Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-07-08
n Cle1er Little Uloman.
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March when I made my rounds. left
Marta to the last, as felt that on a
dreary day like this she would be more
than ever glad of chat.
had not sat beside her for five min
Jates before found that she was in q
ssighly-strung condition, her eyes were
so bright, her skin dry, and her pulses
quivering with their rapid beats.
After few commonplace, said:
--What is it, Marta? What is the mat
ter to-day? You have no new pain
no fresh trouble?"
"No monsieur" she answered, sit is
that cannot still my houghts-to-day
Is the anniversary" and she stopped.
Her beautiful gray eyes were full of
tears, and she was trying hard to exer-
else self control.
Tell me-" said, "all about the an
adversary"
cit was IL years ago to-day since I
met my husband, Jean Louvain," she
aegan eagerly, land our meeting was
IA strange one indeed! l was in search
of clever forger-whom the police be-
Iieved to be woman-and had to go
to Riviera in search Of her. had been
in the Hospital of st. Jacques to see a
Enan whom thought could give me in
formation, and il occurred to me sud-
denly that the dress of Sister of Mercy
would be a good disguise. 1 left Paris
1n time to reach Marseilles early one
lovely morning, and goisg to the house
OF friend I changed my clothes, and
scarcely recognized myself as looked
I'm the great glass at the railway station.
No hair could be seen, and the large
collar and winged cap gave me quite a
different expression. I had bought a
small bag, exactly like those the sisters
carry, to hold the things needed, and
L had my papers sewn inside a dress 1
were. 1 was young then and the cases
that interested me occupied me so en-
Hirely that 1 became sleepless and suf-
fered 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 phial of chloroform,
Doth wrapped for safety in a square of
Jewellers cotton"
y "Ah, l see!" interrupted I. your
'2orgUr found them, and used them to
stnpefy you'll"
Pardon, monsieur" she returned,
my tale is better than that! At Mar
settles 1 got into a compartment
whence several people descended, and
man, who was it's sole occupant, tried
tbo prevent my entrance, as if uncon-
sciUusly; but 1 looked sharply at him
and got in. He then placed his arms on
the doorway 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 eff the large cloak he was
wearing
: ITO my surprise and horror, I saw
he was partly dressed as 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
sand slight, and very fair, and when he
took off his coat and waistcoat, collar
and tie, saw a great scar beneath the
left ear going right under his chin.
II knew him instantly; he was Dru-
cite, the man whom believed safely in
prison at Toulon, who was the most in
genious and cruel of gang of thieves
who had infested Paris for three years
and who had been cleverly captured
three months before. The captor hac
received 5000 francs, and now he was
at large again, and here before me in
this narrow compartment. He stopped
his toilet, and said to me, in the quiet
bis characteristics:
My sister, am running for my life
My life is dear to me, and nothing shall
stand in the way of my freedom-d'
you understand? Nothing!"
~As he said this he took from his ba;
xiarge, sharp knife, such as shoemaker
aIse, and laid it on the seat beside him
Nudge, monsieur, how I felt. Though
Is quick, and my brain had travelled ia
in the few minutes of the journey. Her
was Durette; If only l could captur
iaim-the reward would make my dea
invalid mother rich for the rest of he
aife, would try, would think;
would not quail. But first must act
q shrank into my corner at his word
and trembled, and let the tears fill m
eyes as 1 looked up appealingly q
him
FEAR not, dear sister he said mocl
zngly; IF you do as say, you have moth
.ansy TO dread. / shall quit the train q
Toulon, and you must talk to me as
Il were coming home to my famil.
and you lad made acquaintance wit
sne nj Lyons
-sOf course promised, and he wen
ON arranging himself. His hair wa
short, and he put on black won
ans wig and earrings in his ears; he ma
= skirt twisted around at his waist an