Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-04-06

III
die.
Now Brindle was much addicted to
the playing of practical jokes this to
me was flaw in an otherwise de-
lightful character), and perhaps on
this occasion I might be the victim, so
1 told the man to help me carry it
into the library and then he might
go.
The box, which was long and
rather narrow one, was, 1 noticed,
perforated in every direction. 1t was
fastened with paddock, in which I
found the key.
1 opened it and started back in
amazement, for inside i; lay one of the
most beautiful women it has ever
been my lot to see, and she was either
asleep or dead.
She was dressed in long, trailing
robe Of violet velvet-what a woman
would, I think, describe as "tea-
gown" the train of it made sort of
cushion for her head and over it
strayed long strands of golden hair.
l fetched n mirror and held it to
her lips; faint cloud spread over it
at once.
She was not dead then, but sleep
ing.
Yet-who sent her here? And why
in such plight?
L had no women folk to apply to in
my dilemma; besides, ones women
folk are apt to look askance at
strangers" of their own sex, espe-
chilly if these are very beautiful.
[ decided hurriedly to take my man
Burns, very excellent servant who
had been with me for years, into my
confidence. And he appeared with
such celerity that a suspicion crossed
my mind-but no, surely he was
above spying through keyholes!
Ipointed to the girl and asked him
) helplessly what 1 had better do.
: "Do, sir? Why, send for the near
est doctor, and for a detective from
Scotland Yard"
"Of coursel" cried. "Why didn't
/ think of that myself? Take a cab
and do both errands-I will stay here
in case she awakes."
He went off at once. He had hardly
j, been gone ten minutes when the door
bell rang. Iopened it myself and ad-
:, mitted a tall, thin man, who an.
!, nounced that policeman had asked
Y, him to call at my house, and that his
. name was DIR. Smith, of M street.
ga policeman-yo1 mean my ser.
:, want"
u "No, I don't. I mean police
D man," he said testify. "Where is the
patient? 1 am a busy man, sir, ant
. can't afford to waste time"
Il Rather bewildered, 1 led the way
to the library-and in a few words
), told him my story, and showed hin
Il the white figure lying SO still ant
beautiful in those regal velvet robes
{ He crossed the room to look closer
r Good heavens' he said. ''It il
" Mile. Sophie Seslagn, Russian lad,
: and patient of my own. What cal
a this mean?" He proceeded to inves
It tigate what would be the cause of he
n strange trance-like sleep.
g She has been drugged," he said
o 81 once studied in Russia, and ther
e they use q curiously smelling herb
It for such purposes, difficult to detec
s unless one is used to dealing with it.
"All that is very Interestingly
you," 1 said impatiently. "But wha
: am l to do?"
5. 81 viii send you nurse at once,
G he said. ''Have you spare room
: Good! The nurse is a sensible WON
# an, and will put the lady to bed an,
: ask no questions except of profes
a sional description.
r Now, you must excuse me; an
L watching a very interesting case.
= will call again in the morning; mean
y while [ can do nothing. No dru
S. known acts on a patient under tn
g influence of the one / II entioned; sh
p will wake naturally in about twelv
1. hours time" And with that the doc
Is tor hurried away.
= The next person to arrive was tn
detective This name was Holmes), L
whom 1 repeated my story.
J, He listened attentively, looked q