Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-01-21
LITTLE DETECTIVE.

10 the last, as felt that on dreary day
like this she would be more than ever
glad Of chat.
I 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
few commonplace l said; "What is
it, Marta? What is the matter today9
You have no new pain--no fresh trou-
ble?''
"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 ex-
ercise self control
"Tell me, said, "all about the an
niversary."
"It was 10 years ago today since I
met my husband Jean Louvain," she
began eagerly, "and our meeting was O
strange one indeed. was in search Of
clever forger-whom the police be-
lieved to be a woman-and had to so
to the Riviera in search of her. I had
been in the Hospital of st. Jacques to
see man whom thought could give
me information, and it occurred to me
suddenly that the dress of Sister of
Mercy would be good disguise. 1 left
Paris in time to reach Marseilles early
one lovely morning, and, going to the
house of friend, / changed my clothes
and scarcely recognized myself as look
ed 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. I had
bought small bag, exactly like those
the sisters carry, to hold the things I
needed, and had my papers sewed in
side the dress wore. I was young then,
and the cases that Interested me occn-
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 l carried always bottle
Of ether and tiny vial of chloroform,
both wrapped for safety in square of
jewelers. cotton"
aAh, / seePi interrupted I. "Your
forger found them and used them to
sttugaefsy ysqi1s,aa
"Psrdnnd monsieur" she returned,
"my tale is better than thatl At Mar
settles got into compartment whence
several people descended, and man,
who was its sole occupant, tried to pre-
vent my entrance, as If unconsciously.
But 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
off the large cloak he was wearing.
"To my surprise and horror, saw he
was partly dressed as a woman, and he
took from beneath the seat a 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.
"I 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
who had infested Paris for three years,
and who had been cleverly captured
three months before. The captor had re-
oeived 5, 200 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 I knew to be
one Of his characteristics my sister, I
am running for my life. My life is dear
to me, and nothing shall stand in the
way of my freedom. Do you understand
--nothingP
''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 I
could capture him, the reward would
make my dear invalid mother rich for
| the rest of her life. Iwould try. Iwould
think,d Itweuld not quail. But first I
must antsn j eshrank into my corner at
hisHordsand trembled and let the tears
fillIcmy eyes as I looked up appealingly
at him.
"'Fear not, dear sister, he said mock
ingly. If you do as I say, you have
nothing to dread. shall quit the train
at Toulon, and you must talk to me as
Iif I 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 q 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 a
bodice. which laced. Judge how Twas
thinking, monsieurl My hands trenl-
bled with excitement, for the train was
rushing on, and it is barely one hour
between Marseilles and Toulon. He
talked suppose he was glad to speak
again after his solitary imprisonment.
he reassured me. kindly and said he
would not harm me il 1 obeyed him,
and he made me VOW on the cross I wore
! that I would say no word till he was