Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-01-01
LITTLE DETECTIVE.

pital windows one afternoon in March
when l made my rounds. 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
highly strung condition, her eyes were
so bright her skin dry and her pulses
quivering with their rapid beats. After
few commOnplaces | said "What is
it, Marta? What is the matter todayf
You have no new pain-no fresh trou-
ble?"
"No, monsieur" she answered, cit
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" l said, call about the an
niversary.
1T was ~ years ago today since ]
met my husband Jean Louvain," she
began eagerly, land our meeting was a
strange one indeed. l was in search of
clever forger-whom the police be-
lieved to be a woman-and / had to go
to the Riviera in search of her. l had
been in the Hospital of st. jacques to
see man whom 1 thought could give
me information, and it occurred to me
suddenly that the dress of Sister of
Mercy would be a good disguise. l left
Paris in time to reach Marseilles early
one lovely morning, and, going to the
house of a friend, | changed my clothes
and scarcely recognized myself as 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. l had
bought small bag, exactly like those
the sisters carry, to hold the things /
needed, and | had my papers sewed in
side the dress l wore. l was young then,
and the cases that interested me occu-
pied me so entirely that became Sleep
less and suffered at times from sudden
faintness, which would be succeeded by
violent pains in my head. To alleviate
these troubles 1 carried always bottle
of ether and tiny vial of chloroform,
both wrapped for safety in "a square of
jewelers. cotton
"Ah, l seep' interrupted l. "Your
forger found them and used them to
stupefy your
Pardon, monsieur" she returned,
'my tale is Better than thatl At Mar
settles l got into compartment whence
several people descended, and a 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 on the opposite side and flung
OF the large cloak he was wearing
ITO my surprise and horror | saw he
was partly dressed as a 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 off his coat and waistcoat collar
and tie, saw great scar from beneath
the left ear going right under his chin.
Il knew him instantly. He was Du-
rette, the man whom / believed safely
IN prison at Toulon, 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. The captor had re-
ceived 5000 francs, and now Durette
was 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 l knew to be
one OF his characteristics: My sister,
am running for my life. My life is dear
to me, and nothing shall stand in the
way OF my freedom. Do you understand
-nothing?'
AS he said this he took from his
bag large, sharp knife, such as shoe
makers use, and laid it on the seat be-
side 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 l
could capture him, the reward woul
make my dear invalid mother rich for
the rest of her life. would try. would
think would not quail. But first /
must act. / 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
tngly. If you do as 1 say, you have
hothing to dread l 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 put ON woman's black
wig and earrings in his ears. He had a
skirt twisted round his waist, and this
he bet down. Then he made me fasten
white chemisette, and he put on a
bodice, which laced. Judge how Twas
thinking, monsieurl My hands trem-
bled with excitement, for the train was
rushing on, and it is barely one hour
between Marseilles and Toulon. He
20 l..