The Opelousas courier., 1898-06-04

other side of the road, where four Ia
borers were standing talking together
She went up and held an animate,
conversation with them for a few min
utes. Then the four men moved OF
in different directions, leaving thu
Woman standing alone in the shadov
of q doorway. Here she remained I'm
til a neighboring clock struck 8, whel
she issued from her hiding place an'
turned down o by-street.
The street in which she now found
herself was narrow, dark and de
serted. The light was barely suffi
cient to enable the woman to see
white cross upon a flagstone in from
Of No. II, and upon this she put ths
handbag she carried. The momen
she had done SO, she started to rul
down the street, but she did not ru1
far, turning sharply into the deel
shadow of a projecting wall. From
here shecould see up and down the
street, he mysterious house and the
handbag. The house was apparently
empty. Not a light was there in any
window.
She was attentiyely watching the
windows of No. II for an indication OF
life, when she heard q strange grind
ing sound that made her start. Nc
one was to be seen. Everything was
exactly as it had been before, except
that the bag had gone! Vanished!
"Fool!" she cried, 81 might have
guessed it,"
Running out of hiding she drew q
a police whistle and blew it thrice, and
then set about to examine the flag.
stone. Yes; the cement around it was
in loose powder. Some one had shift.
ed the flag; some n in the cellar be-
low and the bag was gone and the flag
pushed back.
There was no area door, so the only
way to gain admittance to the house
was by the front door.
She flung herself against it again
and again. But it resisted oil her
efforts. and she stopped to consider.
At that'moment a laborer ran up.
cts all right" he said. "We've
got him-bag in hand. He had laid
his plans for quick escape at the back,
but ron into my arms IS we entered.
The house is quite empty"
"Oh, are you sure?" I asked, for, of
course, the agile female was myself.
Perfectly certain. The house is
absolutely empty Of everything and
every one."
"Ah, then I think I can understand.
Get me a cab and take the chap to the
station in another"
Two cabs were procured. In one
we put our prisoner-a well-dressed
man of a pronounced American type
between two of my Scotland Yard
laborers and sent him to the local sta
The second cab I took myself,
and in it I drove to Carlton House
Terrace.
WhenssI arrived at the Coxes' I..found
footman just paying off another
cab.
ooh, then Mr.. Cox has returned?"
said.
eyes, sir. Just this moment ar
"Where's Mr.. Stainer?"
"Your friend has him locked in the
He arrested him by your in
half an hour ago."
Running up the steps I bounced
light upon Mr.. and Mrs. Cox locked
n esch others arms. He wore an air
# mystification, while she was simply
oubbling over with delight.
"What does all this meanp" asked
Mr.. Cox, turning upon me. cts
MYSTERY upon mystery! Who is this
voman?"
"This woman" I replied, els De-
ective Sergeant Wiseman, of New
Scotland Yard, who has just discov.
red n of the n~eatest little plots ever
invented. Your secretary is a &C.
81 don't understand" he said, look.
ng at me as if he fancied I was play.
ng a joke at his expense.
"You had a telegram yesterday"
sked.
"Yes, which took me to Paris on 8
lid goose chase. Some one has been
a fool Of me. The telegram
Imported to come from an old friend
4 Paris, and requested me to go tc
i'm there without a moments delay OF
word to any one I went. His name
as not known at the hotel. I cabled
New York and had an answer to say
y friend was there and we'll, so ]
anne back. What does it mean?"
"It e this" I answered. "Tt
leans that your secretary and two
of whom is now in custody,
le other probably in Paris-plotted
fleece you Of e1O, 900. Your secre.
ny forged your name on a sheet OF
ote paper which was made out as a
heck for 410, 600, payable to you,
ife. This is q large sum-, and the
lances of getting such a CHECK
at short call was remote, un.
IS the person Offering it could satisfy
bankers it was all right. How t.
} this set the plotters wondering, un
they hit upon the grand scheme Of
your wife to change tn, /!
And I then recounted to him our ad.
'ntures and their result.
"The kidnapping idea was intro.
iced in order to brighten your wife,
ID the finger, which was that of some
le else adorned with one Of your rings,
aich your secretary found in your q
'droom, was calculated to further IN. !
rye her.
MADAM" I concluded, turning to
RS. Cox, with a slight evidence OF