Oxford Democrat., 1897-01-05
LITTLE DETECTIVE.

The rain was tlashing against the hos
pital windows one afternoon in March
when made my rounds left Marta
to the last. rs 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 a
highly strung condition, her eyes were
70 bright, her skin dry and her pulses
quiverinR with their rapid beats. After
q few commonpluces said: "What is
| IL, Marta? What il the matter today7
You have no new pair-no fresh trou.
bleg'
"No, monsieur" she answered, "it
Is that 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 OK.
ercisc self control
"Tell me-" said, call about the an
niversary.
ut was l2 years ago today since I
met my husband. Jean Louvain," she
began eagerly, ''aDd our meeting was o
strange one indeed. was IN search Of
a clever forger-whom the police be-
| lievcd to be n woman--and had to go
| to tho Riviera i'm search Of her. had
been In the Hospital OF ST. Jacques TO
SEQ man whom thought could give
me information, and IL occurred TO me
suddenly that the dress Of n Sister Of
Mercy would be o good disguise. I left
Paris in time to reach Mnrsoilles early
one lovely morning. and, going to the
house Of friend, changed my clothes
and scarcely recognized myself as look.
| cd In the great glass at the railway sta.
tion. No hair could be- seen, and the
large collar and winged cap gave me
quite different expression. / had
bought n small bag, exactly like those
the sisters carry. to hold the things
needed, and had my papers sewed ia.
side the dress were. / was young then,
and the cases that interested me occu.
pied mo so entirely that became sleep
less and suffered at times from sudden
faintness, which would 10 succeeded BY
violent pains in my head. To alleviate
these troubles / carried always bottle
OF ether and tiny vial Of chloroform,
both wrapped for safety in square Of
| jewelers. cotton.
"Ah, I secr' interrupted l. Your
forger found them and used them to
stupefy youf'
"Perdon. monsieur" she returned,
"my tale is better than that! At Mar
settles got into compartment whence
several people descended, and man,
who was its sole occupant. tried to pre-
vent my entrance. as IL unconsciously.
But / locked 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 fartbest
from me on the opposite side and flung
OF the large cloak he was wearing.
"To my surprise aud horror. saw he
was partly dressed as woman, and he
| took from beneath the seat bag Ike
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
aud tie. I saw great scar from beneath
the left ear going right under his chin.
| ~ knew him instantly. He was Du-
| rette, the man whom I believed safely
| in prison at Toulon. who was the most
ingenious and cruel Of gang Of thieves
| " no had infested Paris for three years,
and who had been cleverly captured
| three months before. The captor had re-
ceived 1000 francs and now Durette
vas at large again. and here before me
in this narrow compartment. He STOP
| ped his toilet and said to me in the
| quiet, clear voice which ! knew to be
| one Of his characteristics: My sister, /
an running for my life. My life is dear
| to me, and nothing shall stand in the
way OF my freedom. Doyou understand
| nothing!
"As he said this ho took from his
bag a large. sharp knife, such rs shoe-
makers use. and laid it Oh the seat be-
side him. Judge, monsieur, how l felt.
| Thought is quick, and my brain had
travelled far in the few minutes Of the
journey. Here was Durette. II only
could capture him, the reward would
make my dear invalid mother rich for
.he rest Of her life Iwould Try. Iwould
think. Iwould not quail. But first /
must act. sbrank into my corner at
his words and trembled and let the tears
Eli my eyes as ! locked up appealiDgiy
a. him.
"'Fear not. dear sister, he said mock
ingly. If you do as say, you have
nothing to dread. shall quit the train
at Toulon, and you must talk to me as
if were going home to my family and
you had made acquaintance with me at
Lyons.
"Of course I promised, and he went
on arranging himself. His hair was
short, and he pnt on a woman's black
wig and earrings in his ears. He had a
skirt twisted round his waist, and this
he let down. Then he made me fasten
white chemisette, and he put on q
bodice, which laced. Judge how was
thinking, monsieuri Ny hands trem-
bled with excitement, for the train was
rushing OH, and it is barely one hour
between Marseilles and Toulon. He
talked suppose he was glad to speak
again after his solitary imprisonment
he treasured me kindly and said ne
would not harm me il obeyed him.
and he made me VOW Oh the cross wore
that ! would say no word till he was
out of sipbt. And I shall watch your