The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-27
A MYSTERY OF PARIS.
Disappearance That BafiIed All Eff
forts Mt Solution.

OlSUppearuhce Ihut bdueu All FL
forts Mt Solution.
From the Louisville Courer-Journa1.
Paris was like a scrap basket filed to
overlooking. From every part of the
world people and their baggage were being
deposited in the attractive catch-ail offer
ed them, and, except for continuous
shifting of her contents. in this state Paris
was to rensain for months until the end of
the exposition came to stralghten her dis
order and empty her out
Among the many who arrived in Paris
at an early period of the exposition was
party of three Americans-a mother and
her two daughters. 1t was evident that
they had been accustomed to travel much
and Independently, which might be ac-
counted for by the fact that they had
scarcely a relation to bind them to one
place and not a relative to offer them
protecting hand They came after dark
and registered at a hotel.
"There were only two rooms left but
they were on the same corridor. Madame
might like the front room, and the two
mesdemoiselles would perhaps be suited
with the other few doors away Thus
said the clerk, and after some inspection
ut is a very good room," the matron re-
marked, leaning back in her chair and
watching her daughters, who were busy
with the contents of her sache. II think,
though, that l might'lenjoy IL more If i
did not feel so wretched."
The young ladies' treasured her with the
reminder that she-was tired; she had not
yet become accustomed to theicimate; as
for calling in a physician she had done
that her a&st night in every new city; sup
pose she try the cure of a long sleep for
the night In spite of their convincing
arguments, a speculation as to their moth
ers health was the first word uttered by
the two girls next morning, and they made
haste to go to her room.
A light knock brought no response With
a satisfied nod to her sister, the younger
girl opened the door softly and tiptoed into
the room. The elder started to follow, but
stopped with a little cry. I'VE are in the
wrong place!" she said.
impossible her sister replied. This
is the only front room there can be on this
side of the corridor"
But the room was certainly not their
mothers. Last night The hangings and pa
pering had been green, this morning they
were red: last night the furniture had
been OF oak, now 1t was some dark-stained
wood; last night the floor had been car
peted, this morning 1t was bare except for
they had left their mother here, but now
she was gone and the room was empty.
The two girls surveyed it in silence. one
of them went into the hall again and
counted the doors. THE fifth one from us, -
she asserted, Just as we counted last
night" They looked out of the window.
The sun was shining down on the same
great tree through which they had seen
the street lights the night BEFORE.
A trim little maid was sweeping the cor
ridor, and of her they inquired anxiously:
"Can you tell US where the lady is who
occupied that room last night2'
30, ma'mselle" the maid replied, cross
ing herself, mo one was in that room!'
81 left my mother there last night" was
the rejOinder.
"Ma'msele must be mistaken" the maid
insisted tNo person has slept there for
years. It is the order OF lie proprietalre."
The two girls sent her to summon the
proprietor to the spot, waited for him i'm
patiently and interrupted his polite greet
ing with the question If this was not the
room he had given to their mother the
night before
The proprietor surveyed them curiously.
your mother?" he repeated. when did
madam Gomez"
The sisters stared at him. He had seen
them last night.
you arrived alone,'' he continued.
you want the room for to-night?"
An impatient explanation came from the
elder sister. I'VE three, my mother, my
sister and /, came last night"
The man interrupted her with a gesture.
Pardon me, mademoiselle," he corrected,
"you and your sister were the only ones
who came"
The girl smiled an annoyed smile, and
suggested that the hotel lists would cor
roborate her words. But her face paled
when the clerk repeated what the propri-
etor had said, and she ran her finger I'M
steadily down the line. Her name, her
sisters. yes-her mothers was not there!
With growing sense Of dread, the two
girls demanded the inspector Of police.
AS they waited for him in the reception
room. they caught the angry tones of an
old mans voice. The elder sister stopped
pacing the floor to listen.
Such a commotionr' he exclaimed. "I'n
publish 1t to every foreigner in the city,
and then where is the reputation of your
house?"
The soothing murmur of another voice
followed.
Second story front" was the old mans
reply "but I'll not stay here tonight IL
1 have to be walked up by all sorts of
noises from the room above mel They
might have been tearing the house DOWN.
Still grumblng he passed the girl to
go upstairs. Seized with a sudden idea
she ran lightly up after him and
watched him enter the room. Then she
came down again HE went into the
room under mothers" she said, grasp
ing her sisters arm tightly. I'VE were
not mistaken Mercifm heavens, what
does it meanT' Ir
Even the inspector of police, the ON
niscient OF Paris, could not tell them that
He took their evidence gravely, promised
them to wait patiently in the same hotel
for further developments. With little
calmness Of mind they finally accepted his
advice.
IL was a long, anxious walt for the girls
Weeks passed without bringing any trace
Of their mother. The exposition was over