my clothes
and scarcely recognized myself as l look
ed in the great glass at the railway sta
ton. No hair could be seen, and the
large collar and winged cap gave me
quite a different expression. / had
bought a small bag, exactly like those
the sisters carry, to hold the things I
needed, and | had my papers sewed in
side the dress / wore. l was young then,
and the cases that interested me occu-
pied mo so entirely that I / became sleep
less and suffered at times from sudden
faintness, which would be succeeded by
violent pains in my head. To alleviate
these troubles l carried always a bottle
of ether and a tiny vial Of ohloroform,
both wrapped for safety in IA square Of
jewelers. cotton"
"Ah, 1 seel" interrupted I. "Your
forger found them and used them to
stupefy your"
Pardon. monsieur" she returned,
"my tale is better than that! At Mar
settles l got into a compartment whence
several people descended, and O man,
who was its sole occupant, tried to pre-
vent my entrance, as if unconsciously.
But l looked sharply at him and got in.
he then placed his arms on the door
way and blocked the window until the
train left the station. Then he threw
himself on the seat in the corner farthest
from me Oh the opposite side and flung
off the large cloak he was wearing.
"To my surprise and horror, / saw be
was partly dressed as a woman, and be
took from beneath the seat a bag like
those in which workmen carry their
tools and quietly continued his toilet.
Naturally l watched him. He was small
and slight and very fair, and when he
took off his coat and waistcoat, collar
and tie, | saw a great scar from beneath
the left ear going right under his chin,
81 knew him instantly. He was Du'
rette, the man whom l believed safely
In prison at Toulon, who was the mos
ingenious and cruel Of a gang Of thieves
who had infested Paris for three years
and who had been cleverly captured
three months before. The captor had re
oeived 8, 900 francs, and now Durett'
was at large again, and here before M
in this narrow compartment. He stop
ped his toilet and said to me in tn
quiet, clear voice which 1 knew to b
one of his characteristics: My sister,
am running for my life. My life is dea
to me, and nothing shall stand In tn
way of my freedom. Do you understan
-nothing?'
"As he said this he took from hi
bag a large, sharp knife, such as shoe
makers use, and laid it on the seat be
aide him. Judge, monsieur, how I felt
Thought is quick, and my brain ha
travelled far in the few minutes of tn
journey. Here was Durette. If only
could capture him. the reward woul
make my dear invalid mother rich fc
the rest of her life. would try. I woul
think. I would not quail. But first
must act. l Ehrank into my corner &
his words and trembled and let the teal
fill my eyes as 1 looked up ~appeaiingl
at him.
"'Fear not, dear sister, , he said mocl
ingly. If you do as I say. you has
nothing to dread. I shall quit the trail
at Toulon, and you must talk to me
if I were going home to my family an
you had made acquaintance with me q
Lyons
"Of course I promised. and he wei
on arranging himself. His hair WI
short, and he put on a woman's blaC
wig and earrings in his ears. He had
skirt twisted round his waist, and tn
he let down. Then he made me taste
a white chemisette, and he put on
bodice, which laced. Judge how W,
thinking, monsieur! My hands tren
bled with excitement, for the train WI
rushing on, and it is barely n ho'
between Marseilles and Toulon. 1
talked suppose he was glad to spes
again after his solitary imprisonment
he treasured me kindly and said /
would not harm me II I obeyed hir
and he made me VOW on the cross I wo
that / would say no word till he W
out of sight. And / shall watch 20,
train away, my sister. he added.
CATER I had finished dressing him
went back to my seat, and then / laug
ed. He looked furious and asked n
why / was such a fool. I said his ia
was a fair woman's and his hair a dal
ones, and be would be noticed directl
--.1 EI1.DkIt b.